MA French and German and Persian
About this course
French, German and Persian is a remarkable combination of three major world languages, each with a rich literary, cultural and political tradition, and each with a different relationship to the contemporary world. French is the language of international diplomacy and culture, spoken across five continents. German is the most widely spoken first language in Europe, the language of one of the world's largest economies and a great literary and philosophical tradition. Persian, or Farsi, is spoken by tens of millions of people across Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, carries one of the world's great medieval and classical literary heritages, and is increasingly strategically significant in global politics and diplomacy. At St Andrews, this four-year MA programme develops advanced linguistic proficiency in all three languages alongside deep engagement with the literatures, cultures and contemporary realities of the French-speaking, German-speaking and Persian-speaking worlds. A year abroad is built into the programme, giving you immersive language experience in at least one of your language communities, which is the most effective and formative way to develop genuine fluency. You will study texts from all three traditions, engage with cultural and historical contexts that span medieval Europe to contemporary Iran, and develop the analytical and communication skills that a degree in three languages demands. Graduates of this combination are genuinely rare and therefore valuable in highly competitive professional fields. Diplomacy, translation and interpreting, international organisations, area studies research, journalism, intelligence work, international business and cultural institutions are all natural destinations. Further study in languages, area studies, translation or international law is a well-supported option for those who want to develop their expertise further.
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