Skip to ContentSkip to Navigation
Education Master's and PhD degree programmes Middle Eastern Studies
Header image Middle Eastern Studies

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 deepen your expertise on the region and its conflicts and meet the important societal demand for knowledge and insights in the Middle East? Then join our Master’s programme Middle Eastern Studies in Groningen.

The one-year Master’s programme in Groningen focuses on contemporary developments in the Middle East, with particular emphasis on the theme of conflicts and coexistence. The programme 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. The MA Middle Eastern studies alumni are successful in many professional fields.

If you have a Bachelor’s degree in Middle Eastern Studies, the Master’s programme enables you to specialize in the theme of conflicts and coexistence 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 programme facilitates you to familiarise yourself with the Middle East and apply your expertise to this region, which is of fundamental in today’s world.

The programme offers core modules on contemporary developments in the Middle East, conflicts in the region, the role of international organizations, how to understand minorities, sectarianism and the multifaceted links between religion and politics. You will explore cases such as Syria, Israel-Palestine, Iraq and Iran. The programme also offers ample space to pursue your own interests and develop your own expertise, for example through papers for different audiences, tutorials and internships, for example, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, embassies or think tanks, media agencies and societal organisations working on issues such as migration, refugees, terrorism and security.

Read more about the department of Middle Eastern Studies.

Sign up now for the Master's Week from 18-22 November!
Facts & Figures
Degree
MA in Middle Eastern Studies
Course type
Master
Duration
12 months (60 ECTS)
Croho code
60842
Language of instruction
English
Start
September
Faculty
Arts
Why study this programme 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 in the programme
  • Small-scale programme, strongly committed staff, dedicated students
Programme

The one-year Master's programme offers four core modules in the first semester; all focusing on different aspects of the contemporary Middle East and conflicts in the region. The second semester enables you to further develop your skills and expertise through an internship or a tutorial and a Master's thesis.

Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
Contemporary Developments in the Middle East (5 EC)
International Organizations, Governance and the Middle East (5 EC)

Inzicht in de VN, Veiligheidsraad, de Arabische Liga en de grote mogendheden in relatie tot het Midden-Oosten.

Conflicts in the Middle East (10 EC)

Overzicht van de heersende opvattingen en inzicht in de methoden van bestudering en onderzoek.

Memory, Heritage and Politics in the MENA (5 EC)
Understanding Sectarianism and Minorities in the Middle East (5 EC)
Master Thesis (20 EC)
Tutorial / internship / study abroad (10 EC, optional)
Programme options
Master's placement (specialization)

A placement during this Master is most recommended.

It is your responsibility to find a placement yourself, but the Office for Student Affairs can offer help with this where necessary.

Study abroad

  • Study abroad is optional
  • Maximum of 10 EC
Entry requirements

Transfer options

Transferring from...

Study programmeOrganizationTransition
All Research universities

Via a pre-master

More information:

Please note that only students with a BA in Humanities/ Arts are directly admissible to this programme with a pre-masters/ faculty minor of 30 ECTS in Middle Eastern Studies from the UG

Middle Eastern StudiesAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
History (part-time)All Research universitiesNo additional requirements
International Relations and International OrganizationAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Study programmeOrganizationTransition
History (part-time)University of GroningenNo additional requirements
International Relations and International OrganizationUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
Middle Eastern StudiesUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
American StudiesUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Successful completion of the Middle Eastern Studies faculty minor of 30 ECTS at the UG

European Languages and CulturesUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Successful completion of the Middle Eastern Studies faculty minor of 30 ECTS at the UG

Minorities & MultilingualismUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Successful completion of the Middle Eastern Studies faculty minor of 30 ECTS at the UG

Dutch StudiesUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Successful completion of the Middle Eastern Studies faculty minor of 30 ECTS at the UG

ArchaeologyUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Successful completion of the Middle Eastern Studies faculty minor of 30 ECTS at the UG

English Language and CultureUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Successful completion of the Middle Eastern Studies faculty minor of 30 ECTS at the UG

Arts, Culture and MediaUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Successful completion of the Middle Eastern Studies faculty minor of 30 ECTS at the UG

Art HistoryUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Successful completion of the Middle Eastern Studies faculty minor of 30 ECTS at the UG

Classical StudiesUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Successful completion of the Middle Eastern Studies faculty minor of 30 ECTS at the UG

Communication and Information StudiesUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Successful completion of the Middle Eastern Studies faculty minor of 30 ECTS at the UG

Information ScienceUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Successful completion of the Middle Eastern Studies faculty minor of 30 ECTS at the UG

Media StudiesUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Successful completion of the Middle Eastern Studies faculty minor of 30 ECTS at the UG

LinguisticsUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Successful completion of the Middle Eastern Studies faculty minor of 30 ECTS at the UG

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

Students with a Bachelor degree in Middle Eastern Studies, History or International Relations and International Organizations from the University of Groningen will be immediately admitted to the Master's degree programme. The same is true for students with a Bachelor degree in the Humanities/ Arts from any Dutch University who successfully completed the 30 ECTS Faculty minor in Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Groningen.

Students with Bachelor degrees other than the three mentioned above and who have not completed the Faculty minor in Middle Eastern Studies, can be admitted after explicit permission by the Admission Board of the programme. The Admission Board will assess whether the programme and level of the obtained Bachelor's degree provide sufficient background for successfully participation in the Master's programme.

language test

Requirements English: A VWO diploma or a subject certificate for VWO English (mark 6 or higher), minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180.

other admission requirements

Students with an international diploma should fill in the checklist. This checklist needs to be uploaded via the Progress Portal when applying for this programme.

