The Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at Oxford is one of the world’s leading centres for research and teaching on the languages, history and cultures of Asia and the Middle East. Among subjects in the humanities, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies is unique in introducing students to civilisations that are radically different from the Western ones that form the basis of the curriculum in most British schools and colleges.
The courses offered by the Faculty present both the major traditions of the regions studied and, in most cases, their modern developments. All courses include language, literature, history and culture, and there are a wide range of options in such fields as art and archaeology, history, literature, philosophy, religion and modern social studies. The following are the principal areas of study:
- Islamic World
- Hebrew and Jewish studies
- Eastern Christianity
- Egyptology and Ancient Near East
- South and Inner Asia
- East Asian studies.
Asian and Middle Eastern studies has a long history in Oxford. The Bodleian and other libraries have acquired magnificent collections. The Nizami Ganjavi (Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies), University of Oxford China Centre, Bodleian Japanese and Indian Institute libraries offer loan collections in their respective fields. Adjacent to Pusey Lane is the Ashmolean Museum, which houses superb collections. The Bodleian Art, Archaeology, and the Ancient World Library (formerly the Sackler Library) includes the principal library for Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern studies.
Courses are listed on the Faculty Undergraduate and Graduate admissions pages. Once you have consulted the Faculty pages about each course, the main University Undergraduate Admissions and Graduate Admissions pages provide further information about the available courses, their fees and entry requirements, and details on how to apply.
Details about Exam Regulations for each of the courses can be found here.
Funding
A number of scholarships and grants are available at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, both at Undergraduate and Graduate levels. Further information can be found on our Funding webpage.
For information about the University's response to the pandemic and about teaching arrangements in 2020-21, follow this link. For resources and support during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, follow this link.
Course Handbooks
Please also refer to the course handbooks for students studying in the Faculty:
Information for EU students: Updates on the University’s Brexit strategy can be found here, and a student Q&A can be found here.
