Postgraduate Masters degrees in global languages, literatures, and cultures

The School of Modern Languages offers three Masters degrees designed to enhance your intercultural competency and transferable skills in an increasingly globalised world.

Whether you want to pursue doctoral study or upskill your professional profile, the School’s programmes offer excellent training. Graduates have gone on to careers in the public sector, international development, consultancy, as well as journalism, translation, and publishing.

The School offers the MLitt Modern Languages and MLitt Comparative Literature as one-year, full-time qualifications, as well as a two-year MA/MLitt German and Comparative Literature co-delivered with Bonn University. Assessment on all programmes is by coursework, which can include portfolios, essays, presentations, and a dissertation.

The School offers a truly global approach with specialists across eight languages – Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Persian, Russian, Spanish– and Comparative Literature. Expertise spans from the Middle Ages to present day and includes prose, poetry, theatre, film, history, translation, and material culture.

The MLitt Comparative Literature allows students to study texts in their original language or through English translations, or a combination of the two.

The MLitt Modern Languages requires language competency and offers the option to specialise in one or two of our dedicated pathways:

Chinese Cultural Studies [single pathway only]
Francophone Studies
German Studies
Hispanic Studies
Italian Studies
Middle Eastern Studies (Arabic and/or Persian)
Russian Studies

You can choose from a variety of modules taught in small-groups, including classical and contemporary theoretical approaches to literature and culture, a dedicated transferable research skills module, directed reading tailored to your areas of interest, and a 15,000-word dissertation with the support of a specialist supervisor.

For further advice about studying a Masters degree in the School of Modern Languages, please email modlangs@st-andrews.ac.uk.

St Andrews is a unique place to study and live. As well as its three beaches and historic buildings, the town is home to a vibrant student community and both Dundee and Edinburgh are only a short journey away.
As a Masters student in the School of Modern Languages you will be part of the St Leonard’s Postgraduate College, which comprises a vibrant interdisciplinary postgraduate community. You will also have access to the University’s dedicated postgraduate space, Old Burgh School, which offers space and amenities for studying and socialising.

Alongside your academic learning, you will develop your broader capabilities and employability. All Masters students have access to the Professional Skills Curriculum, a flexible programme of workshops, lectures, and online materials to help you develop your personal and professional skills.

The School also works closely with the University Careers Centre to provide Masters students with careers advice and support, including advice for those who intend to continue to a doctoral degree.

The University offers a wide range of accommodation options to suit different student lifestyles, including a range of options specifically for postgraduate students – see postgraduate accommodation options. The University guarantees accommodation to all international postgraduate taught students starting in 2023-2024.

Postgraduate Masters degrees in global languages, literatures, and cultures

Postgraduate study at St Andrews

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