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University College London, University of London
University College London
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Scandinavian Studies

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Original post by Leggy Lucy
What are people's thoughts about UCL's MA in Scandinavian Studies? No language knowledge required (which as a Spanish student is great!) and the opportunity to learn them on the course. Only details of 2 modules though...


You're unlikely to learn the language to any extent that's good enough to get by extensively, without a lot of additional effort. It's hard to say though - what's your motivation for taking the course?
University College London, University of London
University College London
London
Eeeek! I might actually be applying for the 2013 entry. Now that it's finally upon me I feel totally unprepared. :cry2:
Got my open days booked for UCL and Edinburgh! Hopefully come 2013 I'll be studying Norwegian :love:
Oh I cant make the open days... hmph I hope I'm not missing much.

If all goes to plan I will be starting an access course in September (and applying to university in October) so I'm a little worried about my personal statement. I wont have much to say other than I really, really, really like Norway. :redface:
Original post by nearlyheadlessian
You're unlikely to learn the language to any extent that's good enough to get by extensively, without a lot of additional effort. It's hard to say though - what's your motivation for taking the course?


I've always been obsessed with Scandinavia. I started listening to some Finnish bands when I was 13, then I discovered Sigur Ros. When I was applying to uni back in 2007 I was very, VERY tempted to apply to UCL and Edinburgh but as I hadn't had any first-hand experience of Scandinavian culture and had never had the opportunity to visit, I didn't think I'd be able to make a particularly convincing application and so I applied for German and Spanish instead. I'm glad I did - I love Bristol and I love what I'm studying. But I've always hoped I'd be able to study Scandinavia one day. Since uni I've met loads of Scandinavians - I've FINALLY been to Norway, and I befriended lots of Danes and Swedes who were on exchange in Bristol. And then in Chile there were hundreds of Scandinavian exchange students - some of whom became my best friends. So now I'm more obsessed than ever before! I had actually planned on doing a second degree and heading to UCL...that was before the Tories ruined everything by increasing the fees, so now that's definitely not an option. Then just the other day I discovered UCL had started offering this MA and thought, "Wow!"

BUT, at £7000 and the cost of living in London, it's a bit of a fantasy course for me. I know I'd learn more by going to Sweden/Denmark/Norway and so I thought it'd be a good idea to do an MA out there. When I looked into it I realised that none of the courses offered in English are actually of interest to me, and only very very few universities offer a year-long language course for those intending to continue to study a degree there.

And so I'm back at square one, wishing I had applied to UCL for Scandinavian Studies and Spanish all the way back in 2007 :frown:.
Reply 1805
Original post by Leggy Lucy
I've always been obsessed with Scandinavia. I started listening to some Finnish bands when I was 13, then I discovered Sigur Ros. When I was applying to uni back in 2007 I was very, VERY tempted to apply to UCL and Edinburgh but as I hadn't had any first-hand experience of Scandinavian culture and had never had the opportunity to visit, I didn't think I'd be able to make a particularly convincing application and so I applied for German and Spanish instead. I'm glad I did - I love Bristol and I love what I'm studying. But I've always hoped I'd be able to study Scandinavia one day. Since uni I've met loads of Scandinavians - I've FINALLY been to Norway, and I befriended lots of Danes and Swedes who were on exchange in Bristol. And then in Chile there were hundreds of Scandinavian exchange students - some of whom became my best friends. So now I'm more obsessed than ever before! I had actually planned on doing a second degree and heading to UCL...that was before the Tories ruined everything by increasing the fees, so now that's definitely not an option. Then just the other day I discovered UCL had started offering this MA and thought, "Wow!"

BUT, at £7000 and the cost of living in London, it's a bit of a fantasy course for me. I know I'd learn more by going to Sweden/Denmark/Norway and so I thought it'd be a good idea to do an MA out there. When I looked into it I realised that none of the courses offered in English are actually of interest to me, and only very very few universities offer a year-long language course for those intending to continue to study a degree there.

And so I'm back at square one, wishing I had applied to UCL for Scandinavian Studies and Spanish all the way back in 2007 :frown:.


If it's anything like the MA Mediaeval Icelandic, you'll be expected to have reached reading level fluency by the end of the year. Speaking and writing not so much, but definitely reading. Even then, I'd imagine that you'd be able to speak and write your chosen language quite well, as there is less to learn for them than in Icelandic, and they are slightly less grammar heavy.
Okay, that's reassuring. Thanks!
Original post by placebo24
Got my open days booked for UCL and Edinburgh! Hopefully come 2013 I'll be studying Norwegian :love:


Just booked my UCL open day - its all getting a bit real now!!
Original post by Squaresquirrel
Just booked my UCL open day - its all getting a bit real now!!


Sweet, maybe see you there (doubt it, but hey) :wink: Which language you thinking of?
Original post by placebo24
Sweet, maybe see you there (doubt it, but hey) :wink: Which language you thinking of?



I'm thinking Swedish - I take you are thinking Norwegian?? I was very annoyed that they made you pick two departments that you had a interest - I only wanna do Scandinavian Studies haha.

EDIT__

Also considering Icelandic, either way I wanna take both just not sure which one I want to specialise in :s-smilie:
(edited 11 years ago)
Reply 1810
Original post by Squaresquirrel
I'm thinking Swedish - I take you are thinking Norwegian?? I was very annoyed that they made you pick two departments that you had a interest - I only wanna do Scandinavian Studies haha.


