MA Global Intercultural Communication
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Arts
- Course Length
- 1 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2024
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Course Overview
How do we successfully communicate with people when we come from different cultures or do not share their language? How can global companies manage their diverse workforce? These are the kind of issues you will learn to address on this MA.
You’ll develop a broad-based approach to the study of language and intercultural communication, both as a cultural resource and a cultural practice. You’ll think about how our individual positions in society affect our intercultural interactions. And you’ll gain an understanding of how the new media and mobile technologies that characterise contemporary global networks are affecting communication.
In a world where most people work in professions that routinely operate across linguistic and cultural barriers, our MA in Global Intercultural Communication will enable you to take on a wide range of key roles in a host of professions where an understanding of intercultural communication is critical.
Intercultural communication is crucial to comprehending the world of today and participating in the world of tomorrow. Globalisation has led to greater centrality of knowledge and information. Different linguistic communities have ever-increasing contact – through migration, tourism, education, and information and media flows - yet linguistic and cultural barriers persist.
As language and intercultural exchanges become more frequent and diverse – and the media that carry these exchanges proliferate – it is even more crucial to understand intercultural communication and how to use and promote it. This course will equip you to do just that.
You’ll explore how the linguistic forms and patterns within a language influence a culture’s worldview, sociocultural norms and values. You’ll approach linguistic communication as a cultural practice, used to both create and sustain our sense of personal, cultural and national identity. And you’ll use a variety of different analytic approaches, ranging from discourse analysis and anthropological linguistics to cross-cultural pragmatics, to explore these issues from different perspectives.
You’ll also study digital technologies which increasingly mediate international human communication and constitute one of the key infrastructures that enable and inflect global cultural interchange. This will equip you with the theoretical and empirical understanding necessary to explain global cultural communications today.
Our students come from a range of academic and vocational backgrounds. You might already have studied, or have a career in, business, communication, development studies, education, hospitality and tourism, languages, law, management, marketing, psychology or medicine, or you might have studied for a degree in English, history, geography, media or politics. Our students also come from across the globe, and this makes our seminars particularly engaging – you’ll take part in fascinating cross-cultural exchanges both with your peers and your tutors. Whatever your background, as a graduate of this course you will bring significant added value to your chosen profession.
Study and Modules
Structure
This is a one-year full-time course, but you can also take it part-time over two years. You’ll take a combination of compulsory and optional modules, giving you a solid foundation in the discipline, with room to specialise in areas that particularly interest you.
In your first semester, you’ll build a strong base of disciplinary knowledge with modules which explore the relationship between language, culture and thought, the ideological power of discourse and representation, and the role of digital media in society. Then in your second semester, you’ll specialise by selecting three modules from a range of options, which will help you build your skills and experience. Topics typically include: intercultural communication in practice; conflict and conflict resolution in intercultural communication; language issues in a global multilingual context; politics and media; and intercultural education and training.
Your studies will culminate with a dissertation on a subject of your choice. You’ll choose a topic to follow your own interests or career plans, in consultation with members of our academic team. You'll begin work on this at the end of the spring semester, with submission in September.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 60)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
The department of Language and Communication Studies at UEA is small enough that you'll receive personal staff-student contact and individual academic support, whilst also benefiting from the buzz of the larger, interdisciplinary School of Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication Studies. We are at the cutting edge of research, ensuring that when you graduate you are well informed and highly employable.
You’ll learn from experts in intercultural communication, sociolinguistics, language processing, intercultural pragmatics, and (critical) discourse analysis. We also have specialist knowledge in translation, including technological tools, audiovisual translation, and sport translation.
You’ll participate in a year-long Academic and Research Skills programme, helping you make the most of your studies and preparing you for your subsequent career. This programme also provides a great foundation for further postgraduate studies at PhD level.
As well as seminar work, you’ll benefit from numerous events and talks to support you in your learning as you work towards your career goals. These include a series of regular talks from visiting professionals and academics, addressing translation, intercultural communication, and language and culture-related topics of global, cultural and social significance. You can also attend a wealth of talks, screenings and exhibitions across the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, and we are affiliated to the prestigious British Centre for Literary Translation.
Assessment
In this one-year course, you’ll be formally assessed through your coursework, which will involve case studies, oral and written presentations, commentaries, essays and an 8,000-word dissertation.
You’ll receive regular feedback on your practice assignments from your tutors, as a platform for improving your work before your formal or ‘summative’ assessment, and we encourage you to discuss this feedback with your tutors.
Entry Requirements
- Degree Classification
- Bachelors (Hons) degree - 2.2 or equivalent
- Degree Subject
- Humanities or Social Sciences
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in Listening & Reading, and a minimum of 6.0 in Writing & Speaking)
Test dates should be within 2 years of the course start date.
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study:
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- Intakes
This course is open to UK and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year
Additional Information or Requirements
Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2024/25 are:
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UK Students: £9,975 (full time)
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International Students: £21,200 (full time)
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
We estimate living expenses at £1,023 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
FURTHER INFORMATION
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.
Employability
After the Course
You’ll graduate with excellent employment prospects, boosted by our strong links with our past graduates and valuable contacts in the language and communication professions.
You could go on to work in communication, language consultancy, PR, translation, interpreting, mediation and training, publishing, teaching, administration for government organisations, diplomatic services, marketing, human resources, quality control, language consultancy, translation and localisation project management, or information services.
Translation agencies, and other international and national organisations from around the world, regularly approach us with employment opportunities. As a postgraduate student, you will also benefit from a variety of workshops and sessions focused on improving your career development.
Careers
A degree at UEA will prepare you for a wide variety of careers. We've been ranked 1st for Job Prospects by StudentCrowd in 2022.
Example of careers that you could enter include:
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Intercultural brand management
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Human resources
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Project management in international finance
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Mediation
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Education
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Translation and localisation
Discover more on our Careers webpages.