Global Cultures & Languages

Our MA in Global Cultures and Languages is a flexible programme that aims to equip students with advanced language skills in one or more areas and to develop their expertise in intercultural communication and cultural transfer. With a particular focus on training students for the global workplace, the programme enables students to take up an additional language and to develop digital and research skills.

Students can choose from modules designed to enhance professional skills and employability and deepen their knowledge of the target cultures in which they specialise; they will graduate from this programme with advanced knowledge and expertise in one or more language areas.

This one-year MA course will appeal to a wide range of people, including present and future language teachers, and those interested in language studies, linguistics, and oral and written communication. The course begins in late September, with teaching ending in March and a thesis is submitted in early October. The MA in Global Cultures and Languages requires attendance at lectures and seminars, the writing of course papers, and the completion of other assessed tasks including presentations.

Course Practicalities
This MA in Global Cultures and Languages is offered by the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures at UCC.

Lecture hours and timetables depend largely on your chosen modules. The elective modules have a value of 10 credits and involve two hours of teaching per week during one semester. The rest of the modules may have a value of 5 or 10 credits and they take a variety of different formats (workshops, participation in research seminars, online learning), so an estimation of the total amount of classes for the duration of the academic year would be between 5 and 10 hours per week, with more than this devoted to directed study outside class hours.

The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours over 2 years.

The programme has a major focus on developing key skills and employability of its graduates with advanced training in Research Skills, Teaching and Learning Methodologies, and advanced language skills. It will provide you with advanced training in languages, intercultural communication and develop your research skills to very high levels. We aim to equip you for jobs in the education, tourism, translation, heritage, technology, or global business sectors.

Modules

The core set of modules introduces students to key concepts needed for engagement in a global marketplace: mobility and globalization; intercultural communication; cultural transfer and exchange. Modules also include research training and development, as well as a dissertation in the student's area of choice.

Students take 90 credits as follows:

Part I

LL6007 Research Journal and Presentation Skills (5 credits)
LL6008 Mobility, Plurilingualism and Intercultural Communication in a Globalized World (10 credits)

Plus 40 credits from the following module groups.
Global Cultures & Languages
AS6000 Transcultural Asia: Past, Present, and Future (10 credits)
LL6016 Mediterranean Cultures: Encounters (10 credits)
LL6024 Conflict, Memory, and Nation-Building in the Francophone world (10 credits)
LL6037 Migration and Culture (10 credits)
LL6038 Metropolis, Mobility, and Minorities (10 credits)

Language Skills and Employability (students may take on a new language, but may not take more than 10 credits of a language at Beginners' Level). See the Book of Modules for module content.

Japanese, Korean, & Chinese
AS1501 Japanese language Level 1 (10 credits)
AS1601 Korean Language Level 1 (10 credits)
CH1001 Chinese Language (Mandarin) I (10 credits)

French
FR1101 Foundation Course in Written and Oral French (10 credits)
FR2101 Advanced French Language (10 credits)
FR4101 Advanced Use of French (10 credits)
FR6503 Advanced French Translation Skills (10 credits)
FR6504 French Translation Project (5 credits)
FR6505 Theory, Methodology and Practice of Consecutive and Simultaneous Interpreting (5 credits)
FR6701 French for Reading Purposes: Proficiency Level (5 credits)
FR6702 Advanced French Intercultural Communications (5 credits)

German
GE1101 German Integrated Written and Oral Language Course (10 credits)
GE1103 German Integrated Written and Oral Language Course for Beginners (10 credits)
GE2101 German Integrated Language Course (10 credits)
GE3101 German Advanced Integrated Language Course (10 credits)
GE6005 Translation Project (German) (5 credits)