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students15 August 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

Students with an international diploma can be admitted after permission by the Admission Board of the programme. The Admission Board will assess whether the programme and level of the obtained Bachelor's degree provide sufficient background for succesfully participation in the Master's programme.

language test

Additional requirements English: A VWO diploma or a subject certificate for VWO English (mark 6 or higher), minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180.

other admission requirements

Students with an international diploma should fill in the checklist.

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students15 August 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025
Tuition fees
NationalityYearFeeProgramme form
EU/EEA2024-2025€ 2530full-time
non-EU/EEA2024-2025€ 18700full-time

Practical information for:

After your studies

Job prospects

There is a huge demand for expertise on the Middle East, for example in relation to foreign policy, refugees and terrorism and security. Our alumni work both in the Middle East and Europe. Relatively many students find a job in politics and diplomacy, for example at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an embassy or consulate. Quite a number of alumni have acquired a job in local authorities or NGO's in the development and refugee sector.

Others work in media, the security and counter-terrorism field or the cultural sector. The huge consequences of conflicts in the Middle East, both in the region itself as well as in the West provide ample opportunities to acquire Middle-East-related jobs and positions.

Job examples

  • Policy adviser at the Middle Eastern department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Embassy Employee in Turkey, Jordan, Israel or The Hague
  • Employee at an NGO in the Development Sector
  • Security analyst at the Police or the NCTV
  • COA employee working with asylum seekers
  • Middle East reporter for newspaper, radio or TV
Research

Teaching in the Master's programme 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 programme, focusing on, for example, jihadism in Syria and political Islam in Egypt, Christian and Jewish communities in the Middle East, cultural heritage and political struggles.

Apply nowBrochureEventsContact
Master's Weekdiverse locatiesMore information

Contact

NL Scholarships

The University of Groningen offers NL Scholarships to international students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who want to do their master’s in the Netherlands. Read more on the NL Scholarships and on how to apply.
Read more

"The MA Middle Eastern Studies offered interesting courses that were hands-on and focused on real case studies"

After completing my Bachelor's in International Relations and International Organisation, I was looking for a programme that would allow me to specialize further within the field of International Relations. Ultimately, I chose not to pursue an International Relations Master's programme because the Middle Eastern Studies Master's offered such interesting courses that were hands-on and focused on real case studies.

I also chose Middle Eastern Studies because of the region's interesting political dynamics and significant relevance to Europe's current and future landscape, coupled with the opportunity to learn an additional world language, as I chose to extend the programme by a year to learn Arabic.

Through this programme, I gained insights into the highly relevant issues of the region within their historical, political, and sociological contexts, while also acquiring proficiency in a language widely spoken in the area. I appreciate how the classes encouraged us to delve deeper into conflicts often highlighted in the news, while also providing a human and cultural perspective on the region.

One of the programme's standout features is its flexibility and dedicated faculty. In the diverse classrooms, you engage with peers from varied backgrounds, enriching discussions and providing ample opportunities to apply your unique perspective to your studies.

The department was very accommodating in allowing me to switch classes around if necessary as I was following Arabic at the same time. My extension of the programme also opened up the space to go on a longer placement, for which I went to Cairo, Egypt for 5 months. There I worked as a research intern at an NGO and got to put my Arabic skills into practice. This experience has truly been the standout highlight of the programme and has significantly enhanced my readiness for my future career aspirations.
Read more

Middle Eastern Studies prepares you for your career

At first I was not planning to do this Master's, because after the Bachelor's Middle Eastern Studies I was looking to focus on something else. However, I could not find a programme that encompassed what I was looking for and therefore chose to start the MA Middle Eastern Studies. With this mindset I started the Master's and at first was not impressed by the courses as conflicts had already been a major topic in the Bachelor's.

However, the Master’s also gave me a lot of freedom to choose my own topics. Not only in presentations and papers, but also in the internship (I helped set up an exhibition for the synagogue in Groningen) and of course the thesis. Middle Eastern Studies is both a narrow and a very wide field to study, as it is only one region but combines a lot of different disciplines. This allows you as a student to research what interests you and what you think is important.

It is not a big study, but the benefits of this were even more prominent in the Master’s. Teachers are not only approachable, but also interested and really know you. They prepare you for your career by giving different sorts of assignments, by giving students a say in the lectures and in my year by giving them the opportunity to work on a publication of the University Press. I absolutely do not regret choosing this programme!
Read more

Study associations

Siduri

Siduri is the study association for both Bachelor and Master students of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Groningen. Siduri aims to create a unifying environment for its students by organizing study related activities, such as symposia, lectures and trips to various Middle-Eastern countries, but also socials and an annual Christmas dinner.
https://siduri.nl
Read more
Student profile

Anyone who is interested in the Middle East is welcome.

Study support

Each Master's degree programme has a study advisor whom you can contact if you have questions or need advice about your degree programme and other study-related matters. Everything you discuss will be treated confidentially. If you have a more complex problem, for example study delay, a performance disability or if you are ill for a long time, you should contact a student counsellor.

In addition, you can also follow various courses at the Study Support section of the Student Service Centre (SSC), for example on study stress and holding presentations.