Luxembourg Studies
Luxembourg sits at the heart of Western Europe: Luxembourg City is one of the three capitals of the EU and the vast majority of people are multilingual, with many speaking Luxembourgish, French and German in addition to many other languages.
To understand Luxembourg is to understand a little about Europe itself, and the country's tumultuous history and varied culture make for fascinating fields of academic study.
Outside of Luxembourg itself, Sheffield is the international centre for Luxembourg Studies. We are the only university outside of Luxembourg where you can incorporate Luxembourg Studies as part of your degree programme. Our teaching programme is made up of two key areas: Language and society in Luxembourg, and multilingualism. Students gain direct knowledge and understanding of Luxembourg Studies by taking part in diverse activities and events together with partners in Luxembourg.
More on the Luxembourgish community at Sheffield
Undergraduate degree combinations
To see how our degrees can be structured and combined, please visit the following:
BA Modern Languages & Cultures (BAMLC) - this course allows you to choose between one and three languages to study.
Dual degrees with a non-language - these options allow you to take a language (or two, in some cases) alongside a non-language subject.
Why Luxembourg Studies at Sheffield?
We asked some of our students why they chose Luxembourg Studies at Sheffield:
Course
Luxembourg Studies in Cultural, Social and Multilingual Context
You can opt to include Luxembourg Studies as part of your BA Modern Languages degree or as free credits on other Sheffield degree programmes. This is the opportunity to apply your multilingual skills to a range of real-world issues and also, to explore the particularism of small languages in social context.
We offer a specialist course on contemporary society and culture in Luxembourg in relation to its bordering European countries, in addition to a course that offers comparative study of Luxembourg on a more global scale. Our emphasis on original project work means that you have real influence on your course, which is further complemented by our diverse programme of speakers and cultural activities to complement your learning experience.
Modules
You can explore Luxembourg Studies from Year 2.
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Title |
Credits |
Core/Optional |
|---|---|---|
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Language and Society in Luxembourg and the French Borderlands This module introduces key issues in the field of sociolinguistics, which examines the status and function of language in relation to its speakers and to speakers of other languages. We apply key theoretical insights to practical issues concerning the multilingual country of Luxembourg, in addition to the bordering countries of Belgium, France and Switzerland. In this way, we investigate how language becomes the target of struggles and debates that are embedded in broader socio-political issues. More broadly, this module underlines the importance of exploring linguistic diversity by taking Luxembourg as a prime case study. |
20 | Core |
You can spend a semester at the University of Luxembourg. Studying abroad at a university allows you to experience the familiarity of student life with the excitement of living in another country. University life varies enormously across the world, however wherever they go, our students develop international networks and life-long friendships. Courses at international universities expose our students to new ways of studying, learning, and interpreting the world.
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Title |
Credits |
Core/Optional |
|---|---|---|
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Social Approaches to Multilingualism This module provides students with an overview of key topics in multilingualism, with an emphasis on the ways in which issues of language are linked to broader socio-political practices and debates. We examine a range of case studies, including that of Luxembourg, and explore how theories of nationalism and globalisation may be applied to the analysis of texts and images in multilingual settings. The course focuses on how debates about language are linked to struggles over social equality and broader social transformations. |
20 | Core |
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Dissertation in Luxembourg Studies Depending on your Degree programme you can choose to write a dissertation on a Luxembourg Studies topic. This may deal with the culture, politics or society of Luxembourg although it will likely be linked to a sociolinguistic topic. |
Optional school-wide modules:
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Social Approaches to Multilingualism This module provides students with an overview of key topics in multilingualism, with an emphasis on the ways in which issues of language are linked to broader socio-political practices and debates. It allows students to gain insights into how theories of nationalism and globalisation may be applied to the analysis of texts and images in multilingual settings - with a particular focus on those in which Romance and/or Germanic languages play a central role - and it shows how debates about language are bound up with struggles over social equality and reactions to social transformations. |
20 | Optional |
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Comparative Critique of Consumer Culture Critiques of consumer cultures are as old as capitalism itself. This module takes the long view, starting in the eighteenth century and tracing our conflicted identities as modern consumers into the present day. Especially applying German cultural theory to European cultural history, we shall ask what is meant by economic and social liberalism, and whether even culture owes a debt to consumer society. Consumerism can entail complicity in exploitative modes of production (causing poverty and displacement, and profiting from serfdom and slavery). It has been both celebrated and satirised for enabling hedonism and individual bad taste (or kitsch). And consumption has been nationalist, yet also cosmopolitan; today, it threatens our shared environment. Theory, the visual arts, and literature have all been critical of capitalism - but ironically, they can themselves be packaged as consumer goods. Examining a wide range of primary texts (including film and caricature) and critical reflections, you will translate and write a commentary on a historical source, and submit an essay on a topic of your choice. |
20 | Optional |
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Global Careers in Languages To study languages, cultures and societies is to pursue a subject area that is outward-looking and which actively addresses global concerns. Our graduates boast linguistic fluency and cross-cultural expertise, and offer a unique set of skills to employers in several industries. This module gives students the opportunity to develop and connect specialist knowledge of their language(s) and studied areas according to four career pathways: Cultural industries; Politics, Community and Civic sectors; Translation and Teaching; and Global Business. Students will explore current debates and developments in these diverse sectors and industries, drawing on and extending their understanding of cross-cultural issues. By learning from the trajectories of industry experts, studying a variety of highly contemporary case studies, and developing vocational skills, this module allows students to reflect on and extend the substantial professional value of their advanced skills and knowledge of languages and cultures. |
20 | Optional |
The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it is up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research, funding changes, professional accreditation requirements, student or employer feedback, outcomes of reviews, and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.
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