- Do you have basic proficiency in Danish?
- Do you want to better understand the multifaceted relationship between language and culture?
- Are you interested in Danish history, literature, politics, institutions, society and/or the Danish people?
- Do you want to improve your skills in written Danish?
- Are you aiming at a career in tourism, interpreting, translation or other forms of communication to Danish-speaking target groups?
The MA in Danish is generally a two-year programme, tailored to suit the individual student, which aims to provide students with specialised knowledge and academic skills. Master's students will gain first-hand research experience.
Programme structure
The programme is 120 ECTS and is organised as two years of full-time study.
The programme is made up of:
- Mandatory courses, 20 ECTS
- Elective courses, 70 ECTS
- Final project, 30 ECTS
Students must take part of the programme at a university in Denmark.
Organisation of teaching
The programme is taught in Danish.
Main objectives
Students will learn the skills required to take on jobs that call for specialised knowledge of Danish language, literature and culture.
Other
Completing an MA in Danish allows you to apply for a doctoral programme in Danish.
A BA-degree in Danish, with a grade average of at least 7.25 (first class) and a final thesis gives access to second cycle of higher education.
- Statement of purpose
- Certified copies of diplomas and transcripts
- Proof of English proficiency
Further information on supporting documents can be found here
Programme structure
Check below to see how the programme is structured.
This programme does not offer specialisations.
- Year unspecified
- Fall
- MA-thesis in Danish
- Language Usage and Expression: Danish
- Languages and Culture I
- Nordic Modernism and Avant-Garde - From Edith Södergran to Anarchy on the Internet
- Not taught this semesterScandinavian Literature
- Literature Translations
- Individual Project
- Individual Project
- Spring 1
- MA-thesis in Danish
- Danish System of Governance, History and Culture
- Nordic Communication
- Individual Project
- Individual Project
- Languages and Culture II: The European Intellectual Tradition
MA-thesis in Danish (DAN441L)
MA thesis in Danish.
Language Usage and Expression: Danish (DAN703F)
This course is theoretical as well as practical. Students refresh important rules in Danish language, language use and stylistics. They analyse how different types of texts have different purpose of communication. Emphasis will be on the students' writing skills in Danish language and their training in use of theoretical as well as practical aids.
Languages and Culture I (MOM301F)
This course concerns the diverse connections between culture and language, as seen from the perspective of cultural history, social sciences and linguistics. Ancient and modern world languages will be introduced and their origins, influence and effects investigated. Written and spoken language will be discussed: what sorts of things are written, why and how? Rules and alternate perspectives on the nature of langauge will be considered, raising the question of how we understand man with respect to thought and language.
Nordic Modernism and Avant-Garde - From Edith Södergran to Anarchy on the Internet (NLF108F)
The course will explore the history of modernism and of the avant-garde in the Nordic countries through key texts of Nordic modernism. Avant-garde movements such as expressionism and surrealism and their effects on Nordic literature in the years between the World wars will be studied. The course will also focus on groups of writers and other artists that operated under the banner of modernism in the Nordic countries in the post war period, ranging from the publishers of the magazines Heretica in Denmark and Birtíngur in Iceland in the post war period to diverse groups and forums of artists and writers operating today on the internet.
The course will also deal with fundamental questions such as the reaction of modernism to the "grand narratives of modernity and whether modernism itself has become such a "grand narrative" of literary history and culture.
Scandinavian Literature (NLF109F)
A Nordic literature canon will be presented and discussed form a critical perspective and the canon concept will be in focus. An important Nordic literature selection will be presented, read and studied. There will be a literature seminar in connection with this course with participation from critics and authors from the Nordic countries.
Literature Translations (DAN702F)
This course deals with literary translation between Icelandic and Danish. Students get a summary of the history of the Danish-Icelandic literary translation tradition and practice translation critic by analysing different translations from different periods. Students will face the challenges in translation as well as which strategies and methods they have to consider while finding solutions.
Individual Project (DAN805F)
Individual project.
Individual Project (DAN901F)
Individiual project.
MA-thesis in Danish (DAN441L)
MA thesis in Danish.
Danish System of Governance, History and Culture (DAN802F)
The aim of this course is to give students a good overview of the historical, political and cultural development in Danish governance through the 20. century till now – from absolutism to representative democracy. The course will among other things be devoted to the Danish welfare model and the democratic safety net in light of the state finances, geography, demography and religion, the Danish labour market, the political system, the healthcare and educational system, Denmark’s international relations and general tendencies in Danish society. Students will make presentations during the semester and the course is closed with a written home assignment.
Nordic Communication (NLF206F)
The course will focus on the language policies in the Nordic countries seen in a present and partly historic and comparative perspective and investigates how and to what extent language policies and inter Nordic communication are intertwined in the Nordic countries. We will ask questions like: What characterises language policy in the Nordic countries? How does inter Nordic communication work? Does Icelandic purism have consequences for inter Nordic communication? What is the connection between Norwegian language policy and Norwegians ability to understand other Nordic languages? Does inter Nordic communication have especially good terms in the Danish-Swedish Oresund region?
Individual Project (DAN803F)
Individual project.
Individual Project (DAN804F)
Individual project.
Languages and Culture II: The European Intellectual Tradition (MOM402M)
The European intellectual tradition is characterized by the strong links between academia and society. Many of the most important European thinkers of the 19th and 20th Centuries worked outside of the universities – and many of those who did pursue an ordinary academic career also were public commentators frequently intervening in political discussion of the day and in some cases gaining considerable influence. In this course we present a selection of European thinkers who have been important both as scholars and as public intellectuals. We read and discuss samples of their work and look at critical discussion of their ideas. We also reflect on the time and place of the "European" – to what extent their work is quinessentially Eurocentric and to what extent awareness of cultural contingency emerges.
