[nearlyheadlessian]

(Original post by Hylean)
We're making decisions tomorrow, so I'll let you know then.

I'm on tenterhooks!

[Meg_Lili]

(Original post by nearlyheadlessian)
My recommendation re: your offer would be to accept it now through euclid. If it's like it has been in the past then they'll take it away if you don't say yes quick enough. Legally, you're not bound to turn up (this isn't like ucas at UG) - so if you end up at UCL or making other plans you can just call/email them to decline your offer later. If you've got any questions about either programme in Edinburgh (I obviously do one and know people doing the other) then let me know. I know a couple of people doing the equivalent at UCL just now, so I'm in a fair(ish) position to compare.

I've accepted it already - like you said, the response period was time limited and I can (hypothetically) accept both and then reject one later when I've made a firm decision. However I'm deferring for a year because of an internship placement, and after requesting a deferral on EUCLID (having accepted the offer), I got this email

I refer to your request to defer your conditional offer to September 2013.

Deferral has been approved by the School, however, we are not yet making
offers for September 2013, and you will need to confirm your interest in
coming to Edinburgh University by submitting a new application, any time
from October 2012 onwards. When you submit your new application, you will
not be required to upload your supporting documents since we already have
those, and you should ignore the autmated EUCLID messages requesting
documents.

I look forward to receiving your application later this year.
Best wishes,
Louise Wilson

Which annoyed me a bit. If they can manage to hold onto my supporting documents I don't really see why they can't hold onto the rest of my application, and having to reapply when they've already offered me a place, which I've accepted, seems slightly odd. I guess the application may just be a formality and my place may be held, but it doesn't specifically state that.

Ah well.

Out of curiosity, do you happen to know much about the Literary Translation programme? I got the impression it's fairly new, and it seems like the course options are for the most part fairly similar to the regular Translation programme.

[nearlyheadlessian]

(Original post by Meg_Lili)
I guess the application may just be a formality and my place may be held, but it doesn't specifically state that.

Anybody with a 2:1 from a British university, decent references, and the vaguest interest in translation expressed on their personal statement should get an offer. So come October you can probably just fire off the same stuff again if you want.

(Original post by Meg_Lili)
Out of curiosity, do you happen to know much about the Literary Translation programme? I got the impression it's fairly new, and it seems like the course options are for the most part fairly similar to the regular Translation programme.

The people doing it seem to like it. This is the first year it's running. That said, if you came here in September 2013 you would be the third year group on the degree, meaning that any kinks as such would hopefully have been ironed out. Currently you're right, the course options are reasonably similar. However, I believe that's something they're working on - and there was a strong recommendation that the literary translators take their option courses in more 'literary' courses rather than the slightly more hands-on options most straight translation studies students took. It really depends what you're looking to get out of it all. My personal feeling was that I would do the Translation Studies degree because it didn't pigeonhole me as a particular kind of translator - whereas the literary one is rather more specific. In the grand scheme of things, no one will actually care .... but that was my logic.

[harpologist]

(Original post by Squaresquirrel)
I was wondering if anyone knew what their policy on accepting people with previous knowledge was?? Because I would really love to take a part time course in swedish beforehand.

Hey, I don't think it's uncommon to have a previous knowledge of the language and there are usually two ways to go about the degree once you're there:
(1) If you do have a beyond-basic level of your chosen language, then you might be placed in the Intermediate (i.e. second year's) class for your first year. I don't know how all the examinations work but I believe that you then take the intermediate course again with your peers the following year.
(2) If you're language isn't quite good enough, or that you and your tutor agree that option 1 isn't the best or that the beauocracy doesn't allow it, then you'll just go into the basic (i.e. first year's) class in your first year and risk being a bit bored for the first term or so.

Therefore, though I wouldn't discourage learning the language beforehand, there isn't a massive advantage in doing so, though by the time of the examination period you might be more confident in the language than your peers.

However, I'm not 100% sure on the ins and outs of this and you're better contacting the actual department:
selcs.admissions@ucl.ac.uk is the admissions HQ for the European school

If you go onto ucl.ac.uk/scandinavian-studies or ucl.ac.uk/selcs, you might be able to find a more relevant contact under undergraduate/staff/department etc. links.

Are you just doing straight Scandinavian Studies??

[klika89]

(Original post by harpologist)
Hey, I don't think it's uncommon to have a previous knowledge of the language and there are usually two ways to go about the degree once you're there:
(1) If you do have a beyond-basic level of your chosen language, then you might be placed in the Intermediate (i.e. second year's) class for your first year. I don't know how all the examinations work but I believe that you then take the intermediate course again with your peers the following year.
(2) If you're language isn't quite good enough, or that you and your tutor agree that option 1 isn't the best or that the beauocracy doesn't allow it, then you'll just go into the basic (i.e. first year's) class in your first year and risk being a bit bored for the first term or so.

Therefore, though I wouldn't discourage learning the language beforehand, there isn't a massive advantage in doing so, though by the time of the examination period you might be more confident in the language than your peers.

However, I'm not 100% sure on the ins and outs of this and you're better contacting the actual department:
selcs.admissions@ucl.ac.uk is the admissions HQ for the European school

If you go onto ucl.ac.uk/scandinavian-studies or ucl.ac.uk/selcs, you might be able to find a more relevant contact under undergraduate/staff/department etc. links.

Are you just doing straight Scandinavian Studies??

]

In fact a lot of people have previous knowledge of language they want to do and the ways to go about it are the once described above so I do not see the reason for you not to do the Swedish course beforehand.

[Squaresquirrel]

(Original post by harpologist)

Are you just doing straight Scandinavian Studies??

Hi there, sorry for the late reply but Ive been pretty ill for the last month and a bit so havnt really been able to think about uni stuff :P

But yes I will hopefully be doing straight scandinavian studies, applying for 2013 entry all being well

[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...

[nearlyheadlessian]

(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?

[Samual]

Eeeek! I might actually be applying for the 2013 entry. Now that it's finally upon me I feel totally unprepared.

[placebo24]

Got my open days booked for UCL and Edinburgh! Hopefully come 2013 I'll be studying Norwegian

[Samual]

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.

[Leggy Lucy]

(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 .

[Hylean]

(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 .

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.

[Leggy Lucy]

Okay, that's reassuring. Thanks!

[Squaresquirrel]

(Original post by placebo24)
Got my open days booked for UCL and Edinburgh! Hopefully come 2013 I'll be studying Norwegian

Just booked my UCL open day - its all getting a bit real now!!

[placebo24]

(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) Which language you thinking of?

[Squaresquirrel]

(Original post by placebo24)
Sweet, maybe see you there (doubt it, but hey) 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

[Hylean]

(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?

[Squaresquirrel]

(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

[Samual]

(Original post by Squaresquirrel)
When booking your openday you have to tell which departments you want to visit and they make you pick two

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!