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Intercultural Communication MA

London, Bloomsbury

This MA explores intercultural communication through a range of interdisciplinary perspectives. The understanding and skills you gain will equip you to investigate and apply new ways in questions around language, culture and diversity, helping students to overcome barriers to understanding while also preparing them for research, policy and practice in applied language studies, education and the workplace in a superdiverse and communicatively complex world.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
£14,200
£7,100
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
£35,400
£17,700
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2026
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 26 Jun 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

Normally a minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree in a relevant subject (e.g. English, languages, linguistics, and communication), or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard is required.

The English language level for this course is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

This course is suitable for international students on a Student visa – study must be full-time, face-to-face, starting September.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

This course will provide you with interdisciplinary insights into intercultural communication, drawing upon applied linguistics, anthropological, sociological, philosophical, digital, language educational and cultural studies perspectives. It will also develop your capacity to analyse, evaluate and synthesise sociocultural and linguistic data, primary and secondary sources, as well as helping you to design research.

Who this course is for

This course is suitable for anyone with a keen interest in issues of communication across languages and cultures. In addition to language educators and communications professionals, it is also directed at graduates in languages, linguistics, education and all those with an interest in critical understandings of language, culture and identity.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

UCL Institute of Education (IOE) is one of the world's leading centres for education and related areas of social science. For the twelfth year in succession IOE has been ranked as the world's leading university for Education (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025).

The course equips students with cutting-edge critical and theoretical perspectives in the field of intercultural communication, enhancing their critical intercultural awareness and communicative competence. It fosters ethical and research-informed practice in intercultural communication, particularly in relation to social justice, diversity, equality, and inclusion. Students will engage in reflective practice on intercultural and multilingual experiences, preparing them for the challenges of collaborative intercultural and international workplaces, whether as graduates, in-service educators, or other professionals.

These opportunities are supported by thriving IOE research centres such as the International Centre for Intercultural Studies, which leads interdisciplinary research on intercultural communication in education, professional communication, language identity, and creativity, and the Centre for Applied Linguistics, which focuses on areas like bilingualism and multilingualism, linguistic ethnography, global English, semiotics, and language education policy. The research conducted by these centres forms the foundation of the knowledge and thinking behind this MA. Being part of such a world-renowned, research-driven community enhances the experience during the MA course and continues to provide benefits long after.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

This course not only provides you with an outstanding foundation for PhD research and an academic career but will also prepare you to develop yourself internationally in areas such as education, communications or public relations. Group discussions and debates in class will help you to acquire strong presentation and negotiation skills. Likewise, the analytical and research skills you will gain are highly valued by employers from a range of sectors.

Some recent destinations include: 

Online interactive courses developer at Elite Reserve Programme of New Oriental, China; English teacher in Korea; English Teacher in Colombia; e-commerce executive at Retail Technology LTD; Student Experience and Community Manager | Integration, Education for Refugees and Migrants, Social Entrepreneurship at ReDi School of Digital Integration, Denmark; Public Opinion Analyst for China Health Media Group, Beijing China.

Employability

Our course values and promotes teamwork, collaboration and the ability to work effectively with others towards shared goals and across all our modules. Problem-solving and critical thinking with the ability to identify, analyse, and solve problems is crucial for our daily communication at the workplace and our MA enables this through the curation of our readings, discussions, presentations and reflections. Adaptability, willingness and ability to adjust to new situations and challenges is important to us and we promote this through our project-based work. We want our students to be leaders, take initiative, motivate others, and guide teams when they leave us and work ethic is paramount in this respect by demonstrating reliability, punctuality, and a strong commitment to work. Resilience is also key and the ability to bounce back from setbacks and maintain a positive attitude is important for long-term success and articulated through our intercultural projects. Emotional Intelligence is thought through in the way our modules and course structure is organised.  Understanding and managing one's own emotions and those of others is essential for building strong relationships and effective teamwork and students get the opportunity to work on groups to understand and manage those emotions. Graduates of this course include university and college lecturers, researchers, education professionals and others working, in diverse cultural and linguistic settings. Fields include international schooling, NGOs, international development, digital management and content creation, international commercial enterprise, communications, marketing, consultancy and relevant academic disciplines. 

