Arabic and International Relations - BA (Hons)

University of Westminster, London

Our Arabic and International Relations course focuses on questions of governance, democracy and human rights, while training competent Arabic linguists ready to enter graduate employment.
This course will enable you to achieve a good level of linguistic competence in Arabic in all four skill areas (reading, writing, listening and speaking), and a critical understanding of culture and politics from the perspective of the changing dynamics of the global political order. You'll have the opportunity to study language, culture and international relations in an integrated way, exploring the connections between them and the broader geopolitical and cross-cultural contexts in which they are produced. You'll also gain the transferable and cognitive skills necessary for lifelong personal and professional development.
We place particular emphasis on employability and the contemporary cultural context and offer high-quality teaching in all language skills.
Our Arabic courses are only available to beginner or 'false beginner' entrants – false beginners are students who may be able to read the Arabic script, and/or have the equivalent to one or two years' part-time study. Please note that we may need to test you to determine your entry point.
You'll study an integrated curriculum with a focus on applied language skills and cultural studies, supported by a rigorous development of your foreign languages skills in all areas.
You'll develop a high level of competence in oral and written communication in Arabic, proficiency in language transfer skills, a thorough knowledge of Arabic culture, and the ability to thrive linguistically in diverse cultural situations.
You'll have the opportunity to spend a full academic year abroad at a partner institution and/or, depending on your language level, an approved form of employment in a country where Arabic is the official language. You can also study an elective module from across the University in each year.
Career development
As part of the degree, you'll have the opportunity to spend an academic year abroad at a partner institution and/or, depending on your language level, in an approved form of employment in an Arabic-speaking country, enabling you to develop your language skills in a real-world setting. Previous destinations have included Jordan, Morocco and Egypt. You may have the opportunity to work as a paid language assistant in a foreign school or undertake a work (or volunteering) placement, both of which provide valuable opportunities to boost employability while improving language competence.
Internship opportunities
The University of Westminster is part of an ongoing collaboration with the United Nations Migration Agency, the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
As part of this, Politics and International Relations students in their second or third year of undergraduate study can apply for 3-9 month internship opportunities at IOM offices around the world, including in Geneva, Vienna, Dhakka and London.
The internships, which are open to students completing their second year of studies and beyond, focus on a host of topics from migration governance to mission support, policy and liaison, and information management.
Job roles
This course prepares graduates for roles and industries including:
Bilingual consultant
International affairs consultant
International organisations, NGOs and charities
Interpreter
Public relations expert
Graduate employers
Previous graduates of our Arabic, Chinese, French, or Spanish and International Relations courses have found positions with organisations including:
British Council
Deutsche Bank
European Parliament
Italian Trade Agency
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