The Department of Semitic Philology and Arabic Studies is part of the Oriental Institute, and is located in Building D of the Trefort Campus, neighbouring other departments of the Institute. There are currently four full-time and three retired faculty members at various academic ranks, supported by an administrative officer. The department also includes a library.
Teaching
The department offers educational programmes at the following levels: bachelor’s (BA), master’s (MA), minor, and doctoral (PhD). The name of the undergraduate programme is the Arabic track, which is part of the Oriental Languages and Cultures degree programme. Prospective students are not required to know Arabic upon entry, as the programme begins at beginner level. By the end of the three-year programme, students can achieve a B2 level of language proficiency. In addition to intensive language instruction, emphasis is also placed on literature, linguistics, history, Arabic culture, and Islam in order to provide a solid foundation. The language of instruction is Hungarian. Students write and defend their theses in Hungarian or English, freely choosing from one of five areas: language, literature, culture, history, or religion.
In addition to the bachelor’s programme, students are required to complete another educational module: a minor of their choice. BA students majoring in Arabic may also pursue the Islamic specialisation, which includes Asian cultural and religious studies beyond their undergraduate curriculum. In the master’s programme, students can further develop their Arabic language skills and deepen their knowledge in Arabic literature, linguistics, and cultural and religious studies. The department offers two MA programmes open to BA degree holders with adequate knowledge of Arabic: the MA in Islamic Studies and the MA in Arabic Studies.
The department’s PhD programmeis part of the Doctoral School of Linguistics and requires a solid knowledge of Arabic.
Research
In addition to teaching, the department’s staff actively engage in research according to their various interests. We encourage students to participate in research activities and motivate talented students to continue their studies in our master’s and doctoral programmes. In cooperation with the Csoma de Kőrösi Society, the department has been publishing the journal The Arabist: Budapest Studies in Arabic since 1988.
International relations
Several faculty members belong to international organizations in the field of Arabic and Islamic studies and regularly participate in international conferences relevant to their specialties. Thanks to various scholarships, students can spend short or extended periods studying Arabic in different Arab countries.