What level of Arabic will I reach on the Higher Diploma in Arabic Language Studies?

Near-professional working competence — broadly CEFR B2/C1 across listening, speaking, reading, writing and translation. You will be able to translate at publishable standard and operate in senior diplomatic, analytical or media settings.

Does the Higher Diploma in Arabic Language Studies include dialect?

Yes. A dedicated strand builds functional working competence in Levantine, Egyptian and Gulf colloquials alongside the core Modern Standard Arabic work. The Higher Diploma in Arabic Language Studies recognises that senior practitioners need to understand interviews, dialogue and broadcast across registers.

How does the Higher Diploma in Arabic Language Studies progress to a Bachelor's degree?

Graduates enter the final year (Level 6) of a UK Bachelor's degree in Arabic or Middle Eastern Studies at a partner university through credit transfer. Admissions reviews your transcript and maps credits at the application stage.

Can I take the Higher Diploma in Arabic Language Studies online?

Yes. The online route runs live cohort sessions, recorded interpreting practice and tutor-marked translation work on the same syllabus as on-campus. Distance learners follow a structured fortnightly deadline schedule with weekly tutor contact.

Is the Higher Diploma in Arabic Language Studies recognised by UK and international employers?

Yes. The Higher Diploma in Arabic Language Studies is a UK qualification at Level 5/6 aligned to Chartered Institute of Linguists and Council for British Research in the Levant standards. Senior translation, diplomatic, NGO and analytical employers recognise the credential.

Higher Diploma in Arabic Language Studies | LSJHML London | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The Higher Diploma in Arabic Language Studies at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a fifteen-to-eighteen-month UK qualification for advanced linguists ready to operate at near-degree level in Arabic. You will work with full-length newspaper editorials, parliamentary debates, NGO reports and literary texts, translate at professional standards, and complete an extended research project on a region or theme of your choice.

This Higher Diploma assumes solid upper-intermediate Arabic from day one and pushes toward CEFR C1. The Higher Diploma in Arabic Language Studies is the credential that signals you are ready for senior translator, analyst or diplomatic-track roles across the MENA region.

Key Features

Near-degree-level UK qualification in Arabic, with a direct route into the final year of a Bachelor's degree.
Advanced translation workshop using press, policy, NGO and literary Arabic to Chartered Institute of Linguists standards.
Dialect strand covering Levantine, Egyptian and Gulf colloquials at functional working level.
Extended research project of 8,000–10,000 words on a MENA-region or thematic question.
Industry-led masterclasses from translators, regional analysts and Council for British Research in the Levant academics.
Direct top-up into the final year of a UK Bachelor's degree in Arabic or Middle Eastern Studies at a partner university.

What You Will Learn

The Higher Diploma in Arabic Language Studies is structured around the four working competences of a professional Arabist at senior level. You graduate able to translate at publishable standard, summarise a Friday news round-up, write a structured report in Arabic, and contribute to senior diplomatic, analytical or media work.

Advanced Modern Standard Arabic — complex syntax, register shifts, classical influence.
Reading at scale — full-length editorials, NGO reports, parliamentary debate, literary prose.
Listening — broadcast interviews, panel discussions, conference papers.
Translation — Arabic to English and English to Arabic at professional standard.
Writing — extended reports, formal letters, summaries, op-ed prose.
Dialect working competence — Levantine, Egyptian and Gulf colloquials.
MENA cultural and political literacy — current debates, historical reference points.
Independent research methods — sources, evidence, structured argument in Arabic studies.

Who This Higher Diploma Is For

Advanced Diploma graduates in Arabic ready to push toward near-professional fluency.
Senior practitioners in diplomacy, humanitarian work or international media wanting a UK near-degree credential.
Heritage speakers seeking certified competence at senior working level.
Career-changers in their thirties moving into senior MENA-facing analytical or translation roles.

Career Pathways

The Higher Diploma in Arabic Language Studies positions graduates for senior translator, analyst and regional-coordinator roles. Typical roles include:

Arabic Translator (national news wire, government translation, NGO)
Diplomatic Service Officer specialising in the MENA region
Arabic Media Analyst (broadcast monitoring, OSINT, government)
Arabic Teacher (secondary, sixth-form, university preparation)
Regional Analyst (think tank, consultancy, financial services)
Senior Project Coordinator (humanitarian agency, regional development)

Graduates progress directly into the final year of a UK Bachelor's degree in Arabic or Middle Eastern Studies at a partner university, or to a Master's with significant senior-track experience.

Entry Requirements

An Advanced Diploma (Level 5) in Arabic or a related subject, OR a Diploma plus two years of relevant work experience.
IELTS 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) for non-native English speakers.
Personal statement and CV; a short Arabic writing sample is welcome.
Mature applicants (25+) without standard qualifications may apply with significant senior-track Arabic-using work experience.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.