The world is becoming an ever ‘smaller place’. We are increasingly brought into contact with different languages and cultures. Through multicultural societies, international organisations and online connections. Communication has become an international – and therefore an intercultural – matter. The importance of understanding cultural parameters and mutual perceptions is rapidly increasing in fields such as business, education, conflict resolution, and more.
The Intercultural Communication Master’s programme teaches you how to approach and promote linguistic and cultural diversity in various international contexts.The interdisciplinary and multilingual programme will equip you with the tools to apply theory to international practice. After graduation, your skills as a multilingual and intercultural expert will contribute to mutual understanding within Europe or abroad and to the strong worldwide relationships that are so important in our era of globalisation.
Over the course of one year, this Master’s programme will prepare you for an international career. You will learn to analyse communication products and processes in the multilingual contexts of international organisations. Through rigorous interdisciplinary methods, you will gain experience in communication from linguistic, communicative, cultural, anthropological and management perspectives.
The Master’s programme in Intercultural Communication is a joint programme that incorporates expertise from German, English, French, Italian, Dutch and Spanish researchers and lecturers. You can choose your own study path in the form of a language-specific programme that includes a high level of second/international language training in one of the language mentioned above. Alternatively, you can pursue a non-language-specific multilingual programme, in which you analyse communication processes within different languages and cultures. All tracks are open to international students who want to increase their intercultural and multilingual competencies in an international context. Read more about the different tracks.
Communications professionals can improve their career options and promotion opportunities by following the Master’s programme in Intercultural Communication. Whether you plan to take a sabbatical from work or are an independent professional seeking to broaden your opportunities in internationalisation, this Master offers you a number of possibilities. This programme will increase your employability and enrich your CV. You can also enrol in individual courses as time permits.
After graduation from the Master’s programme in Intercultural Communication you will:
After successfully completing your studies, you will be ready for various positions where intercultural communication processes in organisational and cultural contexts are vital. You will also be able to design and implement practice-oriented language and communication research. For example, you may advise companies and organisations on communication processes for migrants and expats (communicative auditing). Read more about possible career prospects.
The MA in Multilingualism, Linguistics and Education is an applied linguistics programme with an emphasis on diversity, both linguistic and cultural diversity, which also provides a solid understanding of the theoretical and practical issues that arise in multilingual and intercultural educational settings.
This programme is a unique combination of applied linguistics and educational studies. It draws on expertise from two departments, the Department of English and Comparative Literature and the Department of Educational Studies, to offer students a wide-ranging interdisciplinary programme. It will add value to your professional life, whether as a manager, teacher or researcher, or in other careers related to language and education.
This programme is targeted at students working or planning to work in education in diverse contexts, and those interested in professional roles related to intercultural and multilingual communication.
It will be of particular interest to students who wish to gain experience in language teaching, either as an additional or second foreign language (for example in multilingual classrooms, in bilingual education settings internationally, or English as a foreign language/English as a Lingua Franca) and aim to achieve a wider theoretical knowledge base. Some of the topics explored include:
There are three places available for students on this programme to spend a minimum of two months at our partner institution the Federal University of Bahia (Salvador, Brazil). Students can apply for this opportunity through Goldsmiths once they have enrolled on the MA.
Successful students will not have to pay additional tuition fees, and will receive a grant for living expenses while in Salvador provided by Erasmus+ and the UK National Agency. Students will be able to conduct their research projects as well as take a range of modules at the host institution.
You learn how the English language and other languages are structured and used in a range of cultural settings, and how to support the literacy and learning development of students from multilingual backgrounds.
The course offers critical engagement with theory, policy and practice, and students benefit from intellectual debates in the disciplines of both education and linguistics.
Modules are taught by the Department of English and Comparative Literature (ECL) and the Department of Educational Studies (ES). You complete two compulsory modules, two option modules and a 15,000-word dissertation.
Core modules
In addition to the two core modules, you must choose two option modules.
