MLitt in Iranian Studies
Saint Andrews, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
07 Aug 2025
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 25,880 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* overseas | home: £11,680
Introduction
The MLitt in Iranian Studies offers students the opportunity to study the history, politics and international relations of Iran in a diverse and intellectually stimulating environment.
Course details
The MLitt in Iranian Studies is a one-year taught programme run by the School of History.
The course introduces you to major themes, concepts and approaches including aspects of methodology and historiography. You will explore questions of nationalism, religion and society, as well as Iran’s place in the region and the broader international community.
Highlights
- Gain access to a unique range of expertise on Iran from Late Antiquity to the modern era.
- Study in a rich research environment provided by the Institute for Iranian Studies and with staff located in other Schools including Art History, Classics and Modern Languages.
- Benefit from the resources of the University Library which has a distinctive collection of over 6,000 Persian books.
Admissions
Curriculum
The modules published below are examples of what has been taught in previous academic years and may be subject to change before you start your programme. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment.
Compulsory
Themes in Iranian History: look at methodological problems, and questions of historiography, including source analysis, the construction of narratives and contemporary debates.
Optional
Students take three of the following modules:
- Iran and the World since 1921: looks at the development of the modern Iranian state from its inception under Reza Khan in the 1920s to the present day.
- Medieval Iran from the Sasanians to the Safavids: looks at the changing nature of Iran from the perspective of its politics, religion and culture in the period circa 200-1600.
- Two modules in the Persian language at the appropriate level.
Students may also choose a Directed Reading topic which is designed to encourage the development of skills of historical analysis through concentrated study. Depending upon other module choices this may be taken across one or both semesters. The Directed Reading topics offered will vary slightly each year depending on staff.
Optional modules are subject to change each year and require a minimum number of participants to be offered; some may only allow limited numbers of students.
Dissertation
Student dissertations will be supervised by members of the teaching staff who will advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process. The completed dissertation of not more than 15,000 words must be submitted by a date specified in August.
If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MLitt, there is an exit award available that allows suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MLitt.
Teaching
Teaching format
The taught programme includes a compulsory module introducing students to the study of Iran, with further module options in Iranian history, politics and language.
The modules are taught through seminars, lectures and fortnightly tutorials, with class sizes ranging from individual supervision up to 12 students.
Students will spend the final three months of the course focusing on researching and writing the final assessment piece for the MLitt, a dissertation of not more than 15,000 words.
Assessment
The modules are assessed through coursework or a combination of coursework and examination.
Scholarships and Funding
The University of St Andrews is committed to attracting the very best students, regardless of financial circumstances.
The School of History is pleased to be able to offer several competitive scholarships which contribute to the fees and maintenance for postgraduate study.
The Begum Iskander Mirza Postgraduate Scholarship
Open to students applying for the MLitt in Iranian Studies, worth up to £4,000. Students admitted to the programme by the competition deadline (to be announced) will automatically be eligible.
School of History MLitt Awards
Offer the cash equivalent of one year's home fees and cannot be held in conjunction with other awards offering full fees and maintenance.
15% Recent Graduate Discount
If you have graduated from the University within the last three academic years, you may be eligible for a 15% discount on postgraduate-taught tuition fees.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
History postgraduates go on to pursue careers in a range of sectors including:
- Journalism
- Publishing
- Think tanks
- Government
- Law
- Teaching
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.