Hispanic
HS1102 First-Year Spanish Language for Non-Beginners (10 credits)
HS1103 Spanish Language (Beginner Level) (10 credits)
HS2101 Second Year Spanish Language (ex-beginners) (10 credits)
HS2102 Second Year Spanish Language (ex-non beginners) (10 credits)
HS3001 Final Year Spanish Language (10 credits)
HS6003 Advanced Translation Skills (10 credits)
HS6006 Advanced Spanish Language for Professional Purposes (10 credits)
HS6014 Gramática para ELE: Teaching Spanish Grammar in the Second Language Classroom (10 credits)
HS6017 Intensive Catalan Language and Culture (10 credits)
HS6018 Intensive Galician Language and Culture (10 credits)
HS6019 Intensive Portuguese Language and Culture (10 credits)

Italian
IT1101 Introduction to Written and Spoken Italian (10 credits)
IT1102 Non-Beginners' Written and Spoken Italian (10 credits)
IT1109 Introduction to Written and Spoken Italian (10 credits)
IT1110 Italian Language (Beginner Level) (5 credits, P1 only)
IT1120 Italian Language (Beginner Level) (5 credits, P2 only)
IT2101 Intermediate Italian Language (10 credits)
IT2103 Lower-Intermediate Italian Language (B1) (5 credits, P1 only)
IT2104 Upper-Intermediate Italian Language (B2) (5 credits, P2 only)
IT3101 Advanced Italian Language (10 credits)
IT6003 Advanced Italian Language for Professional Purposes (10 credits)
IT6101 Translation: Methods and Practice (10 credits)
IT6104 Teaching of Italian as a second language 1 (10 credits)
IT6301 Italian Cultural Awareness (5 credits)

Digital Arts & Humanities
DH6004 Conceptual Introduction to Digital Arts and Humanities (5 credits)
DH6010 Humanities and New Technologies: Tools and Methodologies (5 credits)

Other
LL6012 Research Project (5 credits)
LL6023 What Gets Lost: Poetry and Translation (10 credits)
LL6017 Work Placement and Portfolio (10 credits)

Part II

LL6006 Dissertation in Global Cultures and Languages (30 credits)

See the University Calendar (MA Global Cultures & Languages) for full course content.
Modules

Further details on the modules listed above can be found in our Book of Modules. Any modules listed above are indicative of the current set of modules for this course but are subject to change from year to year.

University Calendar

You can find the full academic content for the current year of any given course in our University Calendar.

Applicants should normally have at least a Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) or equivalent in French, German, Italian, Hispanic Studies/Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean or English.

Candidates with a Second Class Honours Grade I degree in language, linguistics or a cognate discipline completed through the medium of French, German, Italian, Hispanic Studies/Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean or English may also be considered following a review of their individual qualifications by the course committee.

Candidates who hold a Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) may also be considered, based on the information provided in a supplementary statement and/or interview acceptable to the programme selection committee. Applicants may be required to present themselves for an interview or further assessment before a final decision is made.

Graduates who do not meet the above entry requirements may also be considered if they are deemed to have reached equivalent experiential learning (including proficiency in language and intercultural skills from other sources). Such applications will be considered under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) subject to approval by the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Science.

English Language Requirements
Applicants that are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Please visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.

For applicants with qualifications completed outside of Ireland
Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.

International/Non-EU Applicants
For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.

In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.

The closing date for non-EU applications is 30 June 2023

How Do I Apply
1. Check Dates: Check the opening and closing dates for the application process in the fact file boxes at the top of the page.

For Irish and EU applicants we operate a rounds system and you can check the rounds closing dates here.
Note that not all our programmes are subject to the rounds system so check the opening and closing dates for your specific programme in the fact file boxes above.

2. Gather Documents: Scanned copies of supporting documents have to be uploaded to the UCC online application portal and include:

Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC.
Any supplementary items requested for your course if required.

3. Apply Online: Apply online via the UCC online application portal. Note the majority of our courses have a non-refundable €50 application fee.

Any questions? Use our web enquiry form to contact us.

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)
Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:

You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.

In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.

Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.

Please indicate your level of language expertise in the language(s) offered by this programme and include details of any relevant qualifications, skills and experiences to date.

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time.

Skills and Careers Information
This programme will provide you with advanced training in languages, intercultural communication and develop your research skills to very high levels. It will equip you for jobs in the education, tourism, translation, heritage, technology, or global business sectors.