MA Portuguese

One of the most attractive characteristics of this programme is its flexibility. This means that, in Years 1 and 2 (pre-Honours), you’ll choose other subjects drawn from a broad list of disciplines in addition to your core subject of Portuguese.

This may enable you to change the focus of your programme, if you discover that you’d like to take one of these other subjects into Years 3 and 4 (Honours).

Year 1

You will study Portuguese 1, which caters for both beginners and more advanced students. You will be introduced to Portuguese-speaking literature through a selection of short stories from Mozambique, Angola, Brazil and Portugal.

You’ll also study option courses chosen from a wide range offered by the University of Edinburgh.

Year 2

You will continue to develop your spoken and written language with Portuguese Language 2.

You will also study the cultures and the societies of the Portuguese-speaking world through literature, film and the arts.You can also opt to study Basque or Catalan.

As in Year 1, you’ll also choose other courses from a wide range offered by the University, including a great selection in European languages and cultures.

Year 3

You’ll spend Year 3 in a Portuguese-speaking country, turning classroom learning into living engagement with Lusophone culture and either studying or completing a work/teaching placement.

During your year abroad, we'll aim to ensure your experience is as beneficial as possible to your final year, as well as to your wider language learning, cultural awareness and skills development.

For example, you'll take an e-learning course which will count as part of your Year 3 mark and prepare you for your Year 4 language courses.

Year 4

You will study advanced language courses and choose from a range of specialist courses on Portugal, Brazil or Lusophone Africa, covering history, literature, film and culture. You will also complete your dissertation.

Programme structure

Find out more about the compulsory and optional courses in this degree programme.

To give you an idea of what you will study on this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme structure (2020/21)

Our facilities

Teaching takes place in and around the University of Edinburgh's Central Area in a world-leading festival city bursting with cinemas, theatres, galleries, libraries and collections. Portugal has an honorary consulate here, and there's a large community of Portuguese speakers.

Edinburgh's world cinema scene is particularly strong, with Portuguese-language films regularly included in festivals such as the Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival (which was started by our staff) and Africa in Motion.

The University itself has excellent computing and audiovisual resources, support services and social spaces, including many in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures. Our Portuguese Language Centre is supported by Instituto Camões.

The Centre for Contemporary Latin American Studies brings together staff and students from a number of different subject areas, and we publish student work in Portuguese and other European languages in our online creative writing magazine, Babble.

Study abroad

You'll spend Year 3 (a minimum of 30 weeks) in a Portuguese-speaking country. This is your chance to immerse yourself in Lusophone culture, and to develop your broader life experience and skills towards life after university.

What are my options for going abroad?

How will I learn?

Courses are taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials and computer-assisted learning.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed by a combination of coursework - including presentations, podcasts and posters -as well as exams, including oral exams.

The sixth most widely spoken language in the world, Portuguese is estimated to have around 220 million native speakers (260 million total speakers). It is an official language in ten countries, including Brazil, Mozambique, Angola, Portugal, Guinea-Bissau, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Macau, Cape Verde, and São Tomé and Príncipe.

Some of our graduates choose career paths in translation, interpreting, teaching or business, both at home and abroad. Others go on to work within the public or third sector, including for international charities or institutions of the European Union (Portuguese is an official working language of the EU), or move into the creative industries, tourism and travel.

Employers increasingly value the excellent communication skills that come with language learning, the intercultural and critical awareness provided by international experiences, and imaginative thinking. Careers where these skills are particularly useful include marketing, law, and politics and policy work.

There are also opportunities to continue studying at postgraduate level, with Year 4 in particular developing the research skills you’ll need if you choose this path.

Standard entry requirement

The standard entry requirement is:

• SQA Highers: AAAAA-AAAA (achievement by end of S5 preferred). BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: AAA - ABB.
• IB: 43 points with 776 at HL - 39 points with 666 at HL.

Minimum entry requirement

The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:

• SQA Highers: ABBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: ABB.
• IB: 34 points with 655 at HL.

More information for widening access applicants

Required subjects

The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:

• SQA: Highers: a language other than English at B. National 5s: English at C.
• A Levels: a language other than English at B. GCSEs: English at C or 4.
• IB: HL: a language other than English at 5. SL: English at 5.

Additional requirements

Language requirement

For degrees that have a subject requirement of a language other than English, students may not use their own native language to meet this requirement. In these instances, English or an alternative language other than native will be acceptable.

Find out more about entry requirements

International applicants

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Entry requirements by country

International Foundation Programme

If you are an international student and your school qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to the University you may be eligible for admission to this degree programme through our International Foundation Programme.

International Foundation Programme

Mature applicants

We welcome applications from mature students and accept a range of qualifications.

Mature applicant qualifications

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

SQA, GCSE and IB

For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:

• SQA National 5 at C
• SQA Standard Grade at 3
• SQA Intermediate 1 at A
• SQA Intermediate 2 at C
• GCSE/IGSCE at C or 4
• Level 2 Certificate Grade C
• IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified*:

• IELTS Academic module overall 6.5 with 5.5 in each component.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Special Home Edition) 92 or above with 20 in each section. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency overall 176 with 162 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with a distinction in all four components.

We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.

English language qualifications must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the degree you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

English language requirements

*(Revised 27 April 2020 to include TOEFL-iBT Special Home Edition.)

This information is part of a government initiative to enhance the material that higher education institutions provide about their degree programmes.

It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.

Please note that some programmes do not have Discover Uni data available.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for MA Portuguese

Additional costs

For your compulsory residence abroad in Year 3, we give you a wide range of options. Your costs will depend on where you decide to go, and how you spend your time.

Universities outside the EU may charge you a fee for courses but we will reimburse you for this provided the course has been approved. You will be informed about the cost implications as you plan your year abroad, during Year 2.

Funding

For more information on how much it will cost to study with us and the financial support available see our fees and funding information.

Fees and funding

• College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Undergraduate Admissions Office
• Web: Contact CAHSS Undergraduate Admissions Office
• International enquiries