Global Cultures (MA)

at Cardiff University

This is a two-stage postgraduate taught programme, in which you will take a total of 180 credits. During the Postgraduate Diploma Stage of the programme (September – June) you will take taught modules and must achieve 120 credits, consisting of four core modules. On successful completion of this stage, you will progress to the master’s degree stage, when you will write a dissertation of between 15,000 and 20,000 words, worth 60 credits.
 

You can take a wide range of language modules from the Languages for All programme or from the School's undergraduate degrees as appropriate, but these are not credit bearing. 
 

The Postgraduate Diploma stage
 

This stage is designed to progressively develop your skills for independent research, in addition to increasing your capacity for academic study through a series of core taught modules delivered by the School of Modern Languages.  Combined, the four core modules equip you to develop a research project for your final dissertation and to successfully achieve the learning outcomes of the programme. The four core modules specifically develop your conceptual, practical, writing and communication skills.
 

The programme team, led by the programme coordinator, conducts an annual review of modules to ensure that the programme remains contemporary and relevant to the learning outcomes.
 

The master’s degree (dissertation) Stage
 

On successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma Stage of this programme you will progress to the master’s degree (dissertation) stage.
 

The 60 credit dissertation is no less than 15,000 words in length and no more than 20,000 words in length. It allows you to develop important independent research skills and to investigate a topic that you regard as central to the debates and challenges of culture in the global context. The dissertation:
 

• is an extended piece of independent research;

• is supervised by appropriate School of Modern Languages staff;

• conforms to the expectations of an MA dissertation in School of Modern Languages at Cardiff University.
   

You will identify the theme of your dissertation research project by week five in the Spring semester and are encouraged to take on case studies from one of the cultural sectors covered in the programme. Comparative projects that address developments in more than one country or in a transnational context are particularly encouraged.
 

The deadline for submission of the dissertation is stipulated in the programme information issued to you. Indicatively, this is usually the second or third week in September. In the case of full-time students, this date may be no later than 50 weeks from the date of initial registration. This date may be extended by three months for any student who is permitted at the end of the Diploma stage to resit modules in the next Re-sit Examination Period. If you fail to submit your Dissertation by the due date, you will be awarded a mark of zero for the dissertation.
 

Students who do not proceed to the master’s degree stage, subject to successful completion of the requisite number of taught modules, may be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits) or Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits). Students who fail the dissertation, but who successfully complete the taught modules, may be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits).
 

The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2022/23 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2022.

Study is split into two stages:
 

• The Postgraduate Diploma stage; and

• The master’s degree (dissertation) stage.
   

During the Postgraduate Diploma stage you will study 120 credits of core modules.
 

On successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma stage you will progress to the master’s degree (dissertation) stage.  During this stage you are required to pursue a 60 credit, level 7 dissertation module.

Academic requirements:

Typically, you will need to have either:

• a 2:1 honours degree in a relevant subject area such as arts, humanities, or social sciences, or an equivalent international degree

• a university-recognised equivalent academic qualification

• or relevant professional experience evidenced by a reference.
   

English Language requirements:

IELTS with an overall score of 6.5 with 5.5 in all subskills, or an accepted equivalent.
 

Application deadline:

We allocate places on a first-come, first-served basis, so we recommend you apply as early as possible.
 

Selection process:

We will review your application and if you meet the entry requirements, we will make you an offer.
 

Fees for home status

Tution Fees - £8200
Deposit - £

Fees for overseas status

Tution Fees - £19,450
Deposit-£1,000
 

This MA allows you to focus on cultural production in a global context and to understand the significant role of cultural production, cultural institutions and cultural policymaking in the broader contexts of social and economic development. Given the continuing importance of the cultural and related sectors for contemporary societies and their economies, the insights gained and the research training provided in the programme will equip you for employment in a range of roles, including but not limited to the following:
 

• PhD research

• Employment in arts and cultural organisations

• Cultural policymaking

• Employment in media organizations

• Working as an independent producer
   

Placements
 

There is no specific placement provision in this programme however, you are encouraged to  seek relevant work experience opportunities during your studies, for which the programme teaching team can provide advice and support.