Networking

Additional activities are available both within the department and the wider IOE and UCL community to help you to develop your employability through public talks, seminars and other networking opportunities. Within the MA Intercultural Communication we run our very own annual networking and employability event which allows in year and alumni to connect and learn from each other. Equally, our very own Intercultural Encounters series of events throughout the year allows you to meet, explore and discover London, through an Intercultural Communication lens. 

Teaching and learning

This course is taught through lectures, supervisory tutorials, student presentations, class discussions, reflections. Within sessions, students engage in individual, pair and group tasks.

Students are assessed through a combination of mixed assessments which include: written coursework, reflections, digital artefacts, project work, oral group presentations and the final Dissertation. Formative assessment is also key in our practice through the submission and feedback of drafts, outlines and students developing their presentation skills.

For full-time students, typical contact hours are around 12 hours per week. Outside of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, full-time students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments.

An exciting new optional module, Digital Intercultural Communication, will launch in September 2026. This module addresses a critical and creative skill set essential for navigating an increasingly interconnected, digitally mediated world. You will explore how digital intercultural communication can serve as a tool for creative knowledge-making, community-building, and professional transformation. Rooted in intercultural education pedagogy and methodologies, the module will support you in developing your own digital voice, reflecting on your communicative practices, and imagining futures of intercultural connection.

Modules

The course consists of one compulsory module (30 credits), one compulsory research dissertation (60 credits), and three optional modules (90 credits).

Full-time students complete the MA in one year. (180 credits across three terms)

  • Term 1: core module, one option module and dissertation
  • Term 2: dissertation and one or two option modules
  • Term 3: dissertation and one option module if second option is not taken in Term 2

The course consists of one compulsory module (30 credits), one compulsory research dissertation (60 credits), and three optional modules (90 credits).

Students following a part time format complete the MA over two years:

Year 1 (normally completion of 90 credits across the three terms)

  • Term 1: core module
  • Term 2: one or two option modules
  • Term 3: one or two option modules

Year 2 (normally completion of remaining 90 credits)

  • Term 1: dissertation and one option module
  • Term 2: dissertation and one option module if no option taken in Term 1
  • Term 3: dissertation and one option module if no option taken in Terms 1 and 2

The course consists of one compulsory module (30 credits), one compulsory research dissertation (60 credits), and three optional modules (90 credits).

Students following a modular/flexible format are able to complete the MA over a maximum of five years.
 
Year 1 (normally completion of the core module as a minimum)
Years 2-5 (normally completion of dissertation and any outstanding option modules)
Final year (dissertation is always completed in the final year)

Compulsory modules




Optional modules














Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MA in Intercultural Communication.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Intercultural Communication MA

Are you interested in investigating questions around language, culture and diversity? Our courses bring together a wide range of expertise to explore these issues from a range of perspectives. Meet our academics, hear about the courses you are interested in and have the chance to ask any questions you might have.

Watch on demand event

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27) £14,200 £7,100
Tuition fees (2026/27) £35,400 £17,700

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

Additional costs

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a fee deposit will be charged at 2.5% of the first year fee.

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

For modular/flexible offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a £350 deposit will be charged.

For modular/flexible offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a £500 deposit will be charged.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

Students should take into account any travel, accommodation and expenses involved in their dissertation. If students undertake fieldwork, it must be self-funded.

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this course of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application, we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Intercultural Communication at graduate level
  • why you want to study Intercultural Communication at IOE
  • what particularly attracts you to the chosen course
  • how your academic and/or professional background meets the demands of this challenging course
  • where you would like to go professionally with your MA degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this course match what the course will deliver.

Please note that applications for this course will be assessed in two rounds. This means that your application will be considered alongside all others that have submitted before the dates specified below. This enables us to ensure that all applications are considered fairly and equally.

All applications which are submitted and considered complete by 31 December 2025 should receive a decision by no later 31 January 2026.

All applications which are submitted and considered complete by 5 April 2026 should receive a decision by no later than 19 April 2026.

All applications which are considered complete after this date will receive a response as soon as possible. All applicants will receive a response by no later than 31 May 2026.

Please note that decisions may be released earlier than these dates.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate courses (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2026-2027

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Culture, Communication and Media
Culture, Communication and Media

ma.icc@ucl.ac.uk

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