At the University of Exeter's MA Middle East Politics and International Relations, you'll dive into practical skills through hands-on research training and modules that build real-world expertise in analysing Middle East politics, from state-society dynamics to international relations. You'll gain tools for theoretically informed, interdisciplinary work—think dissertation skills workshops and modules like Theorising the Middle East that sharpen your ability to tackle complex debates with confidence. Learning from world-leading experts at the Centre for Middle East Politics (C-MEP) means you're not just studying theory; you're joining a vibrant community where postgraduate students contribute to cutting-edge research on conflict, authoritarianism, and more.

This sets you up perfectly for applying what you learn:
- Research skills and dissertation preparation: Compulsory modules like ARAM233 (Dissertation skills) equip you with essential sources, tools, and methodologies tailored to Middle East, North Africa, and Muslim world studies, leading to your own 60-credit MA Dissertation (ARAM027).
- Group work and seminars in a multidisciplinary environment: As part of the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies (IAIS) and Department of Social and Political Sciences, you'll engage in seminar discussions, practical exercises, and project work within C-MEP's inclusive research community.
- Access to world-class research facilities via C-MEP: Join staff and students exploring themes like conflict, security, state-building, authoritarianism, empire politics, and gender/migration through the Centre's multi-disciplinary resources and events.
- IAIS specialised resources: Draw on the Institute's dedicated facilities for Arab and Islamic Studies, including options to integrate language learning (like Arabic) in the two-year programme for deeper regional immersion.

This kind of experiential edge will make your application stand out and prepare you for careers in policy, NGOs, or further research—spots fill fast, so let's get your application rolling today. For the full facilities list, check [University of Exeter Facilities](https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/facilities/).

# Why the MA Middle East Politics and International Relations at Exeter is Your Gateway to Expert-Level Understanding

The MA Middle East Politics and International Relations at Exeter is a two-year programme that sets itself apart through its commitment to equipping you with both theoretical sophistication and practical research capabilities. Rather than treating the Middle East as a distant subject, you'll develop hands-on expertise through engagement with real-world case studies, primary source analysis, and research methodologies that professionals in government, NGOs, and academia actually use.

## How You'll Gain Practical Skills and Access University Resources

Throughout your studies, you'll work directly with world-leading experts who bring genuine field experience into the classroom. The programme moves beyond lectures by immersing you in the research tools, sources, and analytical frameworks that underpin contemporary Middle East scholarship. The University of Exeter provides access to specialized academic infrastructure designed specifically to support this kind of advanced political research:

- Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies (IAIS) — your intellectual home, housing staff who teach across the programme and conduct cutting-edge research
- Centre for Middle East Politics (C-MEP) — a multidisciplinary research centre where postgraduate students form an intrinsic part of active research initiatives across seven themed areas: conflict and security, authoritarianism, post-colonialism, and gender and migration
- Specialized module instruction in research methodology, including ARAM233 (Dissertation Skills) and ARAM232 (Theorising the Middle East), which teach you how to construct theoretically-aware, interdisciplinary research
- Compulsory dissertation component (60 credits) that allows you to conduct original research on a topic of your choosing, mentored by experts in the field
- Thematic research clusters covering conflict resolution, state-building, authoritarianism versus democracy, and gender studies — allowing you to align your learning with active research projects
- Vibrant research community with seminar series and postgraduate conferences bringing together researchers across humanities and social sciences
- Two-year programme structure that uniquely affords the opportunity to study Arabic alongside your politics degree — a competitive advantage few UK universities currently offer

The two-year format itself is a practical advantage: rather than compressing everything into 12 months, you have genuine time to develop language skills, deepen theoretical understanding, and produce research that stands out to employers and doctoral programmes.

For information on additional university facilities and learning spaces, visit the University of Exeter's facilities directory.

