In the first year the programme's major component is the intensive study of Modern Standard Arabic; the student is free to choose as the year's minor component a second course on Arabic culture, Middle Eastern literature or Islam. The second year continues the study of Modern Standard Arabic and, at the same time introduces the student to classical Arabic and modern Arabic literature. An appropriate fourth course is chosen from the list of approved optional courses. The third year of the course is spent at an Arab university in the Middle East, where students study the colloquial language as well as Modern Standard Arabic, and write an extended essay. In the final year study of language and literature is continued at the advanced level. In addition, the freedom to select two other appropriate units from the list of options gives students the opportunity of specializing in a field of particular interest.

-