MA Intercultural Communication (12 months)

Introduction

On our MA Intercultural Communication, you’ll discover the importance of intercultural relationships both to the modern socio-economic climate – and to building a successful career within it. As part of our postgraduate community in Cambridge, you’ll work alongside students from all over the world, gaining an additional understanding of intercultural environments that will support your studies. If you’re studying this Masters full-time you’ll have the opportunity to spend a placement semester at a European university via the Eurocampus.

As well as gaining business communication skills, you’ll explore language and cultural theory. You’ll examine how cultural differences impact our interactions in the workplace and in wider society and consider topics such as migration, identity and how international policy confronts language issues. By learning to use different methodological tools to understand language and communication, you’ll sharpen your analytical skills and gain the confidence to think independently about the interdisciplinary, and often multinational, challenges of the modern workplace. Seminars and guest lectures hosted by ARU’s Research Centre for Intercultural and Multilingual Studies will supplement your studies, and you’ll be supported throughout by our expert specialist lecturers. As a student on this MA Intercultural Communication you’ll be joining a course twice awarded the National Languages for Export award, given to organisations that promote the importance of understanding international culture and language.

How you'll be assessed

If you choose the Cambridge-only route, you will demonstrate your progress on the course through written coursework (eg a 6,000-word essay) and short presentations in some modules. You will also complete a 15,000-word dissertation. If you choose the Eurocampus route, your method of assessment will change depending on the institution you attend.

Careers

Our MA Intercultural Communication will prepare you for many different roles with international companies, local government and European institutions. Past graduates now enjoy careers in intercultural training, such as for Communicaid, or work with non-governmental organisations such as UNESCO and UNICEF. They also work in intercultural mediation in educational or social contexts, language teaching, translation/interpretation services, international property sales and business, education or embassy administration. After you graduate, you might also decide to continue your academic career with a research programme at ARU, such as our PhD English Language and Intercultural Communication.

Students should have a good First Degree, with Honours, in a related subject.