Modern Languages and Cultures

Entry requirements

Our regular standard of admission is at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree (2:1), although candidates will usually also have completed or be undertaking a Masters qualification.

Research proposal

Candidates are required to provide a single page outline of the research subject proposed (approximately 1000 words). This need not be a final thesis proposal but should include:

• a straightforward, descriptive, and informative title
• the question that your research will address
• an account of why this question is important and worth investigating
• an assessment of how your own research will engage with recent study in the subject
• a brief account of the methodology and approach you will take
• a discussion of the primary sources that your research will draw upon, including printed books, manuscripts, archives, libraries, or museums
• an indicative bibliography of secondary sources that you have already consulted and/or are planning to consult

Your application, including your references and research proposal, will be passed to members of staff whose expertise and research interests most closely match the area of your proposed study.

Months of entry

Anytime

Course content

We have expertise and supervision in language, culture, sociolinguistics, literature and history for the subjects of French, German, Hispanic, Italian and Slavonic Studies, alongside a strong postgraduate community in Comparative Literature and Translation Studies.

Postgraduate students have the opportunity to explore ambitious transcultural projects that cut across disciplinary boundaries. In particular, we invite applications in the areas covered by our five School research clusters:

Visual Culture

In collaboration with the Stirling Maxwell Centre and building on the expertise in text/image research within the School, this cluster explores visual culture in literature and the arts in a broad sense (e.g., Mexican photography, French architecture and art, or Brazilian film).

Histories and Subjectivities

This cluster brings together researchers in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures whose work engages with life histories and autobiography, the body and emotions, gender studies, working lives and professional cultures, history and memory.

Writing in Transit/Cultural Translations

This cluster brings together our expertise in Comparative Literature, Translation Studies and cross-cultural research, exploring topics such as transnational writing, migration, (un)translatability, ethics and world literature.

Critical Editions and Translations

In close collaboration with Special Collections and researchers in other Schools of the College of Arts, this cluster explores textual cultures, drawing on the School’s expertise and experience in critical editions, book history and translations.

Language and Society (SocioLang)

This cluster transcends disciplinary boundaries. It builds a dialogue amongst researchers, policy makers and practitioners to explore the dynamics of language, society and change in multilingual contexts.

Study Options

PhD

Duration: 3 years full-time / 5 years part-time

A Doctor of Philosophy may be awarded to a student whose thesis is an original work making a significant contribution to knowledge in, or understanding of, a field of study and normally containing material worthy of publication.

Thesis Length:70,000-100,000 words, including references, bibliography and appendices (other than documentary appendices).

MLitt (Research)

Duration: 2 years full-time / 3 years part-time

Our Degree of Master of Letters (Research) requires you to undertake a postgraduate course of special study and research that represents a distinct contribution to knowledge.

Thesis length: 40,000-70,000 words (including references, bibliography and appendices)

MPhil (Research)

Duration: 1 year full-time / 2years part-time

A Master of Philosophy (Research)requires you to undertake a postgraduate course of special study and research that represents a distinct contribution to knowledge.

Thesis length: 30,000-40,000 words (including references and bibliography)

MRes (Master of Research)

Duration: 1 year full-time / 2 years part-time

Our MRes includes both taught and research elements. You will be required to undertake 60 to 90 credits worth of taught courses as well as independent study which represents some contribution to knowledge.

Thesis length: 20,000-30,000 words (including references, bibliography and appendices)

PhD

Duration: 3 years full-time / 5 years part-time

A Doctor of Philosophy may be awarded to a student whose thesis is an original work making a significant contribution to knowledge in, or understanding of, a field of study and normally containing material worthy of publication.

Thesis Length: 70,000-100,000 words, including references, bibliography and appendices (other than documentary appendices).

MRes (Master of Research)

Duration: 1 year full-time / 2 years part-time

Our MRes includes both taught and research elements. You will be required to undertake 60 to 90 credits worth of taught courses as well as independent study which represents some contribution to knowledge.

Thesis length: 18,000-30,000 words (including references, bibliography and appendices)

Information for international students

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training)

• 7.0 overall with no subtest less than 7.0
• IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Fees and funding

Prices are based on the annual fee for full-time study. Fees for part-time study are half the full-time fee.

Irish nationals who are living in the Common Travel Area of the UK, EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status, and Internationals with Indefinite Leave to remain status can also qualify for home fee status.

Fee status and policies

Alumni discount

We offer a 20% discount to our alumni on all Postgraduate Research and full Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes. This includes University of Glasgow graduates and those who have completed a Study Abroad programme, Exchange programme, International Summer School or Erasmus programme with us. This discount can be awarded alongside most University scholarships. No additional application is required.

Possible additional fees

• Re-submission by a research student £540
• Submission for a higher degree by published work £1,355
• Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed £350
• Submission by staff in receipt of staff scholarship £790

Depending on the nature of the research project, some students will be expected to pay a bench fee (also known as research support costs) to cover additional costs. The exact amount will be provided in the offer letter.