BA Islamic, Middle Eastern and North African Studies
About this course
BA in Islamic, Middle Eastern and North African Studies, an area studies degree exploring the history, politics, and religious traditions of these regions. The course includes an optional placement year and an optional year abroad. The first year introduces foundational themes through compulsory modules such as Studying the Middle East and North Africa and Islamic Theology, alongside options to study Arabic or Persian. The second year examines regional cultures and legal traditions with compulsory modules including Global Media: Discourse, Representation and Society, Cultures of the Arab Middle East and North Africa, and Islamic Law: Authority, Continuity and Change. The final year focuses on advanced societal issues through compulsory study of Islam and Modernity and Middle Eastern Politics: Regimes, Societies and Conflict, alongside an independent Final Year Project. Optional modules across the degree span topics such as Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict, Global Jihad: From the Taliban to ISIS, and Translation Strategies.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: ABB EPQ: BBB plus grade A in the EPQ BTEC: DDM IB: 34 points overall including 16 at Higher Level.
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What students say
Based on about 12 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 87%
- Learning opportunities: 81%
- Assessment and feedback: 87%
- Academic support: 96%
- Organisation and management: 64%
- Learning resources: 91%
- Student voice: 70%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 students who started, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 90%
- Left higher education: 10%
What graduates do next
Based on about 8 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 80%
- Working and studying: 20%
Most common jobs
- Welfare and housing associate professionals: 20%
- Teaching Professionals: 15%
- Secretarial and related occupations: 10%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 78%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 57%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 42%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 360 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 13%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 16%
- East Midlands: 3%
- West Midlands: 5%
- East of England: 8%
- London: 38%
- South East: 11%
- South West: 4%
- Wales: 1%
- Scotland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 90%
- Access course: 5%
- Other HE qualification: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Bronze for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Studying the Middle East and North Africa
- Islamic Theology
- An Introduction to Arab and Islamic Civilisation
- Early and Medieval Islamic History
- Modern Standard Arabic beginners (A1)
- Modern Standard Arabic post-beginners: language and identity (A2)
- Persian beginners (A1)
- Persian post-beginners: language and society (A2)
- Introduction to Audio-Visual Culture
- Language: Structure and Sound
- Politics, Culture and Society
- Worlds of Literature
- Discourse, Culture and Identity
- Global Media: Discourse, Representation and Society
- Cultures of the Arab Middle East and North Africa
- Islamic Law: Authority, Continuity and Change
- Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict
- Global Jihad: From the Taliban to ISIS
- The Quran and the Hadith: Muslim Scriptural Sources
- Modern Middle Eastern History
- Social Class across Cultures
- Black Europe
- Reception, Transmission and Translation: The Global Circulation of Literature
- Global Environmental Humanities
- Digital Communications Across Cultures
- Islam and Modernity
- Middle Eastern Politics: Regimes, Societies and Conflict
- Final Year Project
- The Qur’an and the Hadith: Muslim Scriptural Sources
- Translation Strategies
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Islamic, Middle Eastern and North African Studies at University of Leeds earn?
The median salary is £27,000 after 15 months, £27,500 after 3 years, £34,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £28,500 and £45,000. The £34,000 median after five years is £3,500 more than the UK median for African and modern Middle Eastern studies.
What do graduates of BA Islamic, Middle Eastern and North African Studies at University of Leeds do next?
100% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Islamic, Middle Eastern and North African Studies at University of Leeds?
87% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Islamic, Middle Eastern and North African Studies at University of Leeds?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 34 points in the IB. The average entrant had 138 UCAS points.
Does BA Islamic, Middle Eastern and North African Studies at University of Leeds include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Islamic, Middle Eastern and North African Studies at University of Leeds?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 10% left higher education.