One of the following modules from the Department of English and Comparative Literature:
And one of the following modules from the Department of Educational Studies:
For the dissertation we encourage hands-on research based on the uses of written and spoken language in a variety of institutional and informal contexts.
Where possible, we'll help you access multilingual settings relevant to you research. This will give unique insight into the practices of British classrooms and different linguistic communities.
You're also encouraged to draw on your own experience or unique cultural and linguistic background.
We run an additional MA study skills module in which we cover topics such as: using electronic resources; British academic essay writing & referencing at MA level; planning a dissertation.
Coursework; essays; examinations; dissertation.
You will acquire a wide-ranging understanding of educational and linguistic policy and research, especially with respect to multilingual settings. You will also develop your critical thinking, communication and research skills.
Teaching (especially language teaching or teaching in multilingual environments), administration and/or management of educational and language policy, publishing, the civil service, the media.
Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths.
This brand new MA is perfect for multilingual students who want a career in the creative industries.
In our cosmopolitan global culture talented people with multilingual skills are increasingly sought after by the creative industries. In this trailblazing MA you will have the opportunity to combine your language and translation skills with the study of London’s vibrant creative industries.
On the programme you will use your language skills and first-hand experience of different cultures to explore new territory in and around the use of languages. You will reach beyond the traditional role of translation and localisation by studying how these disciplines are applied in the creative industries, paying particular attention to the practical application of these skills in a professional environment.
You will be introduced to the emerging area of transcreation, which refers to the creative process of altering messages so they are suitable for the target local market, while maintaining its original intent, tone, style and context, and how this is used within creative industries such as arts, advertising, entertainment and marketing.
London’s rich cultural scene is central to this MA and a series of visits to festivals, studios, cinemas and galleries are incorporated into the programme, giving you the opportunity to engage first hand with the many different cultural institutions the capital has to offer. There is also the opportunity to undertake a work placement, meaning you can build a strong CV and make vital industry contacts.
In addition you will be able to study modules from a wide range of creative disciplines from the Department of Media, Culture and Languages, including audiovisual translation, film, media and journalism.
In the module Think, Create, Translate: Transcreation and the Creative Industries, you will analyse different examples of translation and transcreation which you will compile into a portfolio of work (which you can use as part of your CV) and discuss how multilingualism and multiculturalism are put into practice in a creative environment. You will combine a series of lectures, workshops and group projects with visits to many of London’s cultural institutions including festivals, studios, cinemas and galleries.
In the Cultural Adaptation in the Creative Industries module, you will explore the theory and concepts that underpin practices of transcreation and localisation, drawing on multiple disciplines, including linguistics and audiovisual translation, film, game and television studies, media management and advertising. For instance, you may be analysing localised popular entertainment shows, consider regionalisation in video games and marketing campaigns, or explore localisation from an audience perspective.
There is also a wide variety of options modules on offer on a range of subjects including translation-related fields such as subtitling and videogame localisation, as well as media and communications, project management, and social media and data journalism. You can also choose between undertaking a research based dissertation and working with a cultural institution as part of a work placement.
Here are some examples of modules you may study as part of this programme:
Compulsory modules
Optional modules
Compulsory module (MA students only)
Compulsory and Required modules
Compulsory and/or required modules may change when we review and update programmes. Above is a list of modules offered this academic year.
Optional modules
Optional modules, when offered as part of a programme, may vary from year to year and are subject to viability.
This courses provides vocational training for those interested in working in global multimedia, and the cultural and creative industries. However, it will also provide you with a working knowledge of translation, a skill highly-valued by employers in a variety of industries.
The MA in Multilingualism, Linguistics and Education is an applied linguistics programme with an emphasis on diversity, both linguistic and cultural diversity, which also provides a solid understanding of the theoretical and practical issues that arise in multilingual and intercultural educational settings.
