Study Iranian Studies in Marburg (2026/27)

Iranian Studies programs in Germany offer international students exceptional access to Persian culture and history through one of Europe's strongest Orientalist traditions, studying where scholars have decoded cuneiform tablets from Persepolis and preserved Persian manuscripts for centuries—creating specialists who master Persian language, explore Iran's millennia-spanning civilization from Zoroastrian texts to contemporary cinema, and navigate the complexities of a nation crucial to Middle Eastern stability yet often misunderstood through political headlines. These interdisciplinary English-taught degrees leverage Germany's unique position as Iran's largest European trading partner maintaining dialogue when others disengage: students analyze classical Persian poetry from Hafez to Rumi in original, investigate how Sassanid administrative systems influenced Islamic governance, examine contemporary Iranian society through film and social media despite censorship, understand Germany's role mediating nuclear negotiations, and discover why German scholarship on Iran balances cultural appreciation with critical analysis—providing perspectives unavailable in more politically charged contexts. Germany's remarkable Persian collections and contemporary connections provide unmatched resources: libraries housing illuminated manuscripts saved from destruction, museums displaying Persian miniatures and carpets revealing artistic evolution, active cultural exchanges when possible, businesses preparing for post-sanctions opportunities, and diaspora communities from Iranian refugees enriching German understanding. The comprehensive curriculum demands linguistic and cultural mastery: Persian language from classical to colloquial registers, additional languages like Arabic or Turkish for regional context, history from Achaemenid Empire to Islamic Republic, contemporary politics analyzing theocracy and democracy tensions, and cultural studies from Ta'zieh passion plays to underground Tehran music scenes.