The U2 Tuition Guide to Asian and Middle Eastern Studies: Preparation, Personal Statement, Interviews and More!
Over the course of your application and even long into your degree, you may hear a common question: Why do you want to study AMES? From Morocco to Taiwan, from ancient times to modern geopolitics, few degrees give you such depth and breadth to explore this fascinating world and your decision to do so is sure to set you apart from the crowd. Ultimately, no matter your particular reasons for applying, it is really important to try to be confident in your decision. Learning to justify your interests in AMES to friends and family prepares you to convince a potential interviewer of your fascination with their subject, while justifying it to yourself will give the motivation you need to push through the trials of the long application process and, more importantly, enjoy the process! Read on for our top tips on AMES careers, personal statement preparation, and interview tips and tricks …
What is Asian and Middle Eastern Studies?
Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES) at prestigious institutions like Oxford and Cambridge universities offer a rigorous and comprehensive exploration of the cultures, languages, histories, and societies of Asia and the Middle East. These programmes provide a unique opportunity to delve deep into the vibrant and complex regions, including East Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa.
At Oxford, the AMES curriculum combines language study with in-depth analysis of the historical, literary, and cultural aspects of the regions. Students can specialise in specific areas such as Chinese Studies, Japanese Studies, Modern Middle Eastern Studies, or Oriental Studies. The courses cover a wide range of subjects, including ancient and modern languages, politics, anthropology, religion, art, and more. The tutorial system at Oxford ensures personalised attention and intellectual engagement, fostering critical thinking and independent research skills.
Similarly, Cambridge's AMES programme offers an interdisciplinary approach that allows students to explore multiple disciplines and develop a nuanced understanding of the regions. The curriculum integrates language learning, history, literature, politics, and social sciences to provide a holistic view. Students can focus on similar areas to the Oxford offering. Cambridge's emphasis on research and intellectual curiosity enables students to engage with primary sources, conduct fieldwork, and contribute to ongoing scholarly debates.
Both Oxford and Cambridge offer study abroad opportunities, language immersion programmes, and access to extensive resources, including libraries, research centres, and expert faculty. By choosing AMES at Oxford or Cambridge, students embark on an enriching academic journey that equips them with the skills, knowledge, and cross-cultural understanding necessary to navigate our increasingly interconnected world. The programmes foster intellectual growth, global citizenship, and empower students to become agents of positive change in their chosen fields.
What Kind of Careers Can I Get With an AMES Degree?
An AMES degree opens up a wide array of exciting career opportunities for graduates. With a deep understanding of the cultures, languages, histories, and societies of Asia and the Middle East, graduates can pursue diverse paths across various sectors. In the realm of academia, an AMES degree can lead to research and teaching positions at universities, enabling individuals to contribute to the field and shape future generations' understanding of these regions. Additionally, careers in diplomacy, international relations, and government agencies await those with an AMES background, as they possess valuable insights and expertise in navigating complex international dynamics. Journalistic roles, both in traditional media and digital platforms, benefit from the in-depth knowledge and cultural understanding gained through an AMES degree. Furthermore, the corporate world seeks professionals with cross-cultural competence for roles in international business, consulting, marketing, and trade. Non-profit organisations, humanitarian agencies, and cultural institutions also value AMES graduates' expertise, as they can contribute to projects related to international development, cultural preservation, and social justice. Ultimately, an AMES degree offers a wide range of rewarding career paths, allowing graduates to make a meaningful impact in today's globally interconnected society.
How to Write the Perfect AMES Personal Statement
Because we all have our own reasons for wanting to study, there is no ‘perfect’ personal statement. The goal of a personal statement is to be transparent about your own interests in your chosen subject and show the admissions tutor what makes you suitable for a place at their college.
Introductions should be engaging and brief. In the space of just one or two sentences, your goal is to entice the admissions tutor into reading on and demonstrate your enthusiasm for the subject from the get go. Some find it easier to wait until the end of the writing process for this step to avoid being over-repetitive and to make sure the introduction matches the tone of the rest of your statement.
When faced with a blank page, it can be hard to know where to start. As a general rule, I advise people to create and go through their list of reasons for wanting to study AMES and start from there, developing each reason into a paragraph by adding evidence and personal experience.
Though the personal statement should be framed as a demonstration of your passion for the subject and desire to study, it is also your opportunity to show the university why *you* specifically are the student for them. For example, in a paragraph about how you are interested in Chinese history, you could include evidence of how you took the initiative to explore the topic for yourself through wider reading (see below) or other educational experiences. Similarly, in a paragraph about your love of language learning, you may wish to include evidence about how you’ve learnt/used languages beyond what school required of you. A good example can be found here.
When it comes to evidencing your achievements/passions, as long as you can make a compelling argument of its relevance, any experience can theoretically be included in a personal statement. That said, there are some key things to bear in mind:
Know the difference between extra-Curricular vs super-curricular. Though universities may be interested in extra-curricular activities from school (be it sport or music), this should be kept as a last resort (ideally no more than ⅕ of your supporting evidence). Instead, consider taking a MOOC, attending a lecture, starting an academic society or reading some books from/about your region of choice.
The vast majority of personal statements focus on reading the student has done. Whether it be literature written in your A Level language, translated literature from your region of study, non-fiction writing about the region or academic writing about the study of history, regions, sociology etc. the more you’ve read, the more you’ll be able to demonstrate your existing understanding of the region and desire to explore further.
Note, however, that not all readings are created equal. Citing texts/ films that all A-Level students are required to read/ watch is unlikely to impress, while some books like Wild Swans for Chinese Studies are so widely read that they may not help much to stand out. Some personal recommendations regardless of specific language choice are Edward Said’s Orientalism, Benedict Anderson’s Imagined Communities, and The Invention of Tradition by Eric Hobsbawm - each of these books (especially the former) introduce key issues in the study of areas traditionally considered to be ‘exotic’ and very often form the basis for some questions at interview. Preparatory Reading lists on the faculty website (Chinese and Arabic) also serve as a useful jumping off point for your exploration. Remember, this doesn’t have to be a chore! Getting excited about your subject and finding topics that genuinely interest you is a big part of what studying at Cambridge is about; why not get a head start!
Try showing cause-effect relationships. Why did you want to read that book? Why did you get involved in that society? What did you get from the book? What does it make you want to explore further? What concrete skills (soft and hard) did you gain from that experience? Though getting a Gold DofE might be impressive (though still only extra-curricular), the resilience, team building, or leadership the experience gave you are far more important to a potential admissions tutor.
Be specific. As is good form for any application, being specific about what experiences you went through, how long you did something for, or what you achieved, gives your application a professional feeling and gives you another opportunity to show off!
NB. when it comes to ab initio [from scratch] language courses, no-one is expecting you to have spent much (if any) time studying your target language. Therefore, any and all relevant learning or cultural exploration of other countries/languages - including those studied at A Level - may also be beneficial to your application.
Once you have developed your points, choosing a paragraph order that flows well, guides a reader through your own journey with the subject and makes for a much easier read. The unfortunate reality is that admissions tutors are reading through upwards of a hundred applications in a short period of time and may not always be giving their full attention to the process. Anything you can do, therefore, to keep their attention and make your application stand out, is worth considering. For example, a possible list of reasons for studying Arabic may go as follows:
I like learning languages (I have read … and watched … in the original French and have spent … studying … on Duolingo)
I am interested in foreign cultures (I have read some literature from .. and found it interesting because … )
I am interested in historical influences on the Arab World. (I read… particularly interested in … )
I am interested in geopolitics and the influence of the Arab World (Having done Model UN for … years, it has helped me develop … skills and taught me to … and made me interested in …)
I am excited by the idea of studying abroad (I did a course abroad in… and learnt … from it. I do … which has given me … skills that will help in a living abroad situation.)
I want to push my intellectual limits (at school I did … that challenged me in … ways)
Though each of these paragraphs provides a well evidenced, compelling reason for your acceptance, this personal statement reads more like a list. Through the inclusion of causational phrases and conjunctions like “After reading … I began to be interested in…”, “My interest in studying Arabic started with a …”, “this led me to…” , “Having completed …, I now want to…”, “not only do I want to …, I also want to …”, or “ I am excited to use these skills at university …” you can begin to transform a dry list into more of a story, forcing the reader to relate to you as an individual and read on.
Much like the introduction, the conclusion can be quite fiddly to get right and lead to some frustration. Ultimately, if you can end your statement on a positive, enthusiastic note that summarises your general approach to your chosen subject without wasting too much of your valuable space, this will be more than adequate.
As with any application, writing a personal statement is an act of gradually refining. It’s OK (in fact better) if your first few drafts are still clunky or too long. Through the process of re-reading, thinking and turning to tutors for guidance, it won’t be long before you craft something you can be proud of. I generally recommend students write no less than 5 drafts as an absolute minimum but the more the merrier!
How to Ace the Oxbridge AMES Interview
Hopefully, with all these tips under your belt you will be chosen for an interview! Most applicants have two interviews: one with college and one with the faculty. However, if you are applying in tandem with an MML language, expect a possible third interview with the relevant language department (see MML guidance for more help preparing with this.)
Though each interview is unique and impossible to predict, here are some general tips.
Make sure you are familiar with your personal statement. Though some interviewers will make no reference to it whatsoever (maybe not even having read it), an ability to fall back on topics with which you’re more familiar can help you take back some control in the interview room and highlight your interests and skills.
As with a personal statement, reading is what makes a good academic. If you have read a good range of fairly relevant, intellectually-rigorous writings on your chosen area, you should have plenty of material to use in responding to a question. Whether this be a cursory understanding of Orientalism (questions regarding East-West divides, autonomy and cultural appropriation are very common at interview), contemporary news stories or basic linguistics, all these ideas can come in handy to help you respond intelligently to interview questions.
There are no wrong answers, only wrong ways to answer. For a humanities subject like AMES, it is very unlikely that the interviewer will ask you a yes-no question or whether you know something or not but, even if they do, your answer should never stop there. Consider: why think why do you think what you think? What might make you change your mind? What information would you need to come to a conclusion? Whose narrative is maybe not being heard by the public that’s worth considering? Facts can be learnt but what the interviewer is looking for is your approach. No-one minds if you have to say “I don’t know” as long as you continue, with the interviewers’ support, to find an answer. Showing your workings and talking things through isn’t just allowed, it’s encouraged!
Similarly, be prepared to defend yourself but open to change. It is likely that, at some point in your interview, someone will question your response (sometimes even quite bluntly telling you that you are wrong). This is deliberate and shouldn’t be seen as an insult to you or your opinion. Instead, consider what they are saying, ask for clarification if needed and then, reassess what you’ve said. Remember, it is also OK to stick with a claim and even to disagree with the interviewers, but this must be justified and well explained. Any question worth asking has many answers - what matters is how you arrive at yours.
Ultimately, the most useful preparation you can do is practise: whether that be formal practice (available through U2) or simply having academic, philosophical and political discussions with friends and family. It’s a bit cliche but the fact is this - the interview is designed to be a conversation and not an exam. The interviewer is far less concerned with what you know (especially if applying ab initio) than how you approach new information, how you think, and how you respond to feedback and challenges. Through regularly practising - the earlier you start the better - this sort of thinking can and will become second nature to you.
To end on a corny note, you really are allowed to enjoy your interview! This process is undoubtedly stressful and there will be times where you get scared for what’s coming. However, this is also a rare opportunity to sit down and chat with some of the greatest minds in a field that excites you. Use the opportunity to learn, to explore, to be challenged and (where possible) have fun!
AMES Sample Oxbridge Interview Questions
Why are you interested in studying AMES at Oxbridge?
Can you tell us about a recent news event in Asia or the Middle East that caught your attention and why?
How do you think studying languages such as Mandarin, Arabic, or Japanese can enhance your understanding of the respective culture and society?
What aspect of AMES excites you the most, and why did you choose this particular area of focus?
How would you approach studying a historical event or period in the Middle East, considering the potential biases and challenges in accessing primary sources?
If you were given the opportunity to interview a prominent figure from an Asian or Middle Eastern country, who would it be and what would you ask them?
How would you analyze the impact of globalization on cultural identities in Asia and the Middle East?
What are some of the key challenges and opportunities for diplomacy between Western countries and the Middle East today?
In your opinion, how has social media influenced political movements and activism in Asia?
Can you discuss a literary work or piece of art from the region and explain how it reflects the cultural values and societal issues of that time?
In conclusion, embarking on the journey of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES) university preparation opens doors to a world of cultural understanding, language proficiency, and global opportunities. Through careful planning and diligent preparation, aspiring students can position themselves for success in this dynamic field. Whether pursuing AMES at esteemed institutions like Oxford or Cambridge or exploring other reputable programmes, the blog has provided valuable insights and expert guidance on selecting the right programme, crafting a standout application, excelling in standardised tests, accessing funding opportunities, and leveraging internships and networking for future career prospects. By embracing the AMES discipline, individuals not only gain a profound understanding of the diverse and interconnected regions but also become well-rounded global citizens capable of making meaningful contributions in academia, diplomacy, journalism, international business, non-profit organisations, and more. The road to AMES success is an enriching and transformative one, and this blog has equipped readers with the necessary tools and inspiration to embark on their own journey with confidence and enthusiasm.
Are You Looking For an Oxbridge AMES Tutor?
At U2 Tuition, we have a fabulous team of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES) mentors to help support you through the entire process, from personal statement to your AMES interview. Our dedicated tutors work closely with each student, identifying their individual strengths and areas for improvement. With our experienced AMES tutors, students receive tailored tutoring sessions that cater to their specific needs. We offer comprehensive support, from guidance on admissions test preparation to crafting compelling personal statements and interview preparation, ensuring students develop the necessary skills and knowledge for success in the field of AMES.
The Process:
1) We suggest an Oxbridge AMES graduate as a tutor and send their full CV for review. Our tutors are deeply familiar with the admissions process to study Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oxford and Cambridge, and are well-placed to guide you through personal statement curation, submitted work and the interview process. We may suggest a range of application tutors to choose from with slightly differing rates depending on qualifications and level of experience.
2) We typically suggest beginning with a 1.5 hour informal diagnostic session, where the tutor will informally assess the student’s current performance level for application. Following this, we issue a report with feedback, and structure a plan to best prepare.
3) U2’s approach for regular AMES application sessions: The main focus of tutorial sessions will be to explore material that can be discussed in the personal statement and at interview - this may sometimes stretch to First Year Undergraduate. Tutors ensure each student refines their interests within the course and is exposed to a range of approaches and new concepts, guiding students in their reading and wider subject exploration
Frequency of sessions can be decided between student and tutor. Students can take either ad hoc sessions, or we structure a full programme for preparation, which may include further co-curricular opportunities such as our research projects, and Oxbridge mock interview days. Honing the skills necessary to succeed for Oxbridge ideally requires long-term preparation and mentoring presents a wonderful opportunity to learn from some of the very best Oxbridge has produced. We also provide GCSE, A-Level or IB support if needed.
Sessions from £70/h + VAT