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Introduction to Modern Languages
In an increasingly globalized world, the need for graduates with not only the ability to communicate in other languages, but also a cultural and historic understanding of other societies is becoming an invaluable tool in both academic, and non-academic arenas.
The department of modern languages in top graduate schools offer students the chance to either further increase their knowledge of topics they studied as an undergraduate or a change of direction to those who have not already studied a modern language.
Typical Masters degrees and PhD programs by top graduate schools include:
Language, Literature and Culture - This course is designed to appeal to students whose undergraduate studies have given them insight into aspects of language, literature and culture of another country, but who now wish to develop interests in greater depth, and explore their theoretical foundations and implications. This type of course often includes comparisons between two or more languages and cultures.
Linguistics - The MPhil in Linguistics is a wide-ranging course in Theoretical Linguistics. It provides those who take it both a broad education in linguistics as well as an in-depth introduction to particular areas of interest and experience in research.
Screen Media/Film Aesthetics - This course offers students the opportunity to develop an understanding of the historical and theoretical relations between the moving image and the cultures which gave rise to it, and which have in turn been transformed by it to the extent that they are now unthinkable without it.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants who wish to study a language, literature and culture course at a top graduate school will normally be expected to have a first class or a high second class degree (or the equivalent) in a modern language, usually in addition to English. Applicants with good degrees in other subjects may also be considered on their merits, as long as they have a high level of knowledge and fluency in at least one of the relevant foreign language areas. In most cases, applicants do not have to be proficient in more than one foreign language; they will, however, be able to work in more than one language area should they wish and they should be willing to consider the interdisciplinary implications of their chosen fields of study.
Applications for MPhil courses in linguistics would again be expected to have a first class or a high second class degree. If you are not a native English speaker, then you are expected to take and pass an English Language Proficiency test at the required level. Cambridge University, ranked second in the THE QS World University Rankings accepts two forms of language tests: IELTS (International English Language Testing System: www.ielts.org/) is the University's preferred test. The minimum requirement is an overall band score of 7.0 with not less than 7.0 in speaking, listening and writing, and 6.5 in reading. Where the IELTS test is not available, the Princeton TOEFL test (Test of English as a Foreign Language: www.toefl.org/) is accepted. If you do this, you must take the Test of Written English (TWE) at the same time. The minimum requirement: 600 in the paper-based TOEFL test with 5.0 in the Test of Written English or 250 in the computer-based TOEFL test with 5.0 in the Essay Writing Test; the minimum score must be achieved in both parts of the test in the same sitting.
Normally students taking the MPhil have spent time studying linguistics or related subjects at undergraduate level, but occasionally, exceptions are considered.
It is often the case that the one year masters degree can be converted into a two year MPhil course, that in turn fulfils the necessary requirements for a student to go on to study a research PhD.
WHAT SKILLS WILL I ACQUIRE?
A Masters degree in Modern Languages offers students the chance to add value to their undergraduate degree and in terms of employment differentiate themselves from their peers. It offers students the opportunity of branching out into areas they did not have the time or chance to follow as an undergraduate student or of undertaking a greater in-depth study of topics and themes that caught their imagination or interest.
The MPhil not only serves to increase the student’s knowledge of the topic, giving good grounding in the necessary research and analytical skills, but also provides an excellent preparation for those students wishing to embark on a PhD program.
