What Dutch level do I need to start the MA Dutch Language Studies?

We expect upper-intermediate (CEFR B2) as a working entry point. Applicants confirm their level at interview. The MA Dutch Language Studies takes you toward C1-to-C2 over the course of the year, with specialist working competence in your chosen field.

Does the MA Dutch Language Studies cover Flemish?

Yes. Dutch and Flemish are the same language with regional varieties, and the MA Dutch Language Studies treats them as a single conversation. Dedicated seminars cover the lexical, phonological and stylistic features Flemish presents alongside metropolitan Dutch.

Can I take the MA Dutch Language Studies part-time?

Yes. The MA can be taken over 24 months part-time. Online and distance routes are available. Most working students complete the MA Dutch Language Studies in two years while maintaining a professional Dutch-language role.

Is the MA Dutch Language Studies useful for EU institutional work?

Yes. A dedicated module covers EU institutional Dutch and the working context of Dutch-language EU work, including translation conventions, terminology and the institutional press. Many MA Dutch Language Studies graduates move into EU-facing professional roles.

What sort of dissertation will I write on the MA Dutch Language Studies?

A 12,000-to-15,000-word piece that uses Dutch-language primary sources. Past examples include translation studies of contemporary Dutch literature, discourse-analytic work on Dutch-language press, and comparative studies of Dutch and Flemish policy discourse.

MA Dutch Language Studies in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MA Dutch Language Studies at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a one-year UK postgraduate degree for graduates and working professionals with substantial Dutch who want a Master's-level credential in the language, its literature and its working application across translation, business and policy contexts in the Benelux region.

The course is aligned with Taalunie (the Dutch Language Union) and Chartered Institute of Linguists standards. You will produce a 12,000-to-15,000-word dissertation using Dutch-language primary sources and graduate with the credential and the depth to work seriously in Dutch-language professional environments.

Key Features

Taalunie-aligned curriculum covering advanced Dutch language and literature.
Translation laboratory covering news, business, policy and literary texts in both directions.
Benelux current-affairs seminars — Netherlands, Flanders, Suriname, the Dutch Caribbean.
Specialist Dutch modules for business, legal and EU-institutional contexts.
Industry-led masterclasses from working Dutch translators, editors and Benelux-facing policy researchers.
12,000–15,000 word dissertation using Dutch-language primary sources.

What You Will Learn

The MA Dutch Language Studies is structured around the working life of an advanced professional user of Dutch. You graduate able to translate substantive texts between Dutch and English, read Dutch literature with discipline, and contribute meaningfully to Benelux-facing professional and research work.

Advanced Dutch language analysis at MA level.
Reading the Dutch-language press — De Volkskrant, NRC, De Standaard, De Morgen.
Translation theory and practice — register, equivalence, literary translation.
Dutch literature — twentieth-century and contemporary, with comparative reading.
Business and legal Dutch at MA level — contracts, EU institutional Dutch.
Benelux current affairs — Dutch and Belgian politics, EU institutional life.
Linguistic and dialectal variation across the Dutch-speaking world.
Dissertation research methods — qualitative, archival, comparative.

Who This MA Is For

BA graduates in Dutch, modern languages or translation moving into MA-level Dutch study.
Working translators and interpreters formalising their Dutch credentials with a UK Master's.
Diplomatic, NGO and business professionals operating in Benelux contexts.
Heritage and bilingual Dutch speakers seeking a senior UK academic credential.

Career Pathways

Graduates of the MA Dutch Language Studies move into senior translation, Benelux-facing professional and area-analyst roles, or progress to doctoral study. Typical post-MA destinations include:

Dutch Translator (senior, in-house or agency)
Benelux Markets Specialist (consultancy, trade body)
Bilingual Editor (NL/EN — publisher, news agency)
International Account Manager (firm with Benelux operations)
EU-Facing Policy Researcher (think tank, professional body)
Foreign Service Officer (Netherlands or Belgium desk)

The MA also serves as a launchpad for doctoral research in Dutch studies, translation studies or European studies.

Entry Requirements

A UK 2:2 honours degree (or international equivalent) in a related subject, OR a 2:2 in any subject with two years of relevant professional experience.
Demonstrable upper-intermediate Dutch (CEFR B2 equivalent) confirmed at interview.
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
Personal statement (max 1 page) outlining your motivation, relevant experience and intended specialism.
Two academic or professional references.
Applicants without a related undergraduate degree may be considered with significant industry experience and a written sample.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.