Postgraduate students can undertake specialised degrees focused on Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies. Program options include:

• Graduate Certificate in Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies
  Length: 0.5 year fulltime Minimum: 24 Units
• Master of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies
  Length: 1.5 year full-time Minimum: 72 Units
• Master of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies (Advanced)
  Length: 2-years full-time Minimum: 96 Units

Advanced Masters

The Advanced Masters offers students completing the Masters program the opportunity to complete a 20,000 thesis on a research project of their choice. It is undertaken after the Masters coursework has been completed. Students are guided through the process of writing a large body of work by a nominated supervisor and the process serves as an introduction for students considering a PhD. Students in the Advanced Masters program can pursue their thesis in either Semester 1 or Semester 2, or alternatively, they can complete it part-time over a span of 12 months. This decision should be made in collaboration with their supervisor.

To be considered for supervision in the Advanced Masters program at CAIS, prospective students are required to submit a research or thesis proposal for review. As a general guideline, the proposal should be between 2 to 3 pages in length. It should ideally include a title, objectives, significance, research questions or hypotheses, a brief literature review, methodology, and a bibliography.

Proposals should be sent via email to the Advanced Masters convenor, Dr Anas Iqtait, at anas.iqtait@anu.edu.au  

Postgraduate students completing a degree through ANU’s College of Arts and Social Sciences or ANU’s College of Asia and the Pacific can select from a range of courses specialising on the Middle East and Central Asia.

The Centre is uniquely placed to offer postgraduate students the opportunity to study in small groups with leading experts and gain a deep regional grounding from interdisciplinary perspectives, including contemporary politics, international relations, modern history, the political economy, development studies, gender studies, sociology, and religious and cultural studies.

All 2024 courses will be taught hybrid (in person and online).

Postgraduate Degrees and Graduate Certificates specialising in Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies enhance career opportunities for those seeking professional careers in diplomacy, the public service, the NGO sector, teaching, journalism, economic development and business.

Postgraduate coursework offered through CAIS provides in-depth study of geopolitically significant regions including the Levant, North Africa, the Arab Gulf, Turkey, and Central Asia.

Current courses include:

Courses focusing on individual countries including Egypt, Iran, Syria, and Iraq

Courses focusing on regional-wide analysis and dynamics including:

• Geopolitics of Central Asia
• Islamic Economies in Practice
• Critical Approaches and Methods in the Study of the Middle East and Central Asia
• Authoritarianism, Democratisation and Protest in the Muslim Middle East
• Energy and Security in Central Asia and the Caucasus
• Islam in Central Asia
• Middle Eastern Economies
• Iran in World Politics

For a full list of courses offered in 2025, please click here or return to the homepage.

Postgraduate students also have the opportunity to study Arabic, Persian and Turkish at a range of proficiency levels.

Additional information about the centre’s language program is available here.

For further information, assistance or inquiries please contact us at:  anas.iqtait@anu.edu.au