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.

About

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.

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:

Intercultural brand management
Human resources
Project management in international finance
Mediation
Education
Translation and localisation

Discover more on our Careers webpages.

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):  

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:  

Pre-sessional English at INTO UEA  
Academic English at INTO UEA

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.

Book a visit to discover more

Fees and Funding

Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2024/25 are:

UK Students: £9,975 (full time)
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.

MA Global Intercultural Communication

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