Study cultural studies abroad

Cultural studies degree programs examine cultures from all over the world and can combine several subject areas, including literature, sociology, history, philosophy and media. It’s possible to study specific cultural regions, for example, African studies or American studies, and cultural studies programs are often combined with other subjects like media, sociology or language.

You'll learn to analyze images, texts, technologies and cultural practices in order to develop a critical view on the major challenges facing us in the globalizing world today. You’ll also develop your cultural understanding of things like gender, race, class, sexuality and religion.

As an international student, studying cultural studies abroad means you can learn while immersing yourself in a new culture. This first-hand experience will help support your studies at the same time as broadening your personal horizons.

Cultural studies programs are available to study abroad at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. If you study a bachelor’s in the USA, you can choose cultural studies as your major alongside general studies and other minor subjects.

Bachelor’s degrees are available as a BA, and can take three or four years to complete, depending on where you’re studying. Some programs include a sandwich or placement year that allows you to work or spend a year studying abroad.

At postgraduate level, you can study a range of master’s qualifications in programs related to cultural studies as an MA, MSc or MLitt (Master of Letters). Master’s programs usually take one or two years to complete, and if you want to earn a doctoral degree in cultural studies, you can study a PhD over three to five years.

A lot of your contact time will be spent in lectures, tutorials and group workshops. Most programs will also expect you to spend a lot of time doing personal study. You’ll be assessed through things like written coursework, presentations, essays and exams, but this will vary depending on the program and individual module.

Exactly what you’ll learn and how your program will be structured will differ for each university, but here are some common cultural studies topics and modules:

• Cultural analysis
• Cultural history
• Contemporary perspectives on art
• Language and culture
• Latin American studies
• African studies
• American studies
• Asian studies
• Culture and sociology
• Research methods

As a cultural studies graduate you will be armed with a range of skills like communication, analysis and research, that many employers are looking for. Popular careers cultural studies students can pursue include:

• Policy analyst
• Journalist
• Media researcher
• Teacher
• Fundraising coordinator
• Tourism marketing officer

If you’re unsure what career is right for you, your university should have a career service that can help you. If you do know what you want to do after graduation, they can also help you get there.

University is a great place to expand your experience inside and outside of the classroom, and taking part in student organizations is a great way to improve your CV.