Objectives
The School offers a taught MA (one year full-time, two years part-time) in French, German or Italian Studies designed as a preparation for students intending to go on to PhD work in these subjects. The programmes offer great flexibility of choice, and give students the opportunity to devise a range of options tailor-made to fit their future research interests. All students take a core module consisting of an introduction to critical theory and methods and training in research skills. You then select, in negotiation with the department, two further specialist modules on the basis of your needs and interests and the department's teaching resources. A very wide range of options is thus available in areas covering not only literature, but also history, cinema, women's and cultural studies; there is also some opportunity for you to take modules in translation in languages other than your main one. Transferable skills postgraduate level study, research and writing skills; ability to analyse visual or textual material rapidly and in depth; the ability to analyse information and data; the ability to summarise arguments and process new material rapidly and coherently; ability to communicate results of research concisely and clearly; the ability to think critically and independently.
Course description
Programme content
Compulsory modules
-Introduction to Advanced Study and Research Methodology
-Dissertation
Optional modules
Students are required to choose two further modules, Option Modules 1 and 2, each of 30 credits, the design and content of which will be negotiated between the student and the department on the basis of the student's needs and interests and the department's teaching resources. In place of one of these, a relevant 30-credit module may be taken from another M.A. programme in the University. The selection of options and the dissertation should be complementary, and form a coherent and appropriate whole in the view of the Programme Director. Option Module 3, for the Postgraduate Certificate only, is similar to Modules 1 and 2.
For an indication of the areas where we are particularly interested in providing MA and PhD teaching, see the list of the research interests of School staff. We would especially welcome applications in areas covered by the University interdisciplinary research theme on the Modern European Histories and Cultures Research Theme.
