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Middle East & Mediterranean Studies (MEMS) is a leading London centre of research and teaching on the politics, history, economics and international relations of the Middle East and Mediterranean at postgraduate level.  Our dynamic growth in recent years has allowed us to expand in line with our strategic goal of building the largest stand-alone programme dealing with the Middle East in the UK.

Currently we offer three cutting-edge MA degrees. 

• The MA in the Political Economy of the Middle East is the first MA of its kind solely focusing on the Middle East at a London university. 
• The MA in Middle East & Mediterranean Studies is our longest running MA. It addresses the history and politics of the region with a growing focus on the role of and competition between the US, the EU, Turkey, Iran and the BRIC nations in the politics and economics of the region.
• Our third MA deals with Conflict Resolution in Divided Societies. Its focus is on the theory and practice of conflict resolution and peacemaking with special emphasis on power-sharing and comparative analysis.   

Our flourishing PhD programme receives over 250 enquiries and applications a year. We are currently home to a dynamic, diverse and highly talented group of 60 PhD students from 28 countries undertaking doctoral research in a number of core areas where we already have a long-established track record of research excellence. In line with our expansion and development we are now also offering both teaching and PhD supervision in the social anthropology of the Middle East and the socio-economic development of the Persian Gulf and Arabian Peninsula with a special on human capital development.

Our staff, MA and PhD students all benefit from the Programme’s two innovative and cutting edge seminar series.

• The Middle East Research Group (MERG), hosts speakers from the highest levels of academia, politics, the media and international affairs.
• Our 'Conversations with Diplomacy', developed in cooperation with the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), provides a forum for our staff and students to interact with British diplomats and ambassadors involved in policy making or posted to the Middle East.

Recent speakers at these seminar series have included the Director of the FCO’s Middle East & North Africa desk, the Foreign Secretary’s representatives to Afghanistan-Pakistan and the Syrian Opposition as well as British representatives to Iraq, Lebanon, Jerusalem and Jordan. We have also recently welcomed former US Middle East Peace Envoy, Senator George Mitchell, and the Turkish ambassador to the UK.