Studies & Degrees in Persian Language and Literature (in Universities)
Persian is one of the major languages of the Middle East and Central Asia. Under the names Farsi, Dari and Tajiki it is an official language in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. For centuries it was also a literary and administrative language far beyond those countries: the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies of the University of Oxford describes it as a lingua franca for elites from China to the Balkans in the medieval and early modern periods. Its literature includes the epic and lyric poetry of Ferdowsi and Hafez and, in the twentieth century, of Forugh Farrokhzad.
A university course in Persian language and literature teaches the modern language (reading, writing, speaking and listening), classical and modern literature, and the history, religion and culture of the Persian-speaking world. Persian is written in an adapted Arabic script, and it is an Indo-European language. Oxford's faculty notes that this makes it relatively easy to learn for students who know English or other European languages, and that there is little distance between the spoken and the written language.
Qualifications and levels
Most universities outside Iran do not require any previous knowledge of the language. Courses start with the alphabet and build up to literary texts.
- Bachelor's degrees. In the United States Persian is usually a major or a specialisation inside Middle Eastern studies. The University of Maryland offers a Bachelor of Arts in Persian Studies with a four-year academic plan and 18 credits of language acquisition courses, followed by upper-level electives in media, translation, composition and literature. At the University of Chicago, Persian and Iranian Studies is one of the areas of specialisation in the Middle Eastern Studies major, and its elementary Persian sequence is designed for complete beginners.
- Degrees with a year abroad. At the University of Oxford, undergraduates in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies may focus entirely on Persian or combine it with another language such as Arabic, Hebrew or Turkish. They study Persian abroad during the second year. The faculty states that it is not currently possible for them to study in Iran, so they spend the year in Armenia and Tajikistan.
- Language courses for students of other subjects. The University of Texas at Austin offers first- through third-year courses in Persian in its Department of Middle Eastern Studies, open to students across the campus. Students with any previous knowledge take a placement exam first.
- Master's degrees. The Master of Professional Studies in Persian at the University of Maryland is a one-year programme for graduates who already have advanced proficiency in the language. It covers modern literature, translation and interpreting, media and contemporary Iran.
- Degrees in Iran. At the University of Kashan the Persian Department, established in 1988, teaches Persian Language and Literature at bachelor's, master's and doctoral level. It has admitted PhD students since 2011, with master's specialisations in narrative literature and editing and doctoral specialisations in mystical and epic literature.
A doctorate is the usual route to university teaching and research in the field.
Where to study it
Our directory lists 8 active universities for Persian language and literature: 4 in the United States, 2 in the United Kingdom, 1 in India and 1 in Iran. Examples are The University of Texas at Austin, the University of Michigan, The University of Chicago, the University of Maryland, the University of Oxford, The University of Edinburgh, the University of Calcutta and the University of Kashan.
The language of instruction depends on the country. In the United States and the United Kingdom, literature, history and culture are generally taught in English, and the language classes move towards Persian as students advance. In Iran the degree is taught in Persian: the University of Kashan states that Persian is the medium of instruction in all its courses except those of the English Department, and it offers Persian language courses to international students.
The University of Maryland also hosts what it describes as the only Persian Flagship Program in the United States, which trains students to reach a very high level of proficiency.
Careers
Graduates use the language in very different jobs. According to Oxford's faculty, some of its Persian graduates become journalists or work in broadcasting, and there is demand from government, business, publishing, charities, NGOs and international organisations. A significant proportion take higher degrees and move into academic, museum or library work. Translation and interpreting are other options. In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of interpreters and translators will grow 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, slower than the average for all occupations, and gives a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know Persian before starting a degree?
Usually not outside Iran. The University of Chicago's elementary Persian course, for example, is designed for complete beginners. Degrees in Iran are taught in Persian.
Are Farsi, Dari and Tajiki the same language?
They are the names under which Persian is an official language in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, according to the University of Oxford's Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies.
Where do students of Persian spend their year abroad?
It depends on the university. Oxford states that its students currently spend the year in Armenia and Tajikistan because study in Iran is not possible for them at present.
What can I do with a degree in Persian?
Graduates work in journalism and broadcasting, government, business, publishing, NGOs and international organisations, translation and interpreting, or continue to postgraduate study and academic work.