At the University of Exeter's MA Politics and International Relations of the Middle East, you'll build practical skills through hands-on research training tailored to Middle East politics, diving into real-world analysis of issues like state-society dynamics, international relations, and regional conflicts. You'll work closely with world-leading experts from the Centre for Middle East Politics (C-MEP), who bring direct experience from advising governments and the UN, helping you apply theory to current events in a supportive, multidisciplinary environment. This two-year program sharpens your ability to conduct theoretically informed, interdisciplinary research using specialist sources and tools for the Middle East, North Africa, and Muslim world—skills that employers in public and private sectors truly value.

Here's how you'll gain that edge through specific program features and facilities:
- Centre for Middle East Politics (C-MEP): Join this cross-departmental hub for collaborative research on topics like conflict, security, authoritarianism, and gender in the MENA region—students actively participate in seminars, workshops, and activities alongside experts spanning politics, anthropology, and more.
- Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies (IAIS): Access dedicated teaching and research spaces where compulsory modules like "State and Society in the Middle East" and "International Relations of the Middle East" involve group-based analysis of real policy debates and historical case studies.
- Dissertation skills training (ARAM233): Hands-on module teaching research methods, source evaluation, and theoretical application specific to Middle East studies, preparing you for your 30-credit dissertation on topics like the Palestine Question or Gulf politics.
- Research seminars and workshops: Regular events with international scholars, fostering group discussions and networking in politics and IR, hosted by C-MEP and the Department of Social and Political Sciences, Philosophy, and Anthropology.
- Multidisciplinary optional modules: Team up in group projects exploring nationalisms, armed movements, or reform in the Gulf, drawing on IAIS resources for interdisciplinary work.

Imagine turning this expertise into your career launchpad—our grads land roles in policy, diplomacy, and analysis because they've honed skills that stand out. Ready to apply? Check the full facilities and modules here: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/arabislamic/middleeastpolitics_ir/

# Why MA Politics and International Relations of the Middle East at Exeter is Your Gateway to Real-World Impact

The MA Politics and International Relations of the Middle East at Exeter isn't just about reading theories in isolation—it's designed to equip you with the practical skills that employers actually want. You'll develop sophisticated research capabilities through hands-on engagement with real sources and methodologies relevant to Middle East studies, and you'll learn to make theoretically-informed choices about your own work using tools and approaches employed by leading researchers in the field. The university's world-leading experts bring real-world experience directly into your learning, meaning you're not just studying politics—you're learning from people who've shaped policy and advised governments on these critical issues.

Beyond the classroom, here's what makes this programme stand out:

- Centre for Middle East Politics (C-MEP): You'll be part of a vibrant, cross-departmental research community where students form an intrinsic part of both education and active research initiatives, fostering an inclusive environment designed to help you thrive.

- Research-informed teaching: The department is structured around multiple research centres including the Elections Centre, Centre for European Studies, Centre of Advanced International Studies, Strategy and Security Institute, and the Q-Step Centre for Computational Social Science, all of which inform your coursework.

- Multidisciplinary learning environment: You'll study within a large, internationally renowned department with innovative teaching methods, giving you exposure to diverse perspectives on Middle East politics, from electoral dynamics and security studies to gender studies and colonial history.

- Flexible optional modules: Choose from specialized topics like "Armed Islamist Movements: Jihadism and Beyond," "Politics and Reform in the Gulf," "The History and Political Development of Iraq," and "Gender, Sexuality and Violence in Palestine/Israel"—allowing you to tailor your expertise to your career goals.

- Dissertation skills and independent research: Structured training in research methodology (ARAM233) combined with your substantial dissertation project (ARAM027, 60 credits) means you'll produce original, publishable-quality work.

- Employer-valued expertise: Your specialized knowledge in Middle East politics is explicitly valued by both public and private sector employers, opening doors to careers in diplomacy, international organizations, policy think tanks, and government advisory roles.

For a complete overview of university facilities, libraries, and research resources available to postgraduate students, visit: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/