Application deadline
Thursday 7 August 2025
Applicants should apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships.
“It’s a stimulating environment – engaging with different perspectives and having my views challenged has been beneficial to me both personally and to my academic growth. I’ve had the chance to meet new scholars, organise conferences, build my academic portfolio and teach. Be prepared to work hard but also you will have the best time of your life.”
- Livorno, Italy
Entry requirements
- A 2.1 Honours undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.
- English language proficiency. See English language tests and qualifications.
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.
Application requirements
- CV or résumé with a history of your education and employment
- personal statement of around 500 words outlining your personal motivations for applying and how the course fits with your career ambitions
- sample of your own, single-authored academic written work of around 2,000 words in English
- two references, one of which must be academic
- academic transcript and degree certificate.
For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.
English language proficiency
If English is not your first language, you may need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability. See approved English language tests and scores for this course.
Course details
The School of Modern Languages is the largest modern languages department in Scotland and one of the largest in the UK.
The programme explores transnational understanding of literature and culture, as well as providing training in traditional and new research techniques.
We are also distinguished by the breadth of our research which spans language, literary and cultural studies across eight distinct language areas – Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Persian, Russian and Spanish – and Comparative Literature, but also a range of cultural-historical epochs from the Middle Ages to the present day. This breadth is reflected in the literary and cultural topics you will study on the degree.
Highlights
- Students engage with traditional and new approaches to Comparative Literature, deepening their understanding of the field, and working with texts both in their original languages and in English translation.
- Small class sizes provide a close-knit postgraduate community and friendly environment.
- Innovative core and optional modules allow students to explore new approaches to reading texts and reflecting on their own critical practices.
- Explore cross-disciplinary studies via an option module in the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Studies as part of your degree.
Modules
The modules published below are examples of what has been taught in previous academic years and may be subject to change before you start your course. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the module catalogue.
Each module typically comprises:
- two hours per week of lectures, seminars or practical classes
- coursework assessment 100%
- Comparative Methodologies and Research Skills 1: You will problematise established approaches and explore new and emerging directions to conceptualise how you think texts might best be analysed and compared. The module's methodologies will underpin your acquisition of a range of transferable skills essential in academic research and non-academic roles.
- Comparative Methodologies and Research Skills 2: Furthers and strengthens your engagement with comparative methodologies, your analytic and critical skills, including writing abstracts and research proposals, presenting a conference paper, disseminating research for diverse audiences, planning a conference, and IT and web research skills.
One of these is compulsory. One or both may be taken or one may be replaced with an agreed alternative module:
- Literary and Cultural Introspection - invites you to look inward and consider areas of critical importance such as sex, gender, race, psychoanalysis, and the medical humanities in relation to the self. You will engage with case studies in translation from experts across the School of Modern Languages to encourage a breadth of scholarship.
- Literary and Cultural Extrospection - invites you to look outward and consider areas of critical importance such as the postcolonial, de-colonial, the transnational, and memory studies in relation to society. You will engage with case studies in translation from experts across the School of Modern Languages to encourage a breadth of scholarship.
Students conclude their programme with the submission of a 15,000-word intra- or inter-cultural dissertation supervised by a specialist in the area. Students who choose not to complete the dissertation may elect for an alternative exit award, such as the Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma.
Teaching
The School promotes discipline-specific and collaborative teaching and learning so that students may explore their own particular interests in greater depth and breadth. Classes are delivered primarily through seminars.
Modules are assessed through coursework; there are no final exams for this programme.
Events
The School hosts a year-round programme of research seminars which postgraduates are invited to attend. Opportunities to engage with the School’s wider research community are also provided through its four research centres and institutes and its highly successful Byre World series, an annual programme of events bringing modern languages and cultural studies research to the local community.
Fees
Home
£12,030
Overseas
£25,900
Application fee
Before we can begin processing your application, a payment of an application fee of £50 is required. In some instances, you may be eligible for an application fee waiver. Details of this, along with information on our tuition fees, can be found on the postgraduate fees and funding page.
Funding and scholarships
The University of St Andrews is committed to attracting the very best students, regardless of financial circumstances.
15% Recent Graduate Discount
If you have graduated from the University within the last three academic years, you may be eligible for a 15% discount on postgraduate taught tuition fees. Terms and conditions apply.
After your degree
Careers
Alongside your academic learning, you will develop your broader capabilities and employability. All Masters students have access to the Saints Skills Awards, two flexible awards programmes undertaking skills analysis, reflective activities and mock recruitment opportunities to help develop your personal and professional skills.
Graduates have gone on to careers in fields including:
- consulting
- energy resource management
- international development
- journalism
- UN interpreting
- public policy
- publishing
- the civil and diplomatic services
- University academics and administrators.
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.
Further study
The MLitt provides academic learning and research skills training for students intending to continue to a doctoral or other research degree.
As well as the PhD degree, the School of Modern Languages offers supervision for two research-based Masters degrees – the Master of Studies by Research (MSt (Res)) and the Master of Philosophy (MPhil).
Postgraduate researchWhat to do next
Information sessions
Meet our staff, learn more, and ask questions about how our courses can work for you.
Contact us
- Phone
- +44 (0)1334 46 2961
- modlangs@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Address
- School of Modern Languages
Buchanan Building
Union Street
St Andrews
KY16 9PH