Sebastian

Bachelor of Arts - International Relations (Honours)

“Throughout my degree I have been lucky enough to study a diverse array of CAIS subjects covering the Middle East and Central Asia. The delivery of the courses was thought-provoking and stimulating. I found the balanced focus on history, politics, political economy and religion helped to give me a well-rounded and solid grounding in the region. Gaining an in depth understanding of the MENA and Central Asia regions balanced and complimented the IR and Political Science theory that I was learning, while also putting me in a strong position for graduate job applications by equipping me with the knowledge of a specialist.

My Arabic major was taught in an intuitive and thoughtful manner, tailored to meet everyone’s needs. In class we also covered the rich cultural background of the Arabic language, providing us with a comprehensive understanding of the language and the cultural context from which it developed. I recently returned from fieldwork for my Honours thesis in the north of Iraq, a task that was possible because of the Arabic language skills I developed at CAIS.

I hope to enrol in a PhD at CAIS next year. Being an undergraduate student at the CAIS has developed the necessary analytical skills and research ability that I need to confidently progress to doctoral research”.

Natasha

Bachelor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies

Having an interest in the Middle East and Central Asia, I was drawn towards ANU's Bachelor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies due to its interdisciplinary approach to understanding the region. This new degree, taught within a small centre, allows for flexibility and opportunity to study an extensive range of subjects. First year courses such as ‘Introduction to the Modern Middle East’ have helped me develop a greater appreciation of the vast complexities of the region through studying the diverse history, politics and social climates which shape nations and define many modern conflicts. Undertaking Persian as my language major has also been a challenging and rewarding experience resulting in an understanding of Iranian culture and customs as well as language.

Due to the uniqueness of this degree as an undergraduate program and the passionate way in which it is taught by the staff of the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies I feel I am establishing strong foundations upon which I may pursue a career within a number of disciplines in relation to the to the Middle East and Central Asia.

Derek