This programme is a unique combination of applied linguistics and educational studies. It draws on expertise from two departments, the Department of English and Comparative Literature and the Department of Educational Studies, to offer students a wide-ranging interdisciplinary programme. It will add value to your professional life, whether as a manager, teacher or researcher, or in other careers related to language and education.
This programme is targeted at students working or planning to work in education in diverse contexts, and those interested in professional roles related to intercultural and multilingual communication.
It will be of particular interest to students who wish to gain experience in language teaching, either as an additional or second foreign language (for example in multilingual classrooms, in bilingual education settings internationally, or English as a foreign language/English as a Lingua Franca) and aim to achieve a wider theoretical knowledge base. Some of the topics explored include:
There are three places available for students on this programme to spend a minimum of two months at our partner institution the Federal University of Bahia (Salvador, Brazil). Students can apply for this opportunity through Goldsmiths once they have enrolled on the MA.
Successful students will not have to pay additional tuition fees, and will receive a grant for living expenses while in Salvador provided by Erasmus+ and the UK National Agency. Students will be able to conduct their research projects as well as take a range of modules at the host institution.
You learn how the English language and other languages are structured and used in a range of cultural settings, and how to support the literacy and learning development of students from multilingual backgrounds.
The course offers critical engagement with theory, policy and practice, and students benefit from intellectual debates in the disciplines of both education and linguistics.
Modules are taught by the Department of English and Comparative Literature (ECL) and the Department of Educational Studies (ES). You complete two compulsory modules, two option modules and a 15,000-word dissertation.
Core modules
In addition to the two core modules, you must choose two option modules. Please visit the website for more information.
of institutional and informal contexts.
Where possible, we'll help you access multilingual settings relevant to you research. This will give unique insight into the practices of British classrooms and different linguistic communities.
You're also encouraged to draw on your own experience or unique cultural and linguistic background.
We run an additional MA study skills module in which we cover topics such as: using electronic resources; British academic essay writing & referencing at MA level; planning a dissertation.
Assessment
Coursework; essays; examinations; dissertation.
You will acquire a wide-ranging understanding of educational and linguistic policy and research, especially with respect to multilingual settings. You will also develop your critical thinking, communication and research skills.
Teaching (especially language teaching or teaching in multilingual environments), administration and/or management of educational and language policy, publishing, the civil service, the media.
Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths.
This course is for teachers, speech and language therapists, and other professionals working with children with special educational needs. You’ll develop your understanding of speech, language and communication and build on your existing skills.
The course is delivered online, by distance learning, so you can gain a specialist qualification without having to leave your current job.
Your masters will give you the skills and knowledge to make a difference. Our MMedSci course provides the necessary training to meet the requirements of the UK Health and Care Professions Council which is the accreditation body for UK speech and language therapy. Our other courses provide professional development training. They can also lead to careers in university teaching and research.
We have a reputation for high quality research in the field of human communication and its disorders. That research informs our teaching. We offer professional training for students who are considering speech and language therapy as a career. If you’re interested in a research career, we can prepare you for a PhD.
We also run professional development courses for students already working in the field, so you can study alongside your current job. We have links with the NHS, special schools and specialist charities to ensure that what we teach you is in line with current developments in the field.
We work with other departments across the University including the School of Education, the Department of Psychology, the Department of Computer Science and the School of English Language and Linguistics.
For Communication Diversity and Difficulties, you can choose up to two specialist topics for assessment, such as:
MSc students also complete a dissertation.
We provide material online for weekly study across the full calendar year. There are two or three (optional) study weekends per year in Sheffield. Essential reading material is available electronically. Online activities support your study and build links with tutors and other students.
Modules are normally assessed by written assignments. MSc students are also assessed on their research dissertation.
You’ll develop language skills and cultural awareness, along with strong technical skills in web content management, electronic publishing and usability. Employers will be attracted by your abilities in project management and knowledge of new media marketing.
This course is taught by two departments – the School of Modern Languages and the Information School, Sheffield’s top-rated iSchool.
