Crossways in Cultural Narratives (International MLitt) 2018 entry

The International MLitt in Crossways in Cultural Narratives is a two year EU-endorsed, multidisciplinary and multilingual programme delivered by a consortium of international universities. At St Andrews, study in this degree focuses on the areas of cultural identities and comparative literature.

Applications for 2018 entry for this course have now closed, see which courses are available for the upcoming academic year.

Course type

Postgraduate; leading to an International Master of Letters (International MLitt)

Course dates

  • Start date: 10 September 2018
  • End date: 30 September 2020

If you started this programme in 2017, you can find information about 2017 entry on the 2017 Crossways in Cultural Narratives page. Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.

Course duration

Two years full time

Entry requirements

A good 2.1 Honours undergraduate degree in the field of arts, languages or social sciences. If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements

If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.

Also proficiency in two of the following European languages: English, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Polish and Spanish together with a basic knowledge or willingness to acquire a third European language. The minimum language requirement is B2 on the European language certification standards, although a C1 equivalent is preferable.

The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.

Tuition fees

Fees will be converted into GBP on 1 August each year.

Home/EU: €2000
Overseas: €2500

Application deadline

Applicants should apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships and for international visa purposes. Application is through the Crossways website.

Application requirements

  • CV
  • personal statement
  • sample of academic written work (2,000 words)
  • two original signed academic references
  • academic transcripts and degree certificates
  • proof of your language proficiency in two European languages.

For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.

Course information

The International MLitt in Crossways in Cultural Narratives is a two-year taught postgraduate programme open to both European and non-European students. It is run by an international consortium of the following universities:

  • Bergamo, Italy
  • Nova Lisboa, Portugal
  • Poznan, Poland
  • Perpignan, France
  • Santiago de Compostela, Spain
  • St Andrews, Scotland
  • Sheffield, England
  • Guelph, Canada
  • Tres de Febrero, Argentina
  • Tübingen, Germany
  • Mexico City, Mexico.

The programme centres on the theme of crossways and cultural hybridisation. Its major discipline is literature with a comparative approach, but it includes modules in aesthetics, history of ideas, semiotics, linguistics and communication. Study at St Andrews focuses on the areas of cultural identities and comparative literature.

Highlights

  • The major focus is on literature, with a comparative approach, but it includes modules in aesthetics, history of ideas, semiotics and communication.
  • The truly international programme offers students the ability to study three languages at three different institutions.
  • Students plan their own mobility track, or course of study, across two years.

Teaching format

The course is divided into four semesters. Students spend Semesters 2 and 3 at the same university, and Semesters 1 and 4 at two different universities. Please note that students may not choose a mobility track comprising both St Andrews and Sheffield, and they may not spend the same academic year in both Canada and the UK.

Students may choose their modules (subject to final approval by the Crossways Academic Council), or they may choose a preselected pathway of modules.

During the programme, students participate in courses delivered through lectures and seminars which are graded by either continuous assessment, the preparation of a researched dossier or examinations at the end of the semester. At the end of the course, students work autonomously on a final dissertation under supervision by members of the consortium's teaching staff.

Work placement

Students who study at St Andrews for Semester 2 and 3 have the option of going on a work placement during their second semester or between their second and third semesters. Those on a work placement will write a short 6,000-word dissertation report as well as a 4,000-word academic essay reflecting on their placement.

Students are encouraged to arrange their own work placements at an organisation of their choice. All work placements are conditional upon the approval of the local coordinator.

Further particulars regarding curriculum development.

Modules

Below are the modules which are compulsory for study at the University of St Andrews.

For more details of modules offered at St Andrews, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the latest module catalogue which is for the 2017–2018 academic year; some elements may be subject to change for 2018 entry.

Semester 1

  • Literary and Cultural Theory 1: provides research training by exploring a range of literary and cultural theories through which texts may be conceptualised, criticised and analysed.
  • undergraduate language module chosen from French, Italian or Spanish
  • one optional module

Semesters 2 and 3

  • four optional modules
  • Dissertation Report (an extended scholarly essay of approximately 10,000 words) or Short Dissertation Report (an extended scholarly essay of 6,000 words) and Work-Related Project (a placement or project designed to explore the application of academic and intellectual skills with the world of employment).
  • Dissertation Progress: a series of one-to-one meetings with the supervisor in which specific areas and issues of the topic of your dissertation are explored.

Semester 4

  • one optional module
  • Mundus Dissertation: 20,000-word dissertation on an approved topic.

This is a sample of the optional modules available for Crossways in Cultural Narratives. Optional modules are subject to change each year, and attendance may be limited (see the University’s position on curriculum development).

  • Apples and Oranges: Issues in Comparative Literature
  • Literary and Cultural Theory 1
  • Literary and Cultural Theory 2
  • Problems of Culture and Identity 1
  • Problems of Culture and Identity 2
  • Research and Professional Skills
  • Specialised Research in Middle Eastern Literatures and Cultures, French Studies, German Studies, Italian Studies, Russian Studies or Spanish and Latin American Studies
  • The Contemporary Canon: Why Books Sell

You will write the dissertation in one of the principal languages of your study, but it does not necessarily need to be in the language of the country of study during Semester 4.

Dissertation are supervised by a principal and a support supervisor from two universities of the consortium. These supervisors will provide topic guidance and support throughout the research and writing process.


The modules listed here are indicative, and there is no guarantee they will run for 2018 entry. Take a look at the most up-to-date modules in the module catalogue.

Conferences and events

There is a mailing list for Crossways in Cultural Narratives which distributes calls for papers and announcements that may be relevant to the research activities of the consortium. To subscribe to the mailing list, email munduscrossways-subscribe@unibg.it.

Funding

Recent Graduate Discount
The University of St Andrews offers a 10% discount in postgraduate tuition fees to students who are eligible to graduate or who have graduated from St Andrews within the last three academic years and are starting a postgraduate programme with the University of St Andrews. 

AHRC
The Arts and Humanities Research Council offers scholarships which cover fees and stipend at RCUK rates for students applying for research degrees in the Arts and Humanities in Scotland.

Find out more about postgraduate scholarships. 

After the MLitt

Research degrees

Many of our graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews.

PhD in Modern Languages

Careers

The International MLitt in Crossways in Cultural Narratives develops in students capacities of conceptualisation, synthesis and analysis. They will have the opportunity to network on a European scale and will learn how to integrate knowledge management.

Students are prepared for leadership roles in a variety of international careers, including:

  • cultural dimension of marketing strategies
  • cultural management
  • higher education
  • parliamentary research
  • professional criticism
  • specialised journalism
  • strategic planning.

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students on a taught postgraduate course and offers a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.

Contact information

School of Modern Languages
University of St Andrews
Buchanan Building
Union Street
St Andrews
KY16 9PH

Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 3670
Email: pgmodlangs@st-andrews.ac.uk

Modern Languages website

Policies

Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our Admissions policy.

Curriculum development

As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online. (PDF, 72 KB).

Tuition fees

The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online. (PDF, 84 KB).