Master's Degree Programme
| About the programme Language: English or English plus one other language (French, Spanish or German) (See language requirements) | Place of study: Aarhus | Commencement: August / September (no winter intake) |
Every day, we encounter cultural differences in both our private and professional lives.
These differences may be rooted in specific societies or language areas, but also in professions, ethnicities, social groups, generations, and organisations.
As a student of Intercultural Studies, you gain insight into different theoretical approaches to interculturality in a transnational world. You work with the interrelations between local, national, regional, and transnational identities.
The programme’s main focus is to understand how cultural forms and cultural interactions are embedded in specific historical, societal, and linguistic contexts, while simultaneously evolving in relation to their wider environment.
Through the programme, you strengthen your analytical skills and develop your ability to critically reflect on and facilitate interculturality. You learn to use cultural differences as a resource, enabling you to navigate and act in intercultural landscapes. This prepares you for a career in both the private and public sectors, as well as in international organisations and NGOs.
You develop competences in communicating with international partners within organisations, identifying opportunities and challenges for development, initiating projects, and developing new solutions.
At Intercultural Studies, we draw on concepts and methods from the humanities (e.g. history, literature, media, and language studies) and the social sciences (e.g. intercultural approaches to organisational studies and innovation). This provides you with the necessary tools to analyse intercultural environments in their historical and social contexts.
The programme’s intercultural character also allows you to strengthen your language skills. The shared language of the programme is international English, and all teaching in the common courses is conducted in English. Teaching in the language-specific tracks is offered in either English, French, German, or Spanish. In this way, you develop your communication skills in your chosen language and learn to use it as a working language.
Courses consist of lectures, dialogue-based seminars, group work, and feedback from lecturers and fellow students. A significant part of the teaching is also problem- and practice-oriented, where you work with empirical case studies in collaboration with external partners. As a result, class sizes and teaching methods vary considerably.
Please note: If you wish to become a teacher in Danish upper secondary education, you must choose the B-track in one of the other language-based Master’s degree programmes, which includes a supplementary teaching qualification.
The admission requirements vary from one line to the next. Specific admission requirements are listed for each individual line.
The four different language tracks follow the same basic structure. In the common courses, you will work with students from all four tracks. The focal point is on analysing interculturality in organisations and on exploring new ways to enhance and enrich processes of intercultural interactions. You will work with empirical cases and in collaboration with practitioners. In the four language tracks you will examine the construction, mediation and translation of cultural products and representations in English, French, German, and Spanish language contexts respectively. This provides you with in-depth insights into the historical and social framework of the language contexts and its interrelatedness with the surrounding world. You also work with the role of language in intercultural interactions. In the French, German, and Spanish tracks, you train your ability to communicate clearly and easily in German/French/Spanish both orally and in writing via various media.
In the first semester, you follow the common course, “Interculturality in Organisational Contexts 1”, that introduces theories and concepts relevant for comprehending challenges and opportunities related to interculturality in organizational and professional settings. You also follow two courses within your language track. In all four language tracks, you follow the course “History, Society and Change in English/French/German/Spanish Language Contexts”. In the English track you follow “Local Representations” that engages with local instances of cultural representations and their interpretations. In the other tracks, you follow the course” Tendencies in contemporary French/German/Spanish Literature and Culture”.
In the second semester, the common course "Interculturality in Organisational Contexts 2" further strengthens your comprehension of interculturality in organizational and professional settings and it also introduces theories, models, and techniques on innovation that you will apply to empirical cases of intercultural challenges within organisations and in collaboration with an external partner. In all four language tracks, the course “Interculturality and Communication” explores the linguistic and cultural background for the realization of successful intercultural communication and allows you to translate your acquired understanding of interculturality into adequate language practice in various communicative contexts. In addition, in the French, German and Spanish tracks, the course “Media, Identity and Oral Communication” examines the correlation between media production, culture and identity constructions in respectively French, German and Spanish language contexts. In the English track, the course “Engaging Conflict and Culture” presents historical and contemporary theories and practices related to cultural interactions, including conflicts and their resolution.
