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INTERCULTURAL STUDIES

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)

Introduction

Interculturality in a transnational world

We encounter cultural differences every day both in our private and professional lives. Such differences are related to a society or a language area, but also to professions, ethnicities, religions, social groups, generations and/or organisations. As a student of Intercultural Studies, you will acquire insights into different theoretical approaches to interculturality in the transnational world and work with the interrelationships of local, national, regional, and transnational identities. Throughout the programme, the focus is on comprehending how cultural expressions and interactions are anchored in historical, social and language contexts while also evolving in relation to the surrounding world.

The programme develops your abilities to analyse, critically reflect upon and facilitate interculturality. This includes the capacity to draw on cultural differences as resources. These abilities enable you to navigate and act within intercultural, internationalised landscapes whether it is in the private or public sector, in international organisations or in NGOs. This can enhance your ability to communicate with the international partners of your organisation, identify opportunities for development and challenges, and initiate projects while opening new paths.

An Interdisciplinary programme

The programme in Intercultural Studies draws on concepts and methods from various disciplines within the humanities (i.e. history, literature, media, language) and the social sciences (i.e. intercultural approaches to organizational studies, to innovation) as a way to provide you with the competences needed to analyse various intercultural settings in their historical and social contexts. The intercultural nature of the programme also improves your language skills. International English is the shared language of the degree programme and is employed in the teaching of the common courses that all students in Intercultural Studies follow. The language specific tracks are conducted in their respective language, either English, French, German, or Spanish. In this way, you train your skills to communicate in the respective language and to use it as a working language. The courses comprise short lectures, interactive seminars, group work as well as instructor and peer feedback. You will also work in a problem and practice-oriented way based on empirical cases and in collaboration with external partners. Hence, the size of classes as well as the working methods vary a great deal.

*If you wish to pursue a career in teaching, for example in upper-secondary school in Denmark, you should choose line B in one of the other Master’s degree programmes in languages which include a Master’s supplementary subject.

Here an introduction to the Master's degree programme in Intercultural Studies.
Hear student Alizée André talk about her experience at the MA in Intercultural Studies.

Admission requirements

The admission requirements vary from one line to the next. Specific admission requirements are listed for each individual line.

Programme structure

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.

1st semester

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”.

2nd semester

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.

3rd semester

In the third semester, you have three options:

  1. To do an internship in an organization (private, public, NGO or international) that allows you to acquire practical insights and understandings of interculturality and to account for these in an internship report drawing on relevant theories and concepts. You can do the internship in Denmark or abroad.
  2. To study abroad at a university that offers relevant courses to your Master's programme.
  3. To pursue the third semester at Aarhus University. In this case, you will follow the courses “Intercultural Projects in a Transnational World” that, among other things, will provide you with an introduction to writing your Master's Thesis, as well as two profile courses that address the questions of Digitalization and Sustainability.

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.

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.  

Admission requirements and prerequisites

Admission to this degree programme requires a Bachelor’s degree in the humanities or social sciences.

The following degree programmes qualify you for admission to the Master’s degree programme in Intercultural Studies:

  1. A Bachelor’s degree in the humanities or social sciences from Aarhus University or another Danish university.
  2. A corresponding Bachelor’s degree from a university outside Denmark.
    Admission can also be based on the following professional Bachelor’s degree:
  3. Business communication and IT-based market communication.

Other qualifications can provide admission to the Master’s Degree Programme, provided the university assesses that their level, extent and content correspond to a Bachelor’s Degree in the humanities or social sciences from Aarhus University or another Danish university or a corresponding Bachelor’s Degree from a university outside Denmark. The corresponding Bachelor’s degree should as a minimum include:

  • 20 ECTS in cultural studies or language studies
  • 5 ECTS in scientific method or research method
  • At least one larger free written assignment of at least 10 ECTS (e.g. a Bachelor’s Project).
     

Language requirements

The language of instruction is English, so all applicants must document knowledge of English at level B (Danish upper secondary school level) of the Danish upper-secondary school or its equivalent.

Read more about how to document your level of English if you do not have a Danish upper-secondary education.

Restricted admission

There is restricted admission to this Master’s degree programme. So compliance with the admission requirements does not represent a guarantee of admission.

Selection criteria

If there are more qualified applicants than student places, these qualified applicants will be admitted based on a simple average of their marks. This simple average is calculated on the basis of the courses with graded assessment which have been passed on the degree programme on which admission is based at the time applications are submitted.

