Note: Ph.D. students are only considered for Fall admission.
Jump To:
- Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Admission Requirements and Application Procedures
- Master of Arts (M.A.) German (Thesis) (45 credits)
- Master of Arts (M.A.) German (Non-Thesis) (45 credits)
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) German
- Master of Arts (M.A.) Hispanic Studies (Thesis) (45 credits)
- Master of Arts (M.A.) Hispanic Studies (Non-Thesis) (45 credits)
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Hispanic Studies
- Master of Arts (M.A.) Italian (Thesis) (45 credits)
- Master of Arts (M.A.) Italian (Non-Thesis) (45 credits)
- Master of Arts (M.A.) Russian and Slavic Studies (Thesis) (45 credits)
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Russian and Slavic Studies
Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Location
Location
- Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- 680 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 0425
- Montreal QC H3A 2M7
- Telephone: 514-398-3650 or 514-399-9441
- Email: info.llcu [at] mcgill.ca
- Website: mcgill.ca/langlitcultures
About Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
About Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
The Department’s graduate programs in
offer a vibrant research environment, combining the rigour of traditional philological inquiry with a range of other theoretical and methodological approaches, many of them informed and/or creatively challenged by broader transnational and interdisciplinary perspectives. The Department is committed to international standards of excellence in graduate student training.
Digital Humanities (Ad Hoc)
Digital Humanities (Ad Hoc)
The Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures offers an Ad Hoc M.A. in Digital Humanities; please contact the Department for more information.
German Studies
German Studies
Faculty research specializations in German Studies cover philology and literary history from the 18th century to the present, film and German media studies, history of the book, philosophy, intellectual history, and the history of the German Left. Students may specialize in literature, intellectual history, film, media, and/or digital humanities. Students in German Studies often spend time abroad in Germany and Austria and take part in conference and workshop organization. German Studies is connected with notable facilities, resources, and programs, including Digital Humanities, and World Cinema.
Ph.D. Language Tests
Ph.D. candidates in other disciplines who are required to pass a reading test in German may prepare themselves by taking GERM 200 or GERM 202.
| Master of Arts (M.A.) German (Thesis) (45 credits) |
|---|
|
Students enrolled in the M.A. with thesis option complete six 3-credit courses and write an M.A. thesis under the direction of one faculty member. Students enrolled in the thesis M.A. in German take fewer courses than non-thesis M.A. students and finish their program by conceiving and executing a substantial research project under the supervision of one professor. M.A. students in this track have gone on to do Ph.D. degrees in German and related fields and pursue academic careers. |
| Master of Arts (M.A.) German (Non-Thesis) (45 credits) |
|
Students enrolled in the M.A. with non-thesis option complete nine 3-credit courses and three research papers. This program is geared toward students who may or may not plan to do a Ph.D. in German and therefore do not necessarily need to undertake a major research project but would like to acquire a broad basis of courses in German culture and media. Non-thesis M.A. students have gone on to pursue a variety of careers inside and outside the academy. |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) German |
|
Students enrolled in the Ph.D. program in German Studies take courses in literature, film, and media history during their first two years, before designing a set of comprehensive qualifying exams tailored toward their particular research and future teaching interests. After passing their exams (including language examination(s)), students may develop a doctoral dissertation topic in consultation with a Departmental faculty member. Students enrolled in this program have gone on to teach German Studies and related fields in universities, CEGEPs, or high schools, as well as pursuing careers outside of the academy. |
Hispanic Studies
Hispanic Studies
Hispanic Studies is committed to the disciplined study of all aspects of the literature, intellectual history, and culture of Spain and Latin America, as well as the Spanish language. Currently, Hispanic Studies has two outstanding research areas:
- Colonial and Peninsular Baroque and Enlightenment, with a variety of intellectual and methodological approaches;
- Film and Literary Studies in contemporary Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula.
| Master of Arts (M.A.) Hispanic Studies (Thesis) (45 credits) |
|---|
|
The combination of three courses and one Thesis Preparation course will permit students the 12 credits per term average that is required for most fellowships. |
| Master of Arts (M.A.) Hispanic Studies (Non-Thesis) (45 credits) |
|
The M.A. in Hispanic Studies; Non-Thesis focuses on advanced training in the field of Hispanic Studies. It provides a rigorous foundation on the literary and cultural history of the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America from a multidisciplinary perspective. All candidates pursuing the M.A. without thesis, both full- and part-time, must successfully complete at least one of their Guided Research projects during the first 12 months. In accordance with the regulations established by Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, students in non-thesis programs who do not take at least 12 credits per term for the duration of the program are considered to proceed toward their degree on a part-time basis. |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Hispanic Studies |
| Students enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Hispanic Studies take courses in literature, film, and intellectual history during their first year, before preparing the comprehensive qualifying exams. After passing their exams, students may develop a doctoral dissertation topic in consultation with a Departmental faculty member. Students enrolled in this program have gone on to teach Hispanic Studies and related fields in universities and CEGEPs, as well as pursuing some careers outside of the academy. |
Italian Studies
Italian Studies
Italian Studies' current areas of expertise and methodological orientations are broadly indicated below. Prospective applicants should also consult individual faculty members' research profiles on the Departmental website for more detailed information. They are also invited to send research inquiries to individual professors.
