Korean, Intercultural Communication and Linguistics

Korean, intercultural communication, and linguistics together offer a distinctive and practically powerful combination. Korean is the language of South Korea, a country that has become one of the world's most significant economic, cultural, and technological forces over the past few decades, with a diaspora community and cultural influence far beyond its borders. Intercultural communication examines how people from different cultural backgrounds understand and interact with each other, and linguistics provides the theoretical framework for understanding how language itself works, how it varies, and how it shapes and is shaped by society.

At York St John this four-year full-time programme includes a year studying in Korea, giving you the immersive language experience that is essential for genuine fluency and a formative encounter with Korean society and culture. You will develop communicative Korean skills and a deep understanding of Korean culture, alongside insight into different language structures and sociocultural practices, learning to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries. The linguistics component gives you transferable analytical tools for understanding language more broadly, which complements your Korean studies and your intercultural competencies.

Graduates are well placed for careers in international business, diplomacy, journalism, education, translation and interpreting, the creative industries, and a wide range of roles in or connected to South Korea and the wider East Asian region. South Korea's economic significance and the global reach of Korean popular culture make Korean-language skills increasingly valuable in the international job market. Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study in Korean studies, linguistics, TESOL, or international communication, building on the distinctive expertise their undergraduate degree provides.