French

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.  

Admission requirements and prerequisites

Admission to this degree programme requires a BA in the humanities or social sciences, with language qualifications in French which correspond at least to a BA supplementary subject (45 ECTS credits).

The following degree programmes qualify you for admission to the Master’s degree programme in Intercultural studies (French):

  • A BA in French language, literature and culture from Aarhus University.
  • A BA in French from other universities.
  • A BA in the humanities or social sciences with a BA supplementary subject in French (at least 45 ECTS credits).
  • A combined degree in the social sciences or humanities with an ECTS weighting in French corresponding to at least 45 ECTS credits (BA or BSc), for instance: Business, language and culture (international negotiation, BA); international business administration and modern languages (BSc); corporate communication (BA), international studies (BA).
  • Bachelor degree programmes from universities outside Denmark which contain qualifications corresponding to those outlined above.
  • Non-Danish students whose mother tongue is French and who have a BA in the social sciences or humanities with course elements within the fields of ‘intercultural communication and analysis’, ‘studies of globalisation and cultural encounters’, or ‘international studies’ corresponding to at least 45 ECTS credits.*

* 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. 

Other qualifications can provide admission to the Master’s degree programme, provided the university assesses that their level, extent and content correspond to the degrees mentioned above. As a minimum, these must contain 45 ECTS credits in French.

Language requirements

The primary language of instruction is French; but for joint courses involving all the Master’s degree programmes in Intercultural studies, the language of instruction is English. Consequently, all applicants must document knowledge of English at level B of the Danish upper-secondary school (Danish upper secondary school level) or its equivalent.

Read more about how to document your level of English if you have not been to Danish upper-secondary school.

Restricted admission

There is restricted admission to this Master’s degree programme. So compliance with the admission requirements does not represent a guarantee of admission.

Selection criteria

If there are more qualified applicants than student places, these qualified applicants will be admitted based on a simple average of their marks. This simple average is calculated on the basis of the courses with graded assessment which have been passed on the degree programme on which admission is based at the time applications are submitted.

Legal right of admission

Students who complete the Bachelor’s degree programme in French language, literature and culture at Aarhus University and have a supplementary subject which is not offered by upper-secondary school have a legal right of admission to the Master’s degree programme in Intercultural studies (French).
The legal right of admission only applies if students apply for admission to the Master’s degree programme within the set deadlines. Read more about the extended legal right of admission.

Latin America and Spain

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.  

Admission requirements and prerequisites

Admission to this degree programme requires a BA in the humanities or social sciences, with language qualifications in Spanish which correspond at least to a BA supplementary subject (45 ECTS credits).

The following degree programmes qualify you for admission to the Master’s degree programme in Intercultural studies (Latin America and Spain):

  1. A BA in Spanish and Spanish-American language, literature and culture from Aarhus University
  2. A BA in Spanish from other universities
  3. A BA in the humanities or social sciences with a supplementary subject in Spanish (at least 45 ECTS credits).
  4. A combined degree in the social sciences or humanities with an ECTS weighting in Spanish corresponding to at least 45 ECTS credits (BA or BSc), for instance: Business, language and culture (international negotiation, BA); international business administration and modern languages (BSc); corporate communication (BA), international studies (BA)
  5. Bachelor degree programmes from universities outside Denmark which contain qualifications corresponding to those outlined above.
  6. Non-Danish students whose mother tongue is Spanish and who have a BA in the social sciences or humanities with course elements within the fields of ‘intercultural communication and analysis’, ‘studies of globalisation and cultural encounters’, or ‘international studies’ corresponding to at least 45 ECTS credits.*

* 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.

Other qualifications can provide admission to the Master’s degree programme, provided the university assesses that their level, extent and content correspond to the degrees mentioned above. As a minimum, these must contain 45 ECTS credits in Spanish.

Language requirements

The primary language of instruction is Spanish; but for joint courses involving all the Master’s degree programmes in Intercultural studies, the language of instruction is English. Consequently, all applicants must document knowledge of English at level B of the Danish upper-secondary school or its equivalent.

Read more about how to document your level of English if you have not been to Danish upper-secondary school.

Restricted admission

There is restricted admission to this Master’s degree programme. So compliance with the admission requirements does not represent a guarantee of admission. 

Selection criteria

If there are more qualified applicants than student places, these qualified applicants will be admitted based on a simple average of their marks. This simple average is calculated on the basis of the courses with graded assessment which have been passed on the degree programme on which admission is based at the time applications are submitted. 

