MA
Communication and Language Skills
Become a highly competent linguist
Course Overview
Why take this course?
This course is designed to produce highly competent linguists for the modern business and media world. Combining the theory with the practice of communication, it has a distinctive vocational orientation and focuses on English as the medium of communication.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Study the nature and function of communication in the modern world, so you will be able to produce text (written, spoken, printed and broadcast) for different agendas
- Develop high-level multilingual communication skills in an optional translation context
- Better understand and use modern communication technologies
What opportunities might it lead to?
The course is designed for graduates from any discipline who wish to work in business, commerce and the media as highly competent linguists. The course combines the theory of communication with the practice of communication, has a distinctive vocational orientation and focuses on English as the medium of communication.
I required a course that appealed to my interest in communications and languages and would be beneficial to my future career aspirations. My course did just that.
Louise Nash, MA Communication and Language Skills student 2012
Key Facts
- Duration
- 1 year full time, 2 years part time
- Entry
A good honours degree in a relevant subject, or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications.
English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 or equivalent with no component less than 6.0.- Fees
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man full-time students: £5,000, £2,500 p/a* (2 years)
International full-time students: £10,500, part-time students: £5,250 p/a* (2 years).
*Please note that all fees are subject to annual increase.- Contact
- humanities.admissions@port.ac.uk
+44 (0)23 9284 8299 - Department
- School of Languages and Area Studies
Structure & Teaching
Communication and Language Skills balances theory and practice and features units that have a high degree of professional relevance and training.
The course is structured on the basis of core units and optional units.
- Theory & Practice of Communication
- Communication in Different Contexts: Writing & Speech
- Dissertation/Major Project
- 2 options from:
- Electronic Media
- Communicating with Different Audiences
- Independent Learning
- Intercultural Communication
- Specialised Translation
Please note. All optional units are subject to staff availability and student demand.
Exit levels
The credit system creates a flexible framework in which you can graduate with one of the following awards, depending on the number of credits gained:
- MA in Communication and Language Skills (four core units plus the research management and dissertation units) 180 credits
- Postgraduate Diploma in Communication and Language Skills : 120 credits
- Postgraduate Certificate in Communication and Language Skills: 60 credits
Teaching and Assessment
Full time study is one full academic year, consisting of a taught part from October to June and a research part, in which the dissertation is written, from June to September. Part time students study for a period of two years. The dissertation is written in the summer period of the second year of study.
How are you assessed?
There are no formal examinations. A variety of different assessment methods are used which include essays, projects, portfolios, practical translation assignments, presentations, in-class tests and your dissertation. The research management unit will prepare you for your dissertation and you will be allocated a dissertation supervisor who will oversee your work throughout the process. You will also be encouraged to start thinking about it from the start of the course and submit a series of interim documents.
Facilities & Features
CEISR
Centre for European and International Studies Research
Language Laboratories
Language labs offering a rich and effective multimedia language environment
University Library
Our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books
CEISR
On your Master's, you will be studying with members of CEISR, one of the UK's largest research centres of its kind. These active researchers in the field of linguistics and the teaching of English as a foreign language will ensure that your study is connected to the latest developments in the area.
Language Laboratories
We have four state-of-the-art Sony Virtuoso Language Laboratories, where you can manipulate video, sound, text and Internet sources in a rich, multimedia language-learning environment. Our staff are at the forefront in exploiting the potential afforded by this technology to create their own packages of materials.
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment, our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books, DVDs, maps and thousands of online e-journals and newspapers. Many electronic resources are available anywhere, 24/7 and our friendly staff are always on hand to help.
Careers & Opportunities
Career prospects
Graduates will be able to progress to jobs in the public and private sectors in various areas of communication including, advertising, publishing, human resources departments, in higher education in their own country or elsewhere, or continue on to undertake doctoral research. Possession of a Masters qualification is often viewed as a requirement for promotion to a more responsible position where you may already be working.
Career planning
One of the benefits of studying at Portsmouth is the support that we provide to our Master's and Research Degrees students in career planning. Our careers and recruitment service – Purple Door – can assist you in career research and finding employment opportunities. Help is also available if you wish to find a part-time job while studying your degree. We offer our postgraduate students and alumni one-to-one appointments with a careers adviser, or an online service for those not able to travel back to the University. Our alumni can call on our career services for five years after graduation.
In addition, regular employability events offer you the chance to meet employers, find out about different career sectors and improve your applications or CV. The Graduate Summer Programme provides a range of guidance and employability seminars and workshops.