Persian Studies

Specialisation of: Arabic, Persian and Turkish Languages and Cultures
Degree: Master of Arts in Arabic, Persian and Turkish Languages and Cultures
Mode of Study: Full-time
Duration: 1 year
Start date: September, February
Language of instruction: English
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Studying the Persian Studies specialisation at Leiden University is stepping into a distinguished academic tradition in the study of Iranian languages and cultures. Classical and modern Persian literature have been studied here since the university’s foundation, which has led to such masterpieces as Saadi’s Rose Garden being translated in situ.

The information about this programme is available in the following languages:

In this specialisation you will approach Persian culture explicitly as a supra-national rather than a national phenomenon. In other words, you will study the cultural aspects of Persia not from within the confines of a one state boundary, but covering the many nations in which Persian is the official language. These include not only Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, but a much wider area in which Persian has had a cultural and literary influence—from Mughal India to Central Asia, parts of the Caucasus and the Ottoman Empire.

Although there are a broad range of subject areas on offer, you will concentrate on one main topic area from the following list:

  • Linguistics
  • Literature
  • History

Prof. Zürcher

“It is only possible to gain a better under-standing of present-day developments in the Middle East if you understand the historical background.”

“Leiden University enjoys a rich research tradition, and has a great
many publications about Turkey to her name. The Turkish Languages
and Cultures department is also well-known, particularly as text
books written in Leiden are used throughout the world.

This master’s programme focuses on the one hand on the origin of
the modern Turkish nation state, and, on the other, on Turkey and
the Ottoman Empire and their relationship to Europe. I myself am
fascinated by the Middle East and by modern history, in particular
the period around World War I. This makes Turkey a rewarding subject
for study. Until the First World War, the greater part of the Middle
East belonged to the Ottoman Empire. Around 1918, the great empires
came to an end: not only the Ottoman Empire, but also the German
Empire, the Hapsburg Empire and the Romanov Dynasty in Russia.
The centuries-old multicultural Ottoman Empire was transformed
into the modern mono-cultural republic of Turkey.

As a result of the start of accession talks between Turkey and the EU,
the number of students with an interest in political science has been
growing of late, but teaching in the MA specialisation Turkish Studies
focuses primarily on the language, history and cultural heritage
of Turkey. I firmly believe that it is only possible to gain a better
understanding of present-day developments in the Middle East if
you understand the historical background. Turkey is two things at
the same time: a young state which has been created by a political
elite, but also an ancient state, heir to the Ottoman Empire, which
existed for six hundred years. This has left its mark on the country.”