Our reputation for excellence means your MA will be highly respected by employers. You’ll develop the skills to work in translation, culture and communication internationally or in the UK. Recent graduates have gone on to work for employers such as SDL, Transact, The Big Word, Kaplan, the University of Leeds, the State University – Higher School of Economics in Moscow, Centre for French and Francophone Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University and as International Projects Director at a South Yorkshire College.
You may also choose to follow in the footsteps of students who have continued to PhD and have been awarded highly prestigious grants for PhD study such as Wolfson and WRoCAH scholarships.
We constantly review and revise our degrees to make sure you keep on top of the latest developments in the field. You’ll learn academic theory and practical skills – and how to relate the two.
Sheffield is at the forefront of modern languages research. The 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) ranks us among the top ten Russell Group universities for impact in this field. Recent projects include e-learning and knowledge exchange with industry, and three initiatives looking at language teaching and learning.
You can practise your English, French, German, Italian or Spanish with native speakers at our Modern Languages Teaching Centre. Our specially designed building has modern spaces for teaching and research. We’re right next to the other arts and humanities departments, and there are lots of opportunities to share ideas.
A range including:
Teaching takes place through lectures, seminars, small-group work and workshops. You’ll be assessed by essays, presentations, practical translation technologies projects, translation assignments, a translation exam and a dissertation.
As globalisation expands, so does the demand for people with linguistic and intercultural communication skills to reach wide audiences. The Master of Applied Linguistics offers a competitive advantage to language teachers, interpreters, editors and other people working with language in increasingly multilingual and multicultural societies, such as Australia. Lead by lecturers who research a range of language and cultural topics across the European and Asian contexts (English, Farsi, French, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish), throughout the course you will be exposed to corpus methods and other ‘big data’ approaches to language analysis, leaving you well placed for a range of cutting edge careers in the language and technology field.
The Master of Applied Linguistics considers the implications of multilingualism and intercultural communication for modern society and the professional sphere. Ideal across a range of professions, it is particularly recommended for language teachers (including English as a second language), teachers of VCE English Language and generalist teachers looking to improve their knowledge of grammar/language structures.
In the core units you will explore how language variation comes to bear on communication across cultures and how we use language differently according to context or across social groups. You’ll develop skills in language analysis and conducting small practiced-based research projects within your own professional context. Elective units will allow you to further focus in areas such as ‘Communication in Multilingual Societies’, ‘Teaching English for International Communication’ or ‘Teaching Global Languages’.
You will be able to apply your learning to your own professional and pedagogical context as part of the assessment process and have the opportunity to complete a research project or internship. The course also provides optional pathways to PhD study through research projects.
The course is structured in three parts. Part A. Foundations for advanced applied linguistics studies, Part B. Core Master's study and Part C. Advanced expertise. All students complete Part B. Depending upon prior qualifications, you may receive credit for Part A or Part C or a combination of the two.
[Note that if you are eligible for credit for prior studies you may elect not to receive the credit.]
PART A. Foundations for advanced applied linguistics
These studies will provide an orientation to the field of applied linguistics at graduate level. They are intended for students whose previous qualification is not in a cognate field.
PART B. Core Master's study
These studies draw on best practices within the broad realm of applied linguistics practice and research. You will gain a critical understanding of theoretical and practical issues relating to applied linguistics, including second/foreign language acquisition, language teaching, language contact and intercultural communication.
PART C. Advanced expertise
The focus of these studies is professional or scholarly work that can contribute to a portfolio of professional development. You have two options.
The first option is a program of coursework study where you select the units to suit your own interests.
The second option is a 24 point research thesis. Students wishing to use this Masters course as a pathway to a higher degree by research should take this second option.
Students admitted to the course, who have a recognised honours degree in a discipline cognate to applied linguistics, will receive credit for Part C, however, should they wish to complete a 24 point research project as part of the course they should consult with the course coordinator.
