In this Q&A, Dr Alice Hazard, Director of the King’s online Global Cultures MA, introduces the programme and explains how it’s structured, what students learn, and who it’s designed for. She also shares insight into its flexibility, areas of focus, and how it supports different academic and professional goals.
What is the Global Cultures MA and how is the programme structured?
The King’s Global Cultures MA is a fully online master’s programme, delivered part-time over two years. Your work for each module will comprise online readings, activities such as research and analysis tasks, forum discussions with your tutor and fellow students, and a live webinar each week.-1.png?width=518&height=259&name=Featured%20image%20(7)-1.png)
Towards the end of the programme you’ll take a research skills and preparation module and then, guided by an academic supervisor, you’ll undertake your own independent research project.
During the programme you’ll gain knowledge and understanding of many of the key cultural and intellectual frameworks that shape the world today, and you’ll think critically and analytically about how we work with and within these frameworks in our highly connected world.
Why is this programme particularly relevant for deepening expertise in global cultures?
You’ll be taught by world-class experts in a variety of interconnected fields, and you’ll be part of a global intellectual community of students and academics. The Global Cultures MA is housed in the department of Interdisciplinary Humanities, with many of the modules also taught by colleagues in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures.
We also have close ties with the Global Cultures Institute at King’s, which hosts public lectures, supports research projects and engagement activities that seek to address the challenges of a globally connected world. King’s hosts many online events, and so there are lots of opportunities to get involved in the community and to learn beyond the programme itself.
The Global Cultures MA is part of that intellectual community, and its design and content come from it. Your modules will cover a range of related topics – Language and Identity, Race and Ethnicity, Gender and Globalisation, to name a few.
What makes this programme stand out is its focus on linking key ideas and theories to how they are applied in real-world situations. Where do these concepts come from, and how does that knowledge shape the work we do in the world?
What are the key areas of specialisation within the Global Cultures MA?
This programme has a broad remit. Students can develop their interest and expertise in some areas, while being introduced to others which are perhaps less familiar. Within each module we encourage students to make connections between the module content and their own experience and knowledge. We’ll always be there to guide students if they want to pursue further reading or exploration.
When it comes to your independent research project, you’ll be able to work on a topic that you’ve chosen and which interests you. We provide academic guidance on how to go about this, but this is a key opportunity for you to shape your own work.
Can the programme be aligned with individual goals and interests?
Absolutely! We always encourage you to bring your own experience and interests to discussions, and we are always happy to guide you in your own reading and research.
In what ways does the programme support career progression?
As a student at King’s you will have access to support, information and guidance from our excellent Careers & Employability team.
Within this programme specifically, we focus on the kinds of skills and expertise highly valued by employers, such as global communication, diversity & inclusion, cultural understanding, language and identity.
Crucially, this is a master’s that provides you with the tools not just of awareness but of true understanding of how these things work, where they come from, why do we frame things in these ways, and what are the implications, both positive and negative? How, then, might we want to do things better?
Who typically studies the online Global Cultures MA?
The great joy of being involved in this programme is the enormous diversity of people you encounter. We really do have global student cohorts, and we have students from all walks of life, each with valuable experience, interests and expertise to share.
Students join the programme at different stages of life. Some enrol straight after completing their undergraduate degree, others are part-way through their careers and looking to progress or change direction, and some choose the programme purely out of personal interest.
What excites you most about this programme?
How it foregrounds the importance of critical thinking and analysis in approaching real-world problems – this is crucial in addressing the key issues of our time. I firmly believe that the kind of understanding, knowledge and skills we learn and teach in the humanities are the best way to go about this.
What advice would you offer to prospective applicants?
Tell us about yourself! Because of the nature of this programme, we don’t want you all to fit a single profile – the diversity of its staff and students is one of its great strengths. Tell us about you, about why you’re interested, about what you hope to get out of the programme, and about what you can contribute to it.
Thank you to Dr Alice Hazard for speaking to us about the programme!
Whether you’re looking to deepen your understanding of global cultural frameworks, develop critical analytical skills, or connect your academic interests to real-world challenges, the King’s Global Cultures MA offers a flexible and intellectually rigorous route to do so.
Learn more about the programme structure, modules and application process:
