MA French and German and Russian
About this course
French, German, and Russian together represent an extraordinary breadth of European linguistic and cultural heritage. French is the language of the Enlightenment, existentialism, and one of the world's most widely spoken tongues, with speakers across Europe, Africa, and beyond. German is the language of the great tradition of philosophy from Kant to Hegel and Heidegger, of Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms, and of one of Europe's most powerful economies. Russian is the language of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, of Chekhov and Akhmatova, and of one of the largest countries on earth, whose literature and culture have shaped the modern world in profound and enduring ways. At the University of St Andrews, this four-year full-time MA (Hons) programme develops your proficiency in all three languages to a high standard, with instruction in language alongside substantial engagement with the literature, culture, film, and contemporary societies of the French, German, and Russian-speaking worlds. A year abroad is central to the programme, giving you the opportunity to immerse yourself in one or more of the relevant language communities, developing your fluency in an authentic setting and building the cultural sensitivity and independence that language study at this level demands. The combination of three major European languages is one of the most ambitious and rewarding paths in modern languages, and the analytical and interpretive skills it develops are highly transferable. Graduates with high-level competence in three major European languages are exceptionally well-placed for careers in diplomacy, translation, interpreting, international business, journalism, the civil service, publishing, and cultural organisations. The combination of French, German, and Russian is particularly valued in international organisations, intelligence services, and businesses with European and Eurasian operations. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in linguistics, literature, European studies, or translation, and some pursue academic or research careers.
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