Master of Arts in East European Languages and Cultures
A ‘Languages and Cultures’ programme focuses on languages in order to gain access to the underlying cultures. Our Master’s programme offers a unique combination of language specialization and an in-depth study of Eastern European society. The curriculum contains elective tracks focusing on professional experience, an in-depth, or a broadening knowledge acquisition.
What
For whom
The admission requirements vary. Depending on your prior education, you are either able to enrol directly, or there are additional requirements.
Structure
The curriculum consists of three equal sets of course units: general course units, the Master's dissertation, and elective course units.
The set of general course units contains three types: thematic course units, a research seminar and a project-based course unit. You will have to combine these into a coherent whole. You take at least two thematic course units. These course units offer an in-depth focus on a number of topical Eastern European themes, i.e. language, memory and identity. These themes are then contextualized in the broader humanities. In the research seminar, you choose one of four tracks. Each of those research seminars ties in closely with our research expertise in Slavic and Eastern European studies. Your choice of elective track should tie in as closely as possible with your choice of Master's dissertation topic, and the research you set up in that respect. Finally, you also take a project-based course unit, in which you work on a topical issue from one of the thematic course units in an active and creative manner.
The Master's dissertation set contains the Master’s dissertation an sich, which involves conducting independent research guided by a supervisor and is the final component of the Master’s programme. The set also contains a methodology course unit that helps you prepare for the Master's dissertation and offers you the skills you need for science communication.
The set of electives contains a work placement module (preparation for the labour market), a research module (preparation for a research career) and a set of electives that can be chosen freely (further in-depth or broadening study, depending on your interests, plans for the future or your Master's dissertation). .
In addition to the (domain) Master’s programme described above, you can also choose a Master’s Programme in Teaching (in Dutch: Educatieve Master). Find out more at www.ugent.be/educatievemaster (in Dutch).
Labour Market
Our Master’s programme gives access to the same job opportunities as do similar Master’s programmes in languages (Linguistics and Literature, Languages and Cultures).
Our programme focuses on a region that holds a pivotal position in Europe and the world. Bulgaria, Croatia, and Slovenia have become EU member states. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, the Republic of North Macedonia and Serbia are candidate member states and thus a priority of EU foreign policy. Still, the relation between the EU and South-Eastern Europe is highly intricate. As the world’s largest country, Russia is an important player on the world stage in terms of politics, economy and culture. In the past decade, Russia has (re)gained importance as a geopolitical player on the European continent and beyond. Graduates with a solid knowledge of these countries/languages/region are a valuable asset to any sector where they can take on an intermediary role.
Our graduates find employment in companies who have business ties with Russia, South-Eastern Europe and Eastern Europe in general. They are recruited to assist on trade missions or to work at a company’s international branch. A Master’s degree in Eastern European languages also gives access to jobs in the cultural sector (theatres, publishers, libraries), the social sector (often after advanced studies), the media sector, or (inter)national organisations and government agencies.
After taking the Master’s Programme in Teaching (in Dutch: Educatieve Master) you can start as a teacher in adult or secondary education. Some of our graduates also find employment as a translator and/or interpreter.
To graduates with a special interest in an in-depth academic study of the humanities (linguistics, literature, (cultural) history, philology) our programme offers attractive options for a research career, as well.
Quality Assurance
At Ghent University, we strive to educate people who dare to think about the challenges of tomorrow. For that purpose, we provide education that is embedded in six strategic objectives: Think Broadly, Keep Researching, Cultivate Talent, Contribute, Extend Horizons, Opt for Quality.
Ghent University continuously focuses on quality assurance and quality culture. The Ghent University's quality assurance system offers information on each study programme’s unique selling points, and on its strengths and weaknesses with regard to quality assurance.
More information:
Unique Selling Points
- Largest linguistic family: in our study programme you choose two languages from the largest linguistic family in Europe. The corresponding cultural areas are as rich as they are diverse.
- A focus on languages and cultures: we offer our students a combination of language and cultural studies. With the language skills they acquire, our students gain access to the corresponding literatures, (cultural) history and societies.
- The extracurricular activities we set up, ranging from movie nights to lecture series and culture trips, are an opportunity for our students to look beyond what the regular curriculum has to offer.
- Internationalization: how about a study abroad experience? After completing the first year, you can take short-term summer courses abroad. From the third year onwards, you can spend a term abroad at one of our international partner institutions.
- Career perspectives: in addition to a broad academic skills set, our graduates master specific language skills and cultural knowledge. They are well-prepared to enter the labour market but can choose to embark on advanced studies as well.
Strengths
- Internationalization: as the international background of our teaching team goes to show, we aim to offer all our students an international experience.
- Multiperspectivism and talent development: our curriculum brings together a wide range of insights and perspectives - literary studies, history and cultural studies, anthropology, linguistics and philology. It allows us to cater to our students’ different talents and interests.
- Knowledge creation: our research-based education inspires students to learn to create academic knowledge themselves.
- New curriculum: students have been asking for a greater focus on current affairs and on practical knowledge. The new curriculum meets our students’ aspirations, and at the same time includes opportunities for specialization and critical thought.
- Approachability: we are a small study programme and focus on immediate and intensive personal contact between our lecturers and students.
Challenges
- Improved communication: our vision, positioning and day-to-day management is not always clear to all. Together with our faculty’s communication department we are working on a better internal and external communication strategy. Among other things, our website got a makeover and we undertake more outreach initiatives vis-à-vis secondary schools.
- Improved co-operation: “team spirit” is essential, especially in a study programme supported by an international teaching team. We are working on a professional climate in which all our staff members contribute actively, and in which there is room for talent development for all.
- Improved participation: we place great store by student involvement in our day-to-day management. We have noticed, however, that students do not always find the right forum to do so. Why use your right to participate, you ask? Because participation garners enthusiasm and involvement! For that reason, we invest in better information flows e.g. by means of a new brochure, and by posting meeting minutes and important decisions on Ufora.
This study programme is accredited by the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (Dutch: NVAO). Accreditation was extended following the positive outcome of the institutional review in 2022. Programme quality was validated by a quality review, i.e. a screening of the Education Monitor by the Education Quality Board. The Quality Assurance Resolution (in Dutch) can be found here.
This information was last updated on 01/02/2023.
In case of questions or suggestions with regard to the publicly available information, please contact the study programme.