This programme builds on your knowledge in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies or related fields and aims to develop and enhance your research skills and your skills in academic writing. It is ideal if you have a clear idea of the independent research you wish to undertake at masters level. You are not required to have any prior competence in a Middle Eastern language, but you will have the opportunity to take courses in Arabic, Persian or Turkish. Why Edinburgh With over 260 years of history in teaching and research, we are globally recognised as a leading centre for postgraduate study in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies. Our research resources and facilities are outstanding, and we have excellent links with a number of centres and networks, including the Alwaleed Centre and the Centre for Medieval & Renaissance Studies. Research excellence In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), our research was submitted in the categories of: Modern Languages Politics Sociology History Theology The results reaffirm Edinburgh’s position as one of the UK’s leading research universities - third in the UK based on the quality and breadth of its research in Modern Languages alone, according to Times Higher Education's REF power ratings. Research areas We are able to supervise research in a wide range of specialist and interdisciplinary areas. Our expertise includes: Language and literature: classical and modern Arabic literature, classical and modern Persian literature, cultural transmission and translation between Arabic and Persian cultures History and historiography: pre-Islamic to modern Iran, early Islamic history, Ottoman history, Safavid history, modern history, in particular Iraq, Iran and Egypt the Middle Eastern prison, the Middle Eastern press Religion: early and classical Islam, Qur’an and Qur’anic exegesis, Hadith, the biography of Muhammad, Sufism, Islam in the Ottoman Empire, contemporary religious authority, Shi'i Islam Contemporary Muslim politics: Islamism, sectarianism, social movements, comparative social and political change in the Muslim world Arts and cultures of the Middle East, and of Muslim societies: particularly visual arts, cinema Gender and sexuality in the Middle East and North Africa, contemporary Arab media Shi’i Islam: Shi’i history and contemporary Shi’ism in local and transnationalist perspective Islam and Muslims in Europe Diasporas and ethnic minorities of the Middle East Explore our range of research centres, networks and projects in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Go beyond the books Beyond the Books is a podcast from the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC) that gives you a behind-the-scenes look at research and the people who make it happen. Listen to a mix of PhD, early career and established researchers talk about their journey to and through academia and about their current and recent research. Guests include Bahar Fayeghi (Series 2 - Episode 5), a PhD student in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies who is researching the experience of Afghan women refugees in Iran. Browse Beyond the Books episodes and hear our research community talk about their work