- 19th, 20th, and 21st century narrative;
- Medieval and Renaissance literature and culture; and
- Italian cinema from post–World War II neorealism to the present.
These areas are approached from the perspective of:
- relations with historical, social, and political contexts;
- intertextual relations with contemporary and antecedent works and movements in other European literatures and cultures, with a special attention to questions of identity construction;
- gender issues; and
- cultural studies.
Master's Programs
The coursework and the thesis and/or research papers must demonstrate that the student possesses a sound knowledge of the language, is familiar with all periods of Italian literature, and has developed the background and skills necessary to carry out scholarly research.
The regulations concerning the M.A. degree are as stated in University Regulations & Resources > Graduate.
Ph.D. (Ad Hoc)
The Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures also offers the possibility of directly entering a Ph.D. program in Italian Studies on an ad hoc basis; or, with the permission of the supervisor and the approval of the Graduate Program Director, exceptional students may transfer from the M.A. to the ad hoc Ph.D. program.
| Master of Arts (M.A.) Italian (Thesis) (45 credits) |
|---|
|
Students enrolled in the M.A. (thesis) option complete seven 3-credit courses and write an M.A. thesis under the direction of a faculty member. |
| Master of Arts (M.A.) Italian (Non-Thesis) (45 credits) |
|
Students enrolled in the M.A. (non-thesis) option complete nine 3-credit courses and two in-depth research papers under the direction of a faculty member. |
Russian and Slavic Studies
Russian and Slavic Studies
Master's and Ph.D. in Russian
Russian and Slavic Studies offers graduate instruction at both the M.A. and Ph.D. levels. Our faculty specializes in 19th- and 20th-century Russian literature and culture, working in such areas as:
- The Russian novel, the Russian short story;
- Dostoevsky,Tolstoy, Chekhov, and Nabokov;
- Russian opera, drama, folklore, and film studies;
- Russian Romanticism, Russian Modernism, and the Russian Avant-Garde;
- High Stalinist culture and post-Soviet culture;
- Cultural mythology;
- Intermediality; and
- Russian visual culture.
We also offer a broad and flexible range of graduate seminars. Graduate students collaborate with the Department of Art History and Communication Studies, World Cinemas, and the Institute for Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies (IGSF). Our small but dynamic program allows for a great deal of personal attention, an atmosphere of collegiality, and a close-knit intellectual community. The candidate for admission must have an aptitude for research work and be able to make an original contribution to knowledge. Particular emphasis is placed on working with the original language; credits may be allotted, at the discretion of the Department, to coursework leading to advanced proficiency in this area.
Ph.D. Language Tests
Ph.D. candidates in other departments who require Russian for research and in satisfaction of the language requirement should contact the Department for recommended courses.
Original research work and the scholarly qualities of the thesis are the principal criteria for conferring a graduate degree in Russian.
| Master of Arts (M.A.) Russian and Slavic Studies (Thesis) (45 credits) |
|---|
|
The M.A. in Russian and Slavic Studies focuses on the tools and expertise needed to situate research in the historical context of modern and contemporary Russian and Slavic cultural history, with an emphasis on recent scholarship, including theoretical, cross-cultural and intermedial developments in the field. |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Russian |
|
The Ph.D. in Russian and Slavic Studies consists of coursework, multiple examinations, language requirements, and a dissertation. It offers graduate instruction (seminar and guided independent reading courses) as well as research and thesis supervision in the fields of Russian culture and literature. Students also take graduate courses offered in the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures in literary theory, film, and media that allow for broader transnational and interdisciplinary perspectives in their research. Students are encouraged and helped to participate in conferences and to publish the results of their ongoing research. Particular emphasis is laid on working with the original language. Doctoral dissertation topics are developed in consultation with the faculty. Graduates from the program have gone on to careers in teaching in Canadian and international universities and institutions, as well as exploring other related fields. |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Russian and Slavic Studies |
|
The Ph.D. in Russian and Slavic Studies focuses on the tools and expertise needed to produce original research in and demonstrate an overview of the historical context of modern and contemporary Russian cultural history, with emphasis on recent scholarship, including theoretical, cross-cultural and intermedial developments in the field, and reaching out, where appropriate, from a purely Russo-centric focus into other Slavic cultures. |
Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2024-2025 (last updated Aug. 21, 2024) (disclaimer)
Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Admission Requirements and Application Procedures
Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Admission Requirements and Application Procedures
Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements
TOEFL is required of all graduate studies applicants whose mother tongue is not English, and who have not completed an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction or from a recognized Canadian institution (anglophone or francophone). A minimum score of 86, with each component score not less than 20, is required on the TOEFL Internet-based examination (iBT). Proof of TOEFL must be presented at the time of application or shortly thereafter. McGill University's institution code is 0935.
