MA Modern Languages (French and Italian) and English
About this course
Studying French, Italian, and English together at degree level is an intellectually ambitious combination that develops high-level language proficiency in two of Europe's most culturally significant languages alongside a deep engagement with English literary and linguistic traditions. French and Italian literatures span some of the most important and influential works in Western culture, from Dante and Petrarch to Proust and Calvino, while the Francophone and Italian-speaking worlds extend far beyond Europe into Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas. English, studied alongside these two traditions, enriches your comparative perspective and equips you to move fluently across languages in your analytical and creative thinking. At the University of St Andrews, you will develop your French and Italian to a high level of proficiency through the study of language, literature, and culture. As a student of French, you will engage with French and Francophone language and literary traditions with rigour and depth. The Italian strand complements this with its own rich literary and cultural heritage. The English component, studied alongside these two languages, sharpens your reading and critical skills and allows you to draw connections across traditions. St Andrews is one of Scotland's oldest and most distinguished universities, and its modern languages programme combines strong scholarly research with close attention to students' language development. The programme runs over four years and includes a year abroad, which is essential for developing the fluency and cultural confidence that serious language study requires. You will spend time living and studying in France or a Francophone country, and in Italy, immersing yourself in the languages and cultures you have been studying and returning with a transformed understanding of both. Graduates from programmes combining modern languages and English pursue careers in translation and interpreting, publishing, journalism, international business, diplomacy, education, the civil service, cultural organisations, and law. The combination of languages and strong analytical writing skills is genuinely versatile. Postgraduate study in translation, literature, comparative literature, or European studies is a natural route for those who wish to deepen their specialism.
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