In the third semester, you have three options:
The degree programme concludes with a Master’s thesis on an intercultural issue in relation to either English, French, German or Spanish language contexts (depending on your track). You can write alone or in a group. You can also write a product thesis where you will have the opportunity to develop innovative solutions and practices based on a theoretical and empirical analysis. If you are doing the German, French or Spanish track, you can choose to write your thesis either in English or in the language of the track. If you are doing the English track, you write your thesis in English.
As a student, it is important to know the regulations for your chosen degree programme: what is the content, how is it structured and what does it require from you. You can find this information in the academic regulations.
In this section you can learn more about the admission requirements relevant to the master's degree programme in Intercultural studies (English). Depending on your educational background and your qualifications, there are different ways to meet the admission requirements:
This section is relevant for you, if you have:
The two sections listed below are relevant only for students with a bachelor's degree from a Danish institution:
Below these sections, you can learn more about the English language requirement. You can also find out which ranking criteria we use to assess your application when prioritizing among the submitted applications.
If you have an international educational background, you must meet both the general admission requirement and the specific admission requirements:
You must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent that is comparable to a Danish bachelor's degree in both level and duration (180 ECTS).
For more information about how your bachelor's degree is assessed, please see the national database.
If you meet the general admission requirement, the university will continue on to assess whether or not you meet the specific admission requirements.
You can be admitted to the master's programme if the university assesses that your education has a level, scope, and content that corresponds to the academic requirements specified below.
| Subject area | Number of ECTS |
| Cultural studies or language studies | 20 |
| Scientific method or research method | 5 |
| At least one larger free written assignment (e.g. Bachelor’s project) | 10 |
| Total | 35 |
We cannot assess in advance whether your specific degree will meet the above requirements. Therefore, we recommend that you apply for the programme if you believe that you meet the academic requirements. In this regard, it is a good idea to compare your degree with the programmes that provide direct admission.
There is no Bachelor's degree programme that provides a legal right of admission to the Master's Degree Programme in Intercultural Studies.
Certain Bachelor's degree programmes from Aarhus University and various other Danish Universities have been determined to meet the admission requirements to this Master's degree programme in Intercultural Studies:
A Bachelor’s Degree in the humanities og social sciences from Aarhus University or another Danish university.
A professional Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Business communication and IT-based market communication
All Master’s degree programmes at Aarhus University have limited intake. This means that you are not guaranteed admission even if you meet the entry requirements. When we prioritize among applicants, we assess your application based on a set of fixed ranking criteria, which you can see below.
If you have a legal right of admission, you are guaranteed a place in the programme and do not need to consider the ranking criteria.
Ranking criteria:
1. Grade level from qualifying degree programme
2. Grades achieved in relevant subject areas:
Cultural Studies or Language Studies
Communication in International Organisations
Scientific or Research Method
A major assignment on a topic of the student's own choice (e.g. a Bachelor's project)
3. Relevant subject areas (expressed in ECTS credits). This assessment does not include ECTS credits, which are part of the admission requirements described under 'Other degree programmes that may give access'.
Cultural Studies or Language Studies
Communication in International Organisations
Scientific or Research Method
A major assignment on a topic of the student's own choice (e.g. a Bachelor's project)
Please note that grades achieved after the application deadline are not included in the assessment.
In order to be admitted to this programme you must meet the university's English language requirements.
Students with bachelor's degree from Aarhus University with a so-called 'Legal right of admission' are exempt from the English language requirement.
Unfortunately, Aarhus University is not able to assess your qualifications beforehand. In order for your qualifications to be assessed you must apply for admission. To learn more, please go to Assessment of your qualifications.
In this section you can learn more about the admission requirements relevant to the master's degree programme in Intercultural studies (french). Depending on your educational background and your qualifications, there are different ways to meet the admission requirements:
This section is relevant for you, if you have:
The two sections listed below are relevant only for students with a bachelor's degree from a Danish institution:
Below these sections, you can learn more about the English language requirement. You can also find out which ranking criteria we use to assess your application when prioritizing among the submitted applications.
If you have an international educational background, you must meet both the general admission requirement and the specific admission requirements:
You must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent that is comparable to a Danish bachelor's degree in both level and duration (180 ECTS).
