Official Course Summary · 2027 Entry
Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at University of Cambridge
Official course requirements for Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at University of Cambridge, with 1-to-1 tutoring from Cambridge graduates.
In a nutshell
Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES) is a four-year course where you learn one (or two) of Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, Japanese, Persian, Sanskrit or another supported language from beginner level, alongside the literature, history, religion or politics of the region. Year 3 is normally spent abroad.
Official course summary
What University of Cambridge publishes for Asian and Middle Eastern Studies.
- UCAS code
- T620
- Degree
- BA (Hons)
- Duration
- 4 years
- Typical A-Level offer
- A*AA
- Admissions test
- No pre-registered admissions test. Most colleges set a short at-interview reasoning task — College admission assessment, no advance registration. There is no language entry-test for the ab initio routes.
- Interview
- You do not need to speak the language you intend to study. Tutors test whether you can argue clearly about the region's history, literature or politics, and whether you have realistic enthusiasm for the language-learning year ahead.
Always verify these details on the official University of Cambridge course page before applying — entry requirements and assessment formats can change between cycles.
Insider tips
Things Asian and Middle Eastern Studies applicants commonly miss.
- 01
Almost every language route is ab initio — you can apply with no prior Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, etc. Tutors look for evidence of stamina with language learning generally (any prior language to A-Level is fine).
- 02
Mention which region you want to focus on in your personal statement. AMES is broad but the academic supervisions are very specific by region.