PDF for printing» Department of EUROPEAN STUDIES & MODERN LANGUAGES
Introduction
European Studies & Modern Languages is one of the largest departments in the University, and is home to a group of academics working in one or more of: cultural studies; international relations; and politics. Many staff are leading scholars in their field and are involved in a wide range of research activities, including collaborative projects at both national and international levels. There is a wide range of postgraduate programmes that are innovative and distinctive.
The Department enjoys an international reputation for its research and was awarded a 5 rating in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise. It was also selected by the European Commission as one of only a few UK Jean Monnet Centres of Excellence.
The Department participates in the European Research Institute, which brings together the research staff and students from various departments within the University.
In addition, the Department has a Centre for Women's Studies, which provides a distinct focus for research and teaching of Women's Studies within various departments.
Main areas of research
The Department actively encourages collaborative and interdisciplinary research activities. Research is comparative and also nation-specific and primarily divided into Research Clusters as follows:
Cultural research is primarily concerned with literature and film. The principal focus is on 20th century and contemporary culture. Topics include:
- Memory, History and Identity
- Cultural Responses to Political Conflict and Social Change
Politics research is organised in research groups around two broad themes: democracy and democratisation and territories and governance. Topics include:
- Conflict and Security
- Democratic Change, Social Movements and Political Parties
Interdisciplinary research
Topics include:
- Security
- Integration, Governance and Territorial Identities
- Migration, Exile and Ethnicity
Facilities and equipment
Facilities include:
- European Community and European Union publications
- extensive local archive collections relating to research programmes in French and German politics
- satellite television broadcasts
- computer laboratory offering a wide range of word-processing and dataprocessing software.
International and industrial links
- Research students regularly engage in fieldwork abroad, especially in the countries of the EU, but also in Russia, Latin America and the United States.
- Students on the Euromasters programme study at two or three different sites in either Europe or the USA.
- In the case of the MA in Interpreting and Translating and the MA in Translation and Professional Language Skills, a number of work placements in Western Europe are made available to students in the language services of international organisations, government departments and commercial enterprises.
Careers information
The wide range of programmes offered by the Department enables postgraduates to find employment in many different fields, including the following:
- diplomatic service
- media
- academia
- international organisations
- multinational corporations
- policy-forming institutes
- the language services of the UN and EU.
Other resources
The Foreign Languages Centre offers a wide range of language courses at different levels, that postgraduate students can choose to follow, free of charge. These courses give students the opportunity to begin a new language or to develop their skills in a language that they have already studied.
The Self Access Language Centre provides valuable resources for language students, including access to international satellite channels, various language learning software and a wide selection of foreign language DVDs and videos.
The English Language Centre provides Academic English classes and support for the University's international student population.