Modern Languages and Cultures
School of Languages and Cultures,
Faculty of Arts and Humanities

Course description
This MA helps you develop a deeper understanding of your chosen languages and associated cultures.
Working with nationally and internationally recognised experts, you can focus on a single discipline (eg French Studies) or undertake an interdisciplinary programme across two or more languages and cultures. You can engage with topics such as translation theory, intersectionality, sociolinguistics and environmental studies, as well as literature, linguistics, cultural studies, history, visual and film studies, politics, society, migration, and postcolonial or gender studies.
The programme is ideal for students with a background in French and Francophone studies, Germanic studies (German and Dutch), Hispanic and Lusophone studies (Spanish, Catalan and Portuguese; Latin America), Luxembourgish studies, or Russian and Slavonic studies (Russian and Czech; the former USSR).
This MA is also designed to prepare you for doctoral study. You'll build knowledge in your chosen specialist field through your choice of modules and your dissertation topic, which could be the foundation for a PhD project. We’ll give you guidance on how to construct a PhD proposal and apply for scholarship funding.
Modules
This course is highly flexible with a variety of ways to develop your interests.
Explore core and optional modules
The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption. We are no longer offering unrestricted module choice. If your course included unrestricted modules, your department will provide a list of modules from their own and other subject areas that you can choose from.
Teaching
MA Modern Languages and Cultures consists of a variety of teaching and learning methods, including staff and student led seminars, small group work, one to one tutorials with staff, and practical workshops. Independent study and research are crucial elements of the programme.
Assessment
Learning and assessment methods include extended essays or individual projects, individual or small-group oral presentations, organisation of a research event and a dissertation, depending on the module studied.
Duration
- 1 year full-time
- 2 years part-time
Your career
This MA will help you extend and deepen your knowledge of culture and language. It is an ideal route into PhD study, giving you a solid foundation from which to develop your doctoral research..
You'll have the opportunity to build on your specialist knowledge through optional modules and your dissertation, which may serve as the foundation for a PhD project. We'll give you advice and guidance on how to construct a PhD proposal and how to apply for scholarship funding.
Student profile

My Undergraduate degree (French, Italian and Spanish), gave me a taster of Multilingualism and Sociolinguistics and I just knew I wanted to pursue this further at Postgraduate level - I was keen to expand on my knowledge and research in the field. Sheffield's SLC was the best choice for my MA, owing to its strong research profile and specialisms in Multilingualism and Small Languages.
Katy Humberstone
MA Modern Languages and Cultures
Entry requirements
You’ll need a 2:1 honours degree in a language-related discipline such as linguistics, literature or a language.
The programme is for students with a background in French and Francophone studies, Germanic studies (German and Dutch), Hispanic and Lusophone studies (Spanish, Catalan and Portuguese; Latin America), Luxembourgish studies, or Russian and Slavonic studies (Russian and Czech; the former USSR).
Overall IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component, or equivalent.
We also accept a range of other UK qualifications and other EU/international qualifications.
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the department.
Fees and funding
Apply
You can apply for postgraduate study using our Postgraduate Online Application Form. It's a quick and easy process.
Contact
slc-admissions@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 0631
Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.
Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.