They what now?
Original post by Hylean
They what now?


When booking your openday you have to tell which departments you want to visit and they make you pick two :s-smilie:
Original post by Squaresquirrel
When booking your openday you have to tell which departments you want to visit and they make you pick two :s-smilie:


Just say German since they apparently share a building with the Scandinavian Studies dept. I wish I could go to the open day! I'm gonna be relying on those of you who do go to tell me all about it! :colone:
Original post by Samual
Just say German since they apparently share a building with the Scandinavian Studies dept. I wish I could go to the open day! I'm gonna be relying on those of you who do go to tell me all about it! :colone:


Sure we can message you. You'll be there in spirit, eh? :wink:

Original post by Squaresquirrel
I'm thinking Swedish - I take you are thinking Norwegian?? I was very annoyed that they made you pick two departments that you had a interest - I only wanna do Scandinavian Studies haha.

EDIT__

Also considering Icelandic, either way I wanna take both just not sure which one I want to specialise in :s-smilie:


Aye, it's a nice compromise between the other two :biggrin: Will probably apply for it with history or for viking studies with Norwegian being the modern language chosen.

I agree about the only being allowed to see two departments as I wanted to have a nosey around ssees department for Finnish :frown:
Original post by Samual
Just say German since they apparently share a building with the Scandinavian Studies dept. I wish I could go to the open day! I'm gonna be relying on those of you who do go to tell me all about it! :colone:


Don't worry - I probably won't be able to stop speaking about it after I've been haha


Original post by placebo24



Aye, it's a nice compromise between the other two :biggrin: Will probably apply for it with history or for viking studies with Norwegian being the modern language chosen.

I agree about the only being allowed to see two departments as I wanted to have a nosey around ssees department for Finnish :frown:


I'm a bit gutted as I've recently been getting into finnish quite alot and would probably want to take that along side swedish as well but I didn't put it down on my form so I may just try and sneak in haha

There are just too many awesome languages in the nordic region :smile:

And then theres old norse which is just as awesome, and its all far to exciting for little old me :smile:
I hope I get onto this access course, if I don't I will have to wait until the 2014 UCAS cycle to apply. Grr feels like I've been waiting forever.

Original post by placebo24
Sure we can message you. You'll be there in spirit, eh? :wink:


Yah! Are you applying for the joint Scandie Studies and History degree? I really like it... would it be silly to apply for both that and straight Scandie Studies I wonder.
Original post by Squaresquirrel
Don't worry - I probably won't be able to stop speaking about it after I've been haha




I'm a bit gutted as I've recently been getting into finnish quite alot and would probably want to take that along side swedish as well but I didn't put it down on my form so I may just try and sneak in haha

There are just too many awesome languages in the nordic region :smile:

And then theres old norse which is just as awesome, and its all far to exciting for little old me :smile:


God, I know right! Being able to learn the language and all about my dream country and it's medieval history (my favourite period) along with old norse, the language of vikings sagas and such... overwhelmingly awesome!

Original post by Samual
I hope I get onto this access course, if I don't I will have to wait until the 2014 UCAS cycle to apply. Grr feels like I've been waiting forever.



Yah! Are you applying for the joint Scandie Studies and History degree? I really like it... would it be silly to apply for both that and straight Scandie Studies I wonder.


Yeah, most probably because I'll be applying for history at most other places as Scandinavian Studies is rather rare! Maybe, want me to ask at the open day for you?

What you guys going to apply for outside the Scandie region?
Original post by placebo24
Yeah, most probably because I'll be applying for history at most other places as Scandinavian Studies is rather rare! Maybe, want me to ask at the open day for you?

What you guys going to apply for outside the Scandie region?


Yeah thanks that'd be helpful. I'm not sure what it is about SSEES history that intrigues me but it looks like such an interesting degree combination.

If I couldn't do Scandinavian Studies I'd probably want to do some sort of European Studies degree. ESPS and Language and Culture (both at UCL) are very interesting. I really like interdisciplinary degrees that let you combine the study of language, culture, history, politics, linguistics and literature.
(edited 11 years ago)
Reply 1818
Original post by Samual
Yeah thanks that'd be helpful. I'm not sure what it is about SSEES history that intrigues me but it looks like such an interesting degree combination.

If I couldn't do Scandinavian Studies I'd probably want to do some sort of European Studies degree. ESPS and Language and Culture (both at UCL) are very interesting. I really like interdisciplinary degrees that let you combine the study of language, culture, history, politics, linguistics and literature.


Not sure how you wouldn't get all of that from a straight BA Scandinavian Studies degree, though. :p:

I know a fair few people who applied for multiple programmes within the department. It happens occasionally.
Original post by placebo24
God, I know right! Being able to learn the language and all about my dream country and it's medieval history (my favourite period) along with old norse, the language of vikings sagas and such... overwhelmingly awesome!



Yeah, most probably because I'll be applying for history at most other places as Scandinavian Studies is rather rare! Maybe, want me to ask at the open day for you?

What you guys going to apply for outside the Scandie region?


I'm just applying for scandie studies, as it's cheaper to only apply to one and if I didn't get in I think I would withdraw my entries to other courses/unis and try again next year anyway. A little bit risky I know but I don't mind if I have to wait an extra year to do my dream course.

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