Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at Sidney

The Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (FAMES) at Cambridge is divided into two Departments - the Department of East Asian Studies (DEAS), which covers Chinese and Japanese, and the Department of Middle Eastern Studies (DMES), which covers Arabic, Persian and Hebrew. Both classical and modern versions of the languages are taught. Subjects in the DMES may be taken as either whole or half subjects; the latter can be combined with a language such as French or Spanish from the Modern & Medieval Languages Tripos. Subjects in DEAS cannot be combined with any other subject. For further details of courses please refer to the Faculty website.

These subjects are taught ab initio in Cambridge, which means that no prior language abilities is assumed. However, some prior knowledge will, of course, be very useful as preparation for the course. While there is a strong emphasis on acquiring a detailed knowledge of the language(s) chosen, increasing attention is being paid to the historical, social, and literary aspects of the various cultures. The Asian and Middle Eastern Studies degree normally takes four years (Part IA in the first year, IB in the second year, Part II in the fourth year, with the third year spent abroad).

AMES at Sidney Sussex

The Director of Studies in both East Asian and Middle Eastern Studies is Dr Brigitte Steger, who is Lecturer in Modern Japanese Studies and a Fellow at Downing College. She researches and teaches on Japanese society, with an emphasis on the cultural history and anthropology of daily life. The College encourages applications from students who are interested in any languages of the AMES Tripos.

Qualities we are looking for

None of these subjects is an easy option, and candidates will need a clear head for grammar, the recognition of linguistic patterns and the learning of vocabulary. Although an experience of language learning is extremely useful, several students have excelled in this Tripos from school backgrounds in Mathematics, Sciences or Music, as well as History. Note that apart from language learning all these subjects involve essay writing on a wide range of topics. An independent approach for learning together with evidence of wide reading will be expected. Enthusiasm is also essential, as is the ability to work in small groups.

Interviews

Your first interview will normally be a general one, focusing on your general interest and wider exploration of your chosen subject. This is intended to inform us of your motivation and your overall intelligence and potential. There will then be a subject interview by a specialist in your chosen language. Candidates applying for a combined course with a modern European language will be given a third interview by a specialist in that language.

Find out more

Further details about the courses can be obtained from the Faculty’s website or from the university's admissions website. The Director of Studies is happy to answer any queries from candidates considering making an application. Please email Dr Brigitte Steger at bs382@cam.ac.uk.