For more information about how your bachelor's degree is assessed, please see the national database.
If you meet the general admission requirement, the university will continue on to assess whether or not you meet the specific admission requirements.
You can be admitted to the master's programme if the university assesses that your education has a level, scope, and content that corresponds to the academic requirements specified below.
| Subject area | Number of ECTS |
| French | 45 |
* Mother tongue: Applicants whose mother tongue is French may also satisfy the requirement for knowledge of French. The applicants concerned must have grown up in the language area in question and gained most of their education there. This must be carefully documented.
We cannot assess in advance whether your specific degree will meet the above requirements. Therefore, we recommend that you apply for the programme if you believe that you meet the academic requirements. In this regard, it is a good idea to compare your degree with the programmes that provide direct admission.
The following bachelor's degree programme(s) from Aarhus University entitles you to an offer of admission to this master's degree programme:
Please note that the you must apply for admission to the master's degree programme witin three years of completing your bacherlor's degree programme.
Learn more about 'Legal right of admission'
Certain bachelor's degree programmes from Aarhus University and various other Danish Universities have been determined to meet the admission requirements to this master's degree programme:
Bachelor’s degree programme in in French language, literature and culture from Aarhus University
Bachelor’s degree programme in French
All Master’s degree programmes at Aarhus University have limited intake. This means that you are not guaranteed admission even if you meet the entry requirements. When we prioritize among applicants, we assess your application based on a set of fixed ranking criteria, which you can see below.
If you have a legal right of admission, you are guaranteed a place in the programme and do not need to consider the ranking criteria.
Ranking criteria:
1. Grade level from qualifying degree programme
2. Grades achieved in relevant subject areas:
French Language
Culture, Literature, History, Society and Media in the French-speaking world
3. Relevant subject areas (expressed in ECTS credits). This assessment does not include ECTS credits, which are part of the admission requirements described under 'Other degree programmes that may give access'.
French Language
Culture, Literature, History, Society and Media in the French-speaking world
Please note that grades achieved after the application deadline are not included in the assessment.
In order to be admitted to this programme you must meet the university's English language requirements.
Students with bachelor's degree from Aarhus University with a so-called 'Legal right of admission' are exempt from the English language requirement.
Unfortunately, Aarhus University is not able to assess your qualifications beforehand. In order for your qualifications to be assessed you must apply for admission. To learn more, please go to Assessment of your qualifications.
In this section you can learn more about the admission requirements relevant to the master's degree programme in Intercultural studies (Latin America and Spain). Depending on your educational background and your qualifications, there are different ways to meet the admission requirements:
This section is relevant for you, if you have:
The two sections listed below are relevant only for students with a bachelor's degree from a Danish institution:
Below these sections, you can learn more about the English language requirement. You can also find out which ranking criteria we use to assess your application when prioritizing among the submitted applications.
If you have an international educational background, you must meet both the general admission requirement and the specific admission requirements:
You must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent that is comparable to a Danish bachelor's degree in both level and duration (180 ECTS).
For more information about how your bachelor's degree is assessed, please see the national database.
If you meet the general admission requirement, the university will continue on to assess whether or not you meet the specific admission requirements.
You can be admitted to the master's programme if the university assesses that your education has a level, scope, and content that corresponds to the academic requirements specified below.
| Subject area | Number of ECTS |
| Spanish | 45 |
* Mother tongue: Applicants whose mother tongue is Spanish may also satisfy the requirement for knowledge of Spanish. The applicants concerned must have grown up in the language area in question and gained most of their education there. This must be carefully documented.
We cannot assess in advance whether your specific degree will meet the above requirements. Therefore, we recommend that you apply for the programme if you believe that you meet the academic requirements. In this regard, it is a good idea to compare your degree with the programmes that provide direct admission.
The following Bachelor's degree programme(s) from Aarhus University entitles you to an offer of admission to the Master's degree programme in Intercultural Studies (Latin America and Spain):
A Bachelor’s degree programme in Spanish and Spanish American language, literature and culture from Aarhus University with a supplementary subject which is not offered by upper-secondary school
Please note that you must apply for admission to the Master's degree programme within three years of completing your Bachelor's degree programme.
