Number 3 in the UK for Languages and Linguistics (The Guardian University Guide 2025)
Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at Cambridge
This is a flexible course where you can study a broad range of subject areas. From Japan in the East to Morocco in the West, and from classical times to the present day.
The first 2 years will give you a strong grounding in knowledge of the languages.
In the third and fourth year you study at an advanced level, which will enable you to speak fluently and read confidently by the end of the fourth year.
You’ll spend the third year in the country or countries relevant to your course. This is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture you’re studying, and improve your language skills.
During this course you can study:
- Chinese – explore its history, literature and philosophy to understand how it shaped the tumultuous changes of modern times
- Japanese – gain unrivalled mastery of Japanese while developing in-depth understanding of Japan’s history, literature, society and politics
- Arabic – explore its rich heritage as well as modern societies and cultures nurtured by Arabic, the sacred language of Islam
- Hebrew – discover classical (Biblical) and/or modern Hebrew and its literature, and the history and culture of Israel and the modern Middle East. You can also study Aramaic
- Persian – discover its world-famous poetic and literary tradition and a vibrant contemporary culture
Language combinations
You can choose which languages you’d like to study when you apply to the course.
- Chinese and Japanese can’t be combined with Arabic, Hebrew or Persian. However, you will have the option to take Korean in your second and fourth year. It may also be possible to combine Chinese and Japanese in your third and fourth year.
- Arabic, Hebrew and Persian can be combined with each other, or with a modern European language that you have studied to A level or IB Higher Level (or equivalent). Arabic and Hebrew can also be taken as single subjects. Persian must be combined with another Middle Eastern or European language in your first and second year.
- If you take one of the Middle Eastern languages, you’ll have the option to study Hindi in your second year, or Sanskrit from your fourth year.
Teaching and facilities
Teaching
Many of our teachers in the Faculty of Asian and Modern Languages are engaged in the cutting-edge research that informs the knowledge they share with you.
Our class sizes are small, which means that you and your lecturers will have the opportunity to interact at a more personal level.
Depending on your choice of subjects, you may have classes in another Faculty, such as the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages.
Facilities
The Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages facilities include:
- the Faculty Library, with around 70,000 books and audiovisual materials on various topics, and in the languages of Asia and the Middle East
Along with all other students at Cambridge, you'll also have access to:
- our impressive Cambridge University Library, one of the world’s oldest university libraries
Course costs
When you go to university, you’ll need to consider two main costs – your tuition fees and your living costs (sometimes referred to as maintenance costs).
Your living costs will include costs related to your studies that are not covered by your tuition fees. There are some general study costs that will apply for all students.
Find out more about general study costs.
Other additional costs for Asian and Middle Eastern Studies are detailed below. If you have any queries about these costs, please contact the Faculty.
Books and printing
- Text books/course books: the Faculty, University and College libraries are well-stocked and it shouldn’t be necessary to purchase more than a handful of books in any year. However, some students may spend £300 or more on specific texts in a given year.
- Printing: 10p per A4 sheet in greyscale, and 60p per A4 sheet in colour.
Field trips and study abroad
- Year abroad in Year 3: students are expected to cover their daily living costs and any travel costs associated with their year abroad. The Faculty covers the cost of tuition at overseas institutions and/or with private tutors. Visit our tuition fees page to find out more about tuition fees on your year abroad. Students can also apply for the Turing Scheme which is offered by the UK government.
Find out more about year abroad costs on the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies website.
If you're pursuing Chinese or Japanese Studies and you pass Part IB, you may choose to study the other language instead of going on a year abroad in Year 3. You must apply to the Faculty Board for permission to do this.
Careers and graduate options
You’ll have a vast range of career options to choose from when you graduate.
Throughout your degree, you'll develop a wide range of skills that you can apply to lots of careers. For example:
- confident written and verbal communication
- independent thinking
- research
- sourcing, examining and interpreting evidence
- solving problems creatively
Many of our graduates use their subject directly in their career. Graduate career choices include:
- media
- business and commerce
- the Civil Service (especially the Foreign Office)
- tourism
- teaching overseas
- academia
- non-governmental organisations
Even if you choose not to stay in a related field, employers are often impressed by your choice to study a difficult language.
Our graduates have also gone into:
