A Language Pathway into Iranian Society and Regional Context

Persian (Farsi) is central to understanding Iran’s society, culture, and role in the wider region. Spoken across Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, it provides access to a broad cultural and political space shaped by history, exchange, and contemporary dynamics.

In this program, you will study Persian in an intensive, small-group setting designed to build speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. Instruction is paired with guided conversation practice, engagement with Persian-language media and cultural materials, and applied exercises, allowing you to move beyond the classroom and begin using the language in meaningful, structured contexts.

Yerevan offers a unique vantage point for this study. Yerevan offers a unique vantage point for this study. Located just north of Iran and connected through long-standing historical, economic, and cultural ties, Armenia provides direct exposure to Iranian perspectives and communities in a more open and accessible environment. This program can be taken as a standalone language course or alongside Iran: Society, Power, and Regional Order, where Persian study deepens your engagement with regional themes.

Language in Context

In Yerevan, Persian is encountered within a transnational space shaped by proximity, exchange, and diaspora. Armenia and Iran share a border and maintain active economic and cultural relationships, while Iran is home to a significant Armenian community, particularly in Isfahan. This setting allows you to approach Persian not only as a national language, but as one used across borders and communities. You will gain insight into how language functions in cultural exchange, economic interaction, and diaspora life, while building practical communication skills in a supportive environment.

This program complements SRAS’s “Language Along the Eurasian Corridor” initiative by offering an Iran-facing perspective on how language functions across borders, cultures, and regional systems.

Program Details

LANG 101/102/290/390 Persian Language Study

You will develop speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills through intensive, small-group instruction. Coursework emphasizes practical communication, supported by conversation practice, applied exercises, and engagement with Persian-language cultural materials. 4-8 credits

Contact us for course syllabi.

Culture and Experiential Learning

The cultural program in Yerevan supports your language study by introducing Armenia’s historical and contemporary connections to Iran and the wider region.

  • City tour
  • Day trip: Garni Pagan Temple and Geghard Cave Monastery
  • Day trip: Summit of Aragats, Amberd fortress, Kari lake, Yezidi tent
  • Ejmiatsin, Yezidi temple, Turkmen Emir’s tomb (6- or 8-week program only) 
  • Cooking and art masterclasses
  • Private museum visit
  • Wine and brandy tastings

Optional 3-day trip to the South (Khor Virap, Areni Cave-wine tasting, Shaki Waterfall, Goris, Tatev, Zorats, Noravanq, Meghri) 

Partner University

ASPIRANTUM School of Languages and Cultures was founded in 2014 to provide intensive language instruction in Armenian, Persian, and Russian. Participants from around the world enjoy highly skilled and motivating instructors, a rich cultural program, and opportunities to meet local experts.

Transcripts and Credit Transfer

The School of Record for this program is Stetson University (Florida, USA). Credit transfer to your home institution is usually possible. Additionally, a US School of Record means that your program is supported by and documented by an accredited US university. The School of Record will issue an American transcript, making credit transfer relatively routine.

Housing is not included in the base program cost, allowing students flexibility in choosing accommodations that suit their preferences and budget.

SRAS will assist in coordinating options, including access to a negotiated group hotel rate and support in arranging shared apartments or independent housing. Students are connected prior to arrival to facilitate shared arrangements where desired.

Armenia’s relationship with Iran stretches back millennia, including periods of Persian rule under the Achaemenids, Parthians, and Safavids. While maintaining a distinct language and identity, Armenia absorbed lasting cultural influences from Persia, visible in architecture, cuisine, and shared traditions.

Today, Armenia and Iran maintain close ties shaped by geography and mutual necessity. Cross-border trade, energy cooperation, and cultural exchange remain active, while Iran continues to host one of the world’s largest Armenian diasporas in Isfahan’s New Julfa district.

Yerevan reflects this layered history while offering a modern and accessible environment for study. Affordable, walkable, and culturally vibrant, the city provides a supportive base for language study, with easy access to historical sites, natural landscapes, and regions shaped by Armenia’s long-standing connection to Iran.

Armenia Resources:

Persian Cultural Resources:

Budget

Budget Breakdown (summer 4 week)
Budget Breakdown (summer 6 week)
Budget Breakdown (summer 8 week)

SRAS Guide to Living in Yerevan  (w/ weekly living expenses, etc.)

Scholarships and Grants:

  • Federal aid can help pay for your program if your university pre-approves credit transfer and agrees to manage payment. Check with SRAS and your university for details.
  • All Scholarships and Grants that we know of that can be applied to our programs are listed on our site.
  • SRAS Program Grants are stackable! 
  • SRAS Ambassadors can write while abroad or educate students at home after their return – and earn stipends!
  • SRAS Online Research Internships award partial scholarships for study abroad.

  1. Complete our application (press the “Apply Now” button to create your SRAS account — you will be able to return to the application later).
  2. Alert your home university (if you are currently a student).
    Some universities have deadlines for study abroad that are much earlier than SRAS deadlines -— so involve your home university’s study abroad office in the process as early as possible! They can help ensure that all goes smoothly with credit transfer and financial aid, and perhaps point you to additional funding sources.
  3. See our Planning Guide for more important information about academics, health and safety, and more.

If you are still unsure this is the right program for you, please join an SRAS Info Session or schedule an SRAS advising session to discuss how we can help fulfill your goals and needs!