Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies

If you're fascinated by the Middle East and Central Asia, transform your passion into a qualification at Australia's premier institute for studies of the region.

Leading experts from the ANU Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies will take you on a journey through the politics, international relations, modern history and political economy of the Middle East and Central Asia, drawing on our links with major counterparts in the Arab and Muslim world, as well as in North America and Europe.

After completing your Master of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies (MMECAS), you will have the opportunity to take a Master of Diplomacy, graduating with two degrees.

Career Options

Employment Opportunities

A MMECAS will advance your career in any professional area requiring a solid understanding of the Middle East and Central Asia, whether in diplomacy, the public service, teaching, journalism, development or business.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the skills and knowledge to:

1. Conduct detailed, sophisticated research on the Middle East and/or Central Asia, synthesize research material and explain the findings clearly and succinctly, and present these findings both in writing and orally;
2. Discuss, explain and analyse major modern events, characteristics and dynamics related to the Middle East and/or Central Asia;
3. Explain and assess the dynamics that shape and influence Middle East and/or Central Asia, including one or more of: the roles of key actors in these regions' politics, international relations, and political economies; the impacts on the region of modern historical events; and the impacts of societal and cultural forces; and
4. Engage critically with key scholarly debates and controversies related to the study of the Middle East and/or Central Asia, including some that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries.

The Master of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies requires completion of 96 units, which must consist of:

A minimum 60 units from completion of courses from the following list:

MEAS8010 Turkish History: Ottoman State to Modern Turkey

MEAS8100 Oil Religion Politics and Conflict in the Middle East

MEAS8102 Islamic Radicalism

MEAS8103 Central Asia in Regional and Global Perspectives

MEAS8105 Special Topic in Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies

MEAS8108 Issues of Development in the Middle East

MEAS8109 Energy and Security in Central Asia and the Caucasus

MEAS8111 Islam, the West and International Terrorism

MEAS8112 Dynamics of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

MEAS8113 The Gulf Strategic Environment

MEAS8114 Geopolitics of Central Asia

MEAS8115 Islam in World Politics

MEAS8116 Islam and Democracy

MEAS8117 Islam in Central Asia

MEAS8118 Islam in Australia

MEAS8119 Islam In Turkey

MEAS8120 Islam, Faith and Community

MEAS8121 Approaches to the Study of Modern Muslim Societies

MEAS8122 Shiite Islam in World Politics

MEAS8123 Special Topic in Modern Islam

A maximum of 12 units from completion of courses from one of the following lists:

Arabic

ARAB6102 Introductory Arabic A

ARAB6103 Introductory Arabic B

ARAB6501 Intermediate Arabic A

ARAB6502 Intermediate Arabic B

ARAB6503 Advanced Arabic A

ARAB6504 Advanced Arabic B

ARAB6505 Introductory Course to Arabic Linguistics

ARAB6506 Research Essay (Arabic)

ARAB6507 Introductory Course to Arabic Literature

ARAB6508 Special Topics in Arabic

ARAB6509 Directed Study Project (Arabic)

Persian

PERS6001 Introductory Persian A

PERS6002 Introductory Persian B

PERS6004 Intermediate Persian B

PERS6005 Advanced Persian A

PERS6006 Advanced Persian B

PERS8003 Intermediate Persian A

Turkish

TURK6001 Elementary Turkish A

TURK6002 Elementary Turkish B

TURK6503 Intermediate Turkish A

TURK6504 Intermediate Turkish B

TURK6505 Advanced Turkish A

TURK6506 Advanced Turkish B

24 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU

A Bachelor degree or international equivalent with an average mark of at least 65 per cent.

All applicants must meet the University's English Language Admission Requirements for Students

Applicants with a Bachelor Degree or Graduate Certificate in a cognate discipline may be eligible for 24 units (1 semester) of credit.

Applicants with a Graduate Diploma or Honours in a cognate discipline may be eligible for 48 units (1 year) of credit.

Cognate disciplines

Politics, including political science, international relations, political economy, security studies, strategic studies; sociology; modern history; religious studies/Islamic studies; other social sciences and humanities disciplines and fields where there is significant coverage of a relevant aspect of Middle Eastern, Central Asian or Islamic Studies and where similar approaches and methodologies are used; and modern languages relating to the Middle East and/or Central Asia region such as Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Russian or French.

ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.

Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are.  Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.