Learn more about Legal right of admission
Certain Bachelor's degree programmes from Aarhus University and various other Danish Universities have been determined to meet the admission requirements to this Master's degree programme in Intercultural Studies (Latin America and Spain)
Bachelor’s degree programme in Spanish and Spanish-American language, literature and culture from Aarhus University
Bachelor’s degree programme in Spansk og latinamerikansk sprog og kultur from Copenhagen University
Bachelor’s degree programme in Spansk og spanskamerikanske studier from University of Southern Denmark, SDU
All Master’s degree programmes at Aarhus University have limited intake. This means that you are not guaranteed admission even if you meet the entry requirements. When we prioritize among applicants, we assess your application based on a set of fixed ranking criteria, which you can see below.
If you have a legal right of admission, you are guaranteed a place in the programme and do not need to consider the ranking criteria.
Ranking criteria:
1. Grade level from qualifying degree programme
2. Grades achieved in relevant subject areas:
Spanish Language
Culture, Literature, History, Society and Media in the Spanish-speaking world
3. Relevant subject areas (expressed in ECTS credits). This assessment does not include ECTS credits, which are part of the admission requirements described under 'Other degree programmes that may give access'.
Spanish Language
Culture, Literature, History, Society and Media in the Spanish-speaking world
Please note that grades achieved after the application deadline are not included in the assessment.
In order to be admitted to this programme you must meet the university's English language requirements.
Students with bachelor's degree from Aarhus University with a so-called 'Legal right of admission' are exempt from the English language requirement.
Unfortunately, Aarhus University is not able to assess your qualifications beforehand. In order for your qualifications to be assessed you must apply for admission. To learn more, please go to Assessment of your qualifications.
In this section you can learn more about the admission requirements relevant to the master's degree programme in Intercultural studies (German). Depending on your educational background and your qualifications, there are different ways to meet the admission requirements:
This section is relevant for you, if you have:
The two sections listed below are relevant only for students with a bachelor's degree from a Danish institution:
Below these sections, you can learn more about the English language requirement. You can also find out which ranking criteria we use to assess your application when prioritizing among the submitted applications.
If you have an international educational background, you must meet both the general admission requirement and the specific admission requirements:
You must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent that is comparable to a Danish bachelor's degree in both level and duration (180 ECTS).
For more information about how your bachelor's degree is assessed, please see the national database.
If you meet the general admission requirement, the university will continue on to assess whether or not you meet the specific admission requirements.
You can be admitted to the master's programme if the university assesses that your education has a level, scope, and content that corresponds to the academic requirements specified below.
| Subject area | Number of ECTS |
| German | 45 |
* Mother tongue: Applicants whose mother tongue is German may also satisfy the requirement for knowledge of German. The applicants concerned must have grown up in the language area in question and gained most of their education there. This must be carefully documented.
We cannot assess in advance whether your specific degree will meet the above requirements. Therefore, we recommend that you apply for the programme if you believe that you meet the academic requirements. In this regard, it is a good idea to compare your degree with the programmes that provide direct admission.
The following bachelor's degree programme(s) from Aarhus University entitles you to an offer of admission to this master's degree programme:
Please note that the you must apply for admission to the master's degree programme witin three years of completing your bacherlor's degree programme.
Learn more about 'Legal right of admission'
Certain bachelor's degree programmes from Aarhus University and various other Danish Universities have been determined to meet the admission requirements to this master's degree programme:
Bachelor’s degree programme in German language, literature and culture from Aarhus University
Bachelor’s degree programme in German
All Master’s degree programmes at Aarhus University have limited intake. This means that you are not guaranteed admission even if you meet the entry requirements. When we prioritize among applicants, we assess your application based on a set of fixed ranking criteria, which you can see below.
If you have a legal right of admission, you are guaranteed a place in the programme and do not need to consider the ranking criteria.
Ranking criteria:
1. Grade level from qualifying degree programme
2. Grades achieved in relevant subject areas:
German Language
Culture, Literature, History, Society and Media in the German-speaking world
3. Relevant subject areas (expressed in ECTS credits). This assessment does not include ECTS credits, which are part of the admission requirements described under 'Other degree programmes that may give access'.
