MA in Middle Eastern Studies

Wars in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, revolts in Egypt, Lebanon, and Tunisia, power struggles in Turkey, Saudi-Arabia, and Israel – conflicts in the Middle East are daily news.

Do you want to become a specialized expert on the region and its conflicts and meet the huge societal demand for knowledge and insights in the Middle East? Then join our Master’s program Middle Eastern Studies in Groningen.

The one-year Master’s program in Groningen focuses on contemporary developments in the Middle East, with particular emphasis on the theme of conflicts. The program is interdisciplinary and research-driven, using insights from fields such as International Relations, Religious Studies, and Anthropology to help you to understand this highly dynamic and fascinating region.

If you have a Bachelor’s degree in Middle Eastern Studies, the Master’s program enables you to specialize in the theme of conflicts and to increase your familiarity with important theoretical and methodological approaches to the region. If you have a Bachelor’s degree in another (related) discipline, the Master’s program facilitates you to familiarize yourself with the Middle East and apply your expertise to this region, which is of huge importance in today’s world.

The program offers core modules on contemporary developments in the Middle East, conflicts in the region, the role of international organizations, and the theme of religion and politics. We discuss cases such as Syria, Israel-Palestine, and Iran. We also give you ample space to pursue your own interests and develop your own expertise, for example through papers, tutorials, and internships, for example, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, embassies or think tanks, media agencies, and societal organizations working on issues such as migration, refugees, terrorism and security.

Why study this program in Groningen?

• Focus on contemporary developments in the Middle East; emphasis on the theme of conflicts
• Highly qualified staff and research-driven education
• Ample space to pursue own interests and develop own expertise
• Internship integrated into the program
• Small-scale program, strongly committed staff, dedicated students

Research

Teaching in the Master's program is research-driven. The staff members are highly qualified and have diverse disciplinary backgrounds. Their expertise is directly related to the profile of the Master's program, focusing on, for example, jihadism in Syria and political Islam in Egypt.