Students also have the option of taking the IELTS (International English Language Testing Service System) examination, for which the minimum score is an overall band average of 6.5 (academic module). McGill University accepts only scores submitted electronically by an IELTS test centre and no longer accepts paper TRFs (Test Report Forms) directly from test centres and candidates. Please contact the test centre where you took the IELTS test and request that your test scores be sent electronically to McGill.
German Studies
-
Master's:
In order to be admitted to the M.A. program in German Studies, candidates must have at least a B.A. degree in German from McGill University or an equivalent degree from another college or university of recognized standing.
Applicants with joint degrees or majors degrees may be admitted on individual merit but they may be required to take additional courses. They may also be able to enter the program as Qualifying students for the purpose of completing these preliminary studies.
In order to pursue graduate studies in German, all candidates must have considerable fluency in German.
Graduate students holding a Language Instructorship or who are otherwise employed will normally not be allowed to take more than four courses a year. Students may be required to attend an approved course in English if their knowledge of that language is judged inadequate. All graduate students are expected to attend the staff–student colloquium.
-
Ph.D.:
M.A. or equivalent.
Hispanic Studies
-
Master's (Thesis or Non-Thesis):
The graduate program in Hispanic Studies welcomes Canadian and international applicants with a specialization in Hispanic literature as well as from disciplines other than Hispanic Studies. To be admitted to a graduate program in Hispanic Studies, applicants should have completed at least a B.A. degree.
Students without a concentration in Hispanic Studies must have a strong background in Spanish and/or Latin American history, literature, and culture, as well as advanced knowledge of the Spanish language.
Students who have completed a B.A. degree without Honours or Joint Honours are encouraged to apply to the M.A. Program (Thesis or Non-Thesis).
Students who have completed a B.A. degree with Honours or Joint Honours in Hispanic Studies may apply either to the M.A. program (Thesis) or to the Doctoral Program in Hispanic Studies (entering at the PhD 1 level).
Students holding a M.A. degree in Hispanic Studies should apply to the Doctoral Program (PhD 2 level).
Students holding a M.A. degree in a discipline other than Hispanic Studies but closely related to this field are encouraged to apply to the Ad Hoc Doctoral Program (PhD 1 level).
Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in Spanish, and, when appropriate, in Portuguese, as well as a working knowledge of either French or English.
Applicants should submit samples of research papers that they have completed during the course of their previous studies. Submission of the results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is recommended, but not required.
Italian Studies
The graduate program in Italian Studies welcomes Canadian and international applicants with a specialization in Italian literature as well as from disciplines other than Italian Studies. To be admitted to a graduate program in Italian Studies, applicants should have completed at least a B.A. degree.
Students without a concentration in Italian Studies must have a strong background in Italian history, literature, and culture, as well as advanced knowledge of the Italian language.
Students who have completed a B.A. degree without Honours or Joint Honours are encouraged to apply to the M.A. Program in Italian Studies.
Students who have completed a B.A. degree with Honours or Joint Honours in Italian Studies may apply either to the M.A. Program or to the Ad Hoc Doctoral Program in Italian Studies (entering at the PhD 1 level).
Students holding a M.A. degree in Italian Studies should apply to the Ad Hoc Doctoral Program (PhD 2 level).
Students holding a M.A. degree in a discipline other than Italian Studies but closely related to this field are encouraged to apply to the Ad Hoc Doctoral Program (PhD 1 level).
Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in Italian plus a working knowledge of either French or English.
Applicants should submit samples of research papers that they have completed during the course of their previous studies. Submission of the results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is recommended, but not required.
Russian and Slavic Studies
The minimum academic requirement is normally a high standing in an undergraduate degree with Honours Russian (or an equivalent specialization). Further, the Admissions Committee must be convinced that the candidate for admission has an aptitude for research work and will be able to make an original contribution to knowledge.
A working knowledge of French is recommended for the Ph.D. program.
Any necessary preparation to fulfil these requirements will be offered within Russian Studies or elsewhere at McGill. Certain graduate courses may be taken with special permission at other approved universities.
Application Procedures for Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Application Procedures for Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
McGill’s online application form for graduate program candidates is available at mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply.
See University Regulations & Resources > Graduate > Graduate Admissions and Application Procedures > Application Procedures for detailed application procedures.
