The Bachelor of Arts in Arabic Language and Literature at United Arab Emirates University is an undergraduate programme that develops advanced competence in Modern Standard Arabic, classical texts, literary analysis and linguistic description. It suits students who wish to pursue careers in teaching, publishing, media, translation, cultural institutions or further academic study in Arabic studies.
This programme combines language competence, literary history and linguistic study. In early semesters you build a strong foundation in Modern Standard Arabic grammar, composition and speaking, while also studying classical Arabic grammar (nahw) and morphology (sarf). Core literary modules cover pre-Islamic poetry, Qur'anic style, Abbasid and Andalusian literature, and modern Arabic prose and poetry.
Middle and final years include courses in Arabic literary criticism and theory, rhetoric and stylistics (balagha), comparative literature, modern literary movements in the Arab world, and specialised electives such as media Arabic, dialectology, terminology, and translation studies (Arabic–English). Students typically complete a capstone research project or honours dissertation and participate in a teaching practicum or supervised internship in a school, media outlet or cultural organisation.
Programme structure follows a multi-year curriculum with general education requirements from the university, departmental core modules, and a choice of electives that allow specialisation in areas such as literary criticism, applied linguistics, translation, or pedagogy.
Applicants are expected to hold a recognised secondary school leaving certificate or equivalent. Because the programme is taught in Arabic, demonstrated competency in Modern Standard Arabic is required; applicants whose secondary education was not in Arabic may need to provide evidence of language proficiency or pass a preparatory assessment. Admission typically considers academic records, faculty-specific requirements and, where applicable, an interview or placement test. International applicants must satisfy the university's general admission criteria and submit certified transcripts and any requested documentation.
Graduates leave with skills that are valued across public and private sectors. Common career paths include:
United Arab Emirates University is the country’s national research university and offers a well-established Department of Arabic Language and Literature within a comprehensive College of Arts and Social Sciences. The department combines traditional study of classical texts with contemporary approaches to literary theory, linguistics and applied language work. Students benefit from qualified faculty, access to the university library’s Arabic collections, opportunities for teaching practice and internships with schools and media organisations, and a campus environment that supports Arabic-language learning and cultural engagement.
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