German Language
Culture, Literature, History, Society and Media in the German-speaking world
Please note that grades achieved after the application deadline are not included in the assessment.
In order to be admitted to this programme you must meet the university's English language requirements.
Students with bachelor's degree from Aarhus University with a so-called 'Legal right of admission' are exempt from the English language requirement.
Unfortunately, Aarhus University is not able to assess your qualifications beforehand. In order for your qualifications to be assessed you must apply for admission. To learn more, please go to Assessment of your qualifications.
The Intercultural studies degree programme uses various forms of teaching, and the size of the classes varies as well. There are lectures for large numbers of students, and courses involving smaller groups. A project/case-based approach is adopted throughout the programme, so your level of activity is important both during and between the lessons. The students are divided into study groups from the outset, depending on their language line and nationality. These groups form a framework for the work done in the joint courses studied by all four languages in the two first semesters. This helps to ensure that the intercultural element is not just an abstract part of the programme, but also has a practical and social dimension which the students will experience when they meet each other on day one.
There will also be a joint introductory week for all the students. During this week the students will get to know each other, and the international students will also learn what it’s like to study in Denmark. Teachers from all four degree programmes take part in this introductory week. There are two days of intensive, project-based teaching during which some of the most important concepts used during the programme will be introduced. During the final three days, the students work on a project which they will present both to each other and to the Intercultural studies teachers.
Aarhus University has an international outlook. For instance, a large number of students come to visit us from all over the globe each semester. Many of the students on the Intercultural studies programme come from abroad. And at the International Student Centre you can also meet students from all over the world – and get the chance to practise other languages.
There are lots of opportunities for students of Intercultural studies to meet other students after class, giving you the chance to expand your knowledge of the language you have chosen.
There are plenty of other ways to spend your spare time and meet people from other degree programmes.
You can also take part in the student activities in Aarhus via Studenterhus Aarhus.
There is a wealth of activities on offer for students at the Faculty of Arts and Aarhus University in general. Everything from lectures, freshers’ fairs and job exhibitions to seminars, parties and the annual sports day. You can keep an eye on what’s going on at the Faculty of Arts here.
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LAURA SKAUGE HARTELIUS, Marketing Assistant at BAADER
Language is at the core of my work. BAADER is an international company with colleagues and partners all over the world, which means that most external communication takes place in English. The intercultural understanding I gained during my studies is a great advantage when marketing materials need to be adapted to different target groups and markets. At the same time, I draw on the analytical approach from my studies when complex and technical information must be translated into clear, understandable, and engaging marketing content.
My day-to-day work as a Marketing Assistant is far from routine. I work with everything from LinkedIn, email marketing, and copywriting to brochures, invitations, landing pages, and campaigns. In addition, I do light graphic design work and contribute to internal communications. My team has a strong focus on learning, and I have a great deal of freedom to shape my tasks according to my interests and strengths.
My study choices have always been driven by interest and a passion for language and culture, and it was only later in my studies that the pieces started to fall into place. Fortunately, one of the special things about intercultural studies is that it opens up many different career paths.
Through the Master’s programme in Intercultural Studies, you acquire competences to:
Address complex cultural challenges: You learn to act as an intercultural practitioner and independently identify, facilitate, and evaluate creative solutions to complex cultural, organisational, and societal challenges.
Work in international teams: You gain the ability to collaborate in international and intercultural teams and to work in project-based and interdisciplinary settings.
Apply languages in professional contexts: You are able to operate professionally in intercultural and international contexts using English as well as your chosen language track (French, Spanish, or German) as working languages.
Apply academic expertise in practice: You learn to independently plan and implement projects, critically reflect on practice, and apply your academic expertise in intercultural contexts.
See the full competence profile in the official curriculum.
Intercultural Studies prepares you for employment in both national and international labour markets.
The programme opens doors to both public and private organisations with international connections, departments, or activities, where intercultural understanding, strong language skills, and the ability to manage processes and projects are in demand.
Former students work, for example, as:
Arts Career offers inspiration, guidance, and counselling on your career opportunities while you study. You can find more examples of career paths with a Master’s degree in Intercultural Studies in the Arts Career catalogue.