Additional Requirements
Additional Requirements
The items and clarifications below are additional requirements set by this department:
- Written Work
- Additional Writing Sample – for Italian Studies only: a critical essay, written in Italian if the written work submitted is in English
- Research Proposal – which should include a brief personal statement. For the Ad Hoc M.A. in Digital Humanities only, the research proposal should also illustrate the applicant's computational experience (programming languages, digital projects)
- Interview – for Russian and Slavic Studies only; where appropriate, by telephone if necessary, with members of the Department's Graduate Committee
- Curriculum Vitae
Application Dates and Deadlines
Application Dates and Deadlines
Application opening dates are set by Enrolment Services in consultation with Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS), while application deadlines are set by the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures and may be revised at any time. Applicants must verify all deadlines and documentation requirements well in advance on the appropriate McGill departmental website; please consult the list at mcgill.ca/gps/contact/graduate-program.
Information on application deadlines is available at mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/how-apply/application-steps/application-deadlines.
Admission to graduate studies is competitive; accordingly, late and/or incomplete applications are considered only as time and space permit.
Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2024-2025 (last updated Aug. 21, 2024) (disclaimer)
Master of Arts (M.A.) German (Thesis) (45 credits)
The Master of Arts in German is a 45- credit program exploring German literature, film, culture, literary theory and/or digital humanities. Areas of interest include memory and cinema studies, realism, Berlin, turn-of-the-century Vienna, Kafka, Nietzsche, Goethe, Heine, the Frankfurt School, digital humanities, and cultural analytics. Students must complete a thesis.
For more information, see Master of Arts (M.A.) German (Thesis) (45 credits).
Master of Arts (M.A.) German (Non-Thesis) (45 credits)
The Master of Arts in German; Non-Thesis is a 45- credit program exploring German literature, film, culture, literary theory and/or digital humanities. Areas of interest include memory studies, realism, cinema, Berlin, turn-of-the-century Vienna, Kafka, Nietzsche, Goethe, Heine, the Frankfurt School, digital humanities, and cultural analytics. Students must...
For more information, see Master of Arts (M.A.) German (Non-Thesis) (45 credits).
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) German
For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) German.
Master of Arts (M.A.) Hispanic Studies (Thesis) (45 credits)
The Master of Arts (Thesis) in Hispanic Studies is a 45- credit program focusing on Latin American and Spanish literature, film, culture, and/or digital culture. Students must complete an MA Thesis. Areas of interest include but are not limited to, colonial studies, post- and decolonial studies, spatial theory, cinema, transnationalism, nineteenth-century studies,...
For more information, see Master of Arts (M.A.) Hispanic Studies (Thesis) (45 credits).
Master of Arts (M.A.) Hispanic Studies (Non-Thesis) (45 credits)
The M.A. in Hispanic Studies; Non-Thesis focuses on advanced training in the field of Hispanic Studies. It provides a rigorous foundation on the literary and cultural history of the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America from a multidisciplinary perspective.
For more information, see Master of Arts (M.A.) Hispanic Studies (Non-Thesis) (45 credits).
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Hispanic Studies
For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Hispanic Studies.
Master of Arts (M.A.) Italian (Thesis) (45 credits)
The Master of Arts in Italian is a 45-credit program focusing on Italian literature, film, culture, literary theory, a thesis proposal, and a thesis. Areas of interest include film studies, nineteenth-century studies, transnational studies, gender studies, Calvino, Bertolucci, Early Renaissance Naples and Venice, vernacular and Neo-Latin poetry, among others.
For more information, see Master of Arts (M.A.) Italian (Thesis) (45 credits).
Master of Arts (M.A.) Italian (Non-Thesis) (45 credits)
The Master of Arts in Italian; Non-Thesis is a 45- credit program focusing on Italian literature, film, culture, literary theory, and two research projects. Areas of interest include film studies, nineteenth-century studies, transnational studies, gender studies, film studies, Calvino, Bertolucci, Early Renaissance Naples and Venice, vernacular and Neo-Latin poetry...
For more information, see Master of Arts (M.A.) Italian (Non-Thesis) (45 credits).
Master of Arts (M.A.) Russian and Slavic Studies (Thesis) (45 credits)
The M.A. in Russian and Slavic Studies focuses on the tools and expertise needed to situate research in the historical context of modern and contemporary Russian and Slavic cultural history, with an emphasis on recent scholarship, including theoretical, cross-cultural and intermedial developments in the field.
For more information, see Master of Arts (M.A.) Russian and Slavic Studies (Thesis) (45 credits).
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Russian and Slavic Studies
The Ph.D. in Russian and Slavic Studies focuses on the tools and expertise needed to produce original research ...
For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Russian and Slavic Studies.
Faculty of Arts—2024-2025 (last updated Aug. 21, 2024) (disclaimer)
