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International Contemporary Literatures and Media

MA (International Contemporary Literatures and Media)—full-time and part-time

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Course Overview
Key Facts
Course Outline
Why Choose This Course?
Course Fees
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Course Overview

Watch course video presentation here.

Do you have an interest in contemporary literatures and film from around the globe? If so, the MA (International Contemporary Literatures and Media) is for you.

This is an exciting multidisciplinary and comparative MA programme that aims to familiarise you with movements, authors, texts and themes of international contemporary literature and film. Incorporating modules from, for example, Journalism, Film Studies, Drama and Performance, you will have the opportunity to choose from a variety of modules that will complement your interest areas and potential career path. The programme also broadens your intellectual horizons and provides you with the skills for research and critical analysis.

While you do not need proficiency in languages other than English for this programme (in core modules, texts will be read in translation), proficiency in other language will allow you to choose from a wider range of optional modules.

You will be prepared for a variety of careers in media, arts administration, teaching, and international marketing and communications.

The course provides excellent preparation also if you are interested in pursuing a PhD in this area.

Scholarships available
Find out about our Postgraduate Scholarships here.

Applications and Selections

Applications are made online via the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System.

Who Teaches this Course

Dr Michaela Schrage-Frueh

M.A. DR.PHIL

Lecturer in German
Arts Millennium Building
University Road
Galway
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Dr Deirdre Byrnes

BA, MPhil, PhD

Senior Lecturer
Arts Millennium Building
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Dr Catherine Emerson

BA, MSt, PhD

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Dr Tina-Karen Pusse

MA, Doc.

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Dr Kathleen Quinn

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Prof. Hans W Schmidt-Hannisa

M.A, Dr. Phil

Professor
DEPARTMENT OF GERMAN
NUIG
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Requirements and Assessment

Students have to take six modules (10 ECTS each). Four are obligatory and two are optional. Assessment of modules is by written exam or take-home essay. Students also have to write a minor dissertation of circa 15,000 words (30 ECTS).

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Second Class Honours NQAI Level 8 degree or equivalent in any discipline with a strong literature or media component.

Additional Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Duration

1 year, full-time; 2 years, part-time

Next start date

September 2025

A Level Grades ()

Average intake

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

Closing Date

See offer round dates.

NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

Award

CAO

Course code

MA-ICLM

Course Outline

The late 20th century and the beginning of the 21^st century saw fundamental cultural changes brought about by factors such as globalisation, the end of the Cold War, and technological and communicative innovations, and these changes are intensely reflected in literature and media. The course programme includes the study of seminal texts, films and other media by international authors and artists mostly from the 1960s to post-modernism and beyond. Non-English texts will be read in translation.

You will study four core modules (The Art of Reading, Contemporary Genres, Worlds of Fantasy, Literature and Conflict) and two optional modules from other programmes (for example: Irish Contemporary Drama, Digital Film and Culture, Journalism, Gender and Sexuality in Irish Cinema, Culture and Colonialism) across Semester One and Two and will be required to undertake a dissertation.

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits: You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module: An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Subject: Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
Optional: A module you may choose to study.
Required: A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Required Core Subject: A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
Semester: Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.

Year 1 (90 Credits)

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

If you are interested in contemporary culture, but are looking for a less anglo/US-centric offering, then this is the course for you.

Career opportunities

Postgraduate students acquire a flexible skills base in dealing with creative and communicative tasks, along with analytical, organisational and research skills. They move on to avail of a corresponding range of career opportunities after graduation. Careers can be developed in, for example, publishing, print and electronic media, the culture industries and education.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€7,890 full-time; €4,070 part-time (including levy) p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Tuition

€7,750 full-time; €4,000 part-time p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Student levy

€140 full-time; €70 part-time p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Non EU

€19,000 p.a. (€19,140 p.a. including levy) 2025/26

For 25/26 entrants, where the course duration is greater than 1 year, there is an inflationary increase approved of 3.4% per annum for continuing years fees.

Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant – please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €4,000 towards your tuition (2025/26). You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee. A P1 grant is where SUSI will pay tuition up to a maximum of €6,270. SUSI will not cover the student levy of €140.

Note to non-EU students: learn about the 24-month Stayback Visa here.