English Studies
English Studies (M.A.)

Discover the all-English and research-rich English Studies degree program with two concentrations: Culture and Literature and Linguistics and Applied Linguistics. Immerse yourself in literary and cultural history modules and combine them with interdisciplinary offerings.
- Degree
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Duration of studies in semester
- 4
- Start of degree program
- Winter semester
- Study location
- Erlangen
- Number of students
- 50-150
- Subject group
- Language and Cultural Studies
- Special ways to study
- International degree program, Part-time degree program
- Teaching language
- fully english
- Admission Requirements
- Qualification assessment
What is the degree program about?
English Studies is a degree program with a strong research focus offering two areas of specialisation:
- Culture and Literature: this study path enables students to combine modules in literary and cultural history and theory with a broad range of interdisciplinary modules. Culture and Literature focuses on historical perspectives and involves two key areas of the humanities: the history of ideas and discourse analysis. Areas of expertise include:
- Cultural Studies: focus on cultural history and popular culture with a particular emphasis on the intersections of culture with economics and politics. In addition to these areas, this focus concentrates on cultural and medial translation.
- Literary Studies: relations between literature and other discourses such as philosophy, religion and politics.
- Linguistics and Applied Linguistics: this study path focuses on describing and analysing the English language in light of current linguistic theories and teaching approaches. The following topics are covered in the degree program:
- the idiomatic element of language: construction grammar, valency theory, research on collocation and idiomaticity
- foreign language teaching: lexicography, grammar, contrastive linguistics, speech perception and production, literacy development, bilingualism and bilingual education
- first and second language acquisition and research on learner language
- corpus linguistics: the English language: history and variation
- advanced language modules
Students may study one of these specialisations exclusively to obtain a degree in ‘MA English Studies: Culture and Literature’ or in ‘MA English Studies: Linguistics and Applied Linguistics’, or they may choose to study a combination of the two fields to obtain the degree title of ‘MA English Studies’.
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Specialisation: Culture and Literature
1st semester:
- Introductory module: Culture
- Introductory module: Literature
- Elective module
2nd semester:
- Core module: Culture
- Core module: Literature
- Academic language skills
3rd semester:
- Master’s module I: Culture or Literature
- Master’s module II: Culture or Literature
- Elective complementary studies/Wild Card
4th semester:
- Master’s thesis in the chosen specialisation
Specialisation: Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
1st semester:
- Introductory module: Topics in Linguistic Theory and Language Acquisition Research
- Applied Linguistics A
- Descriptive and Theoretical Linguistics A
- Research module: Lexicography, Valency, Collocation
2nd semester:
- Corpus Linguistics
- First Language Acquisition and Language Teaching
- Linguistics and Language Teaching A
- Linguistics and Language Teaching B
- Language Variation
- Academic language skills
3rd semester:
- Applied Linguistics B
- Descriptive and Theoretical Linguistics B
- Research module: Lexicography, Valency, Collocation
- Second Language Acquisition and Language Teaching
- English Historical Linguistics
4th semester:
- Master’s thesis in the chosen specialisation
-
This degree program is offered in English only.
-
- Admission requirements (first semester)
- Qualification assessment
- Application deadline winter semester
-
15.07.
- Content-related admission requirements
-
Open to graduates with a BA English and American Studies with a final grade of 2.5 or better (exceptions may be made in well-substantiated cases and on the basis of a short letter of motivation and a 15- to 20-minute interview for those students who achieved a final grade ranging up to 3.3). Graduates of other BA programs with a focus on English philology (60 ECTS credits) are also invited to apply. Prospective foreign students who are not native speakers must submit proof of their English language proficiency (level C1) with their application.
The program begins in the winter semester.
This degree program is open to all graduates of the Bachelor’s degree programme in English and American Studies and other degree programs in English. In some cases, graduates with a degree in computational linguistics may also be admitted to study the specialisation in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics.
If you are interested in this degree program and have a degree in a different subject or a degree from a different university in Germany or abroad, please contact the degree program coordinator.
Language skills
- German language skills for international applicants
- No DSH
- General language skills
-
English C1
German proficiency