Legal right of admission

Students who complete the Bachelor’s degree programme in Spanish and Spanish-American language, literature and culture at Aarhus University and have a supplementary subject which is not offered by upper-secondary school have a legal right of admission to the Master’s degree programme in Intercultural studies (Spanish).

The legal right of admission only applies if students apply for admission to the Master’s degree programme within the set deadlines. Read more about the extended legal right of admission.  

German

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.

Admission requirements and prerequisites

Admission to this degree programme requires a BA in the humanities or social sciences, with language qualifications in German which correspond at least to a BA supplementary subject (45 ECTS credits).

The following degree programmes qualify you for admission to the Master’s degree programme in Intercultural studies (German):

  • A BA in German language, literature and culture from Aarhus University.
  • A BA in German from other universities.
  • A BA in the humanities or social sciences with a supplementary subject in German (at least 45 ECTS credits).
  • A combined degree in the social sciences or humanities with an ECTS weighting in German corresponding to at least 45 ECTS credits (BA or BSc), for instance: Business, language and culture (international negotiation, BA); international business administration and modern languages (BSc); corporate communication (BA), international studies (BA).
  • Bachelor degree programmes from universities outside Denmark which contain qualifications corresponding to those outlined above.
  • Non-Danish students whose mother tongue is German and who have a BA in the social sciences or humanities with course elements within the fields of ‘intercultural communication and analysis’, ‘studies of globalisation and cultural encounters’, or ‘international studies’ corresponding to at least 45 ECTS credits.*

* 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.

Other qualifications can provide admission to the Master’s degree programme, provided the university assesses that their level, extent and content correspond to the degrees mentioned above. As a minimum, these must contain 45 ECTS credits in German.

Language requirements

The primary language of instruction is German; but for joint courses involving all the Master’s degree programmes in Intercultural studies, the language of instruction is English. Consequently, all applicants must document knowledge of English at level B of the Danish upper-secondary school or its equivalent.

Read more about how to document your level of English if you have not been to Danish upper-secondary school.

Restricted admission

There is restricted admission to this Master’s degree programme. So compliance with the admission requirements does not represent a guarantee of admission.

Selection criteria

If there are more qualified applicants than student places, these qualified applicants will be admitted based on a simple average of their marks. This simple average is calculated on the basis of the courses with graded assessment which have been passed on the degree programme on which admission is based at the time applications are submitted.

Legal right of admission 

Students who complete the Bachelor’s degree programme in German language, literature and culture at Aarhus University and have a supplementary subject which is not offered by upper-secondary school have a legal right of admission to the Master’s degree programme in Intercultural studies (German).
The legal right of admission only applies if students apply for admission to the Master’s degree programme within the set deadlines. Read more about the extended legal right of admission.  

Student life

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.

International environment

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.

Lectures, films and Friday bars

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.

  • Esperanto is the Friday bar for language students. This is where you can meet students from the other language lines and degree programmes at the school.
  • Lectures: You can also attend lectures in a variety of languages.
  • Alliance Francaise has been in existence since 1910 and arranges French lectures and other Francophile events at a very reasonable price: DKK 70 per student for an entire season.
  • The English Lecture Society is a student association which arranges informal lectures by guest speakers in English.
  • Kolloquium am Mittwoch is where you can attend lectures and take part in discussions about all aspects of life in Germany.
  • There are also plenty of options if you’d rather watch a film:
  • Kaffee-Kino puts on lesser-known German films three or four times each semester. It’s great fun, as well as being relevant for your course.
  • The Spanish Film Forum shows a Spanish film in the Øst for Paradis cinema in Aarhus once a month during the school year. Anyone interested can blog about these films on the website.

Making new friends

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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Career

Job functions for grads

The chart shows the five most common types of work for graduates 1-2 years after finishing their degree. The data is derived from a survey made by Epinion for the Ministry of Higher Education and Science and Aarhus University in 2020.

Working in international organisations

The programme aims to qualify graduates for employment in the international job market in general, meaning private and public organisations that have international relations, departments or activities in which good intercultural understanding, a sense of how to manage processes and projects and strong language skills are needed.

Career Guidance

Please contact the Student Counselling Office for advice about employment opportunities and the subject profile options of your degree programme.

You can read more about the career services that are available from Arts Karriere who provide information about employment opportunities as well as arranging various events and workshops.