- Fall
- DAN441LMA-thesis in DanishMandatory (required) course0A mandatory (required) course for the programme0 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
MA thesis in Danish.
PrerequisitesPart of the total project/thesis creditsDAN703FLanguage Usage and Expression: DanishMandatory (required) course5A mandatory (required) course for the programme5 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThis course is theoretical as well as practical. Students refresh important rules in Danish language, language use and stylistics. They analyse how different types of texts have different purpose of communication. Emphasis will be on the students' writing skills in Danish language and their training in use of theoretical as well as practical aids.
PrerequisitesMOM301FLanguages and Culture IMandatory (required) course10A mandatory (required) course for the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThis course concerns the diverse connections between culture and language, as seen from the perspective of cultural history, social sciences and linguistics. Ancient and modern world languages will be introduced and their origins, influence and effects investigated. Written and spoken language will be discussed: what sorts of things are written, why and how? Rules and alternate perspectives on the nature of langauge will be considered, raising the question of how we understand man with respect to thought and language.
PrerequisitesNLF108FNordic Modernism and Avant-Garde - From Edith Södergran to Anarchy on the InternetElective course10Free elective course within the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe course will explore the history of modernism and of the avant-garde in the Nordic countries through key texts of Nordic modernism. Avant-garde movements such as expressionism and surrealism and their effects on Nordic literature in the years between the World wars will be studied. The course will also focus on groups of writers and other artists that operated under the banner of modernism in the Nordic countries in the post war period, ranging from the publishers of the magazines Heretica in Denmark and Birtíngur in Iceland in the post war period to diverse groups and forums of artists and writers operating today on the internet.
The course will also deal with fundamental questions such as the reaction of modernism to the "grand narratives of modernity and whether modernism itself has become such a "grand narrative" of literary history and culture.
PrerequisitesNot taught this semesterNLF109FScandinavian LiteratureElective course10Free elective course within the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionA Nordic literature canon will be presented and discussed form a critical perspective and the canon concept will be in focus. An important Nordic literature selection will be presented, read and studied. There will be a literature seminar in connection with this course with participation from critics and authors from the Nordic countries.
PrerequisitesDAN702FLiterature TranslationsElective course5Free elective course within the programme5 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThis course deals with literary translation between Icelandic and Danish. Students get a summary of the history of the Danish-Icelandic literary translation tradition and practice translation critic by analysing different translations from different periods. Students will face the challenges in translation as well as which strategies and methods they have to consider while finding solutions.
PrerequisitesCourse DescriptionIndividual project.
PrerequisitesCourse DescriptionIndividiual project.
Prerequisites- Spring 2
DAN441LMA-thesis in DanishMandatory (required) course0A mandatory (required) course for the programme0 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionMA thesis in Danish.
PrerequisitesPart of the total project/thesis creditsDAN802FDanish System of Governance, History and CultureMandatory (required) course5A mandatory (required) course for the programme5 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe aim of this course is to give students a good overview of the historical, political and cultural development in Danish governance through the 20. century till now – from absolutism to representative democracy. The course will among other things be devoted to the Danish welfare model and the democratic safety net in light of the state finances, geography, demography and religion, the Danish labour market, the political system, the healthcare and educational system, Denmark’s international relations and general tendencies in Danish society. Students will make presentations during the semester and the course is closed with a written home assignment.
PrerequisitesNLF206FNordic CommunicationElective course10Free elective course within the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe course will focus on the language policies in the Nordic countries seen in a present and partly historic and comparative perspective and investigates how and to what extent language policies and inter Nordic communication are intertwined in the Nordic countries. We will ask questions like: What characterises language policy in the Nordic countries? How does inter Nordic communication work? Does Icelandic purism have consequences for inter Nordic communication? What is the connection between Norwegian language policy and Norwegians ability to understand other Nordic languages? Does inter Nordic communication have especially good terms in the Danish-Swedish Oresund region?
Face-to-face learningDistance learningPrerequisitesCourse DescriptionIndividual project.
PrerequisitesCourse DescriptionIndividual project.
PrerequisitesMOM402MLanguages and Culture II: The European Intellectual TraditionElective course5Free elective course within the programme5 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe European intellectual tradition is characterized by the strong links between academia and society. Many of the most important European thinkers of the 19th and 20th Centuries worked outside of the universities – and many of those who did pursue an ordinary academic career also were public commentators frequently intervening in political discussion of the day and in some cases gaining considerable influence. In this course we present a selection of European thinkers who have been important both as scholars and as public intellectuals. We read and discuss samples of their work and look at critical discussion of their ideas. We also reflect on the time and place of the "European" – to what extent their work is quinessentially Eurocentric and to what extent awareness of cultural contingency emerges.
Face-to-face learningDistance learningPrerequisitesAdditional information The University of Iceland collaborates with over 400 universities worldwide. This provides a unique opportunity to pursue part of your studies at an international university thus gaining added experience and fresh insight into your field of study.
Students generally have the opportunity to join an exchange programme, internship, or summer courses. However, exchanges are always subject to faculty approval.
Students have the opportunity to have courses evaluated as part of their studies at the University of Iceland, so their stay does not have to affect the duration of their studies.
This qualification can open up opportunities in
- Tourism
- Culture and communication
- Trade and business
- International affairs
- Translation
- Teaching
This list is not exhaustive.
- Linguae is the organisation for language students at the University of Iceland
- Linguae organises social events for students at the Faculty of Languages and Cultures
- Members currently include students of Italian, French, German, Spanish, Danish, Chinese and Russian
- Linguae runs a Facebook group and a Facebook page
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