MA Middle Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures at University of Virginia

Programme overview

Multidisciplinary MA in advanced language study and cultural understanding of the Middle East (including North Africa) or South Asia, designed to be completed in two years.

Faculty: Graduate School of Arts & Sciences | Department: Middle Eastern & South Asian Languages & Cultures (MESALC) | Duration: 2 years | Study mode: full-time | Location: Charlottesville, VA, United States

What you will study

A regional concentration (Middle East or South Asia), study of one language (Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, Hindi, Urdu or Sanskrit) to at least second- or third-year proficiency, 30 graduate credits including history, politics and literature, and a final research seminar culminating in a master's paper. Optional graduate certificates are available.

Career pathways

Government analyst, NGO or nonprofit program officer, language instructor, cultural affairs or international-education coordinator, translator or interpreter, or doctoral study.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (all programmes): online application with a 500-1,000 word statement of purpose, unofficial transcripts of all postsecondary work, minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0, two letters of recommendation (programmes may require more), and an $85 non-refundable application fee. International applicants whose undergraduate degree was not earned entirely in English submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test scores: TOEFL iBT 90 overall (22 speaking, 22 writing, 23 reading, 23 listening) for tests taken before 1/21/26, IELTS 7.0 in each section, Duolingo 130 overall; committees may still consider scores below these minimums. GRE is not required for this programme. MA application window: January 15 to May 1.

Requirements published at faculty level.

Domestic applicants: USD 22,770 a year (2026-27). Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Master's programs rate (annual). Rate for Virginia residents. Tuition only; excludes mandatory/comprehensive and program fees. International students pay the non-Virginia resident rate only if the schedule so applies; Source

International applicants: USD 38,384 a year (2026-27). Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Master's programs rate (annual). Rate for non-Virginia residents. Tuition only; excludes mandatory/comprehensive and program fees. Source labels this rate as non-Virginia residents (not specifically international). Source

Application fees (2026-27): undergraduate $75; Graduate School of Arts & Sciences $85; Architecture $80; Batten graduate $75; Darden non-PhD $250, Darden PhD $100; Data Science $85; Education and Human Development $65; Law $85; McIntire graduate $85; Medicine $80; Nursing $88; SCPS $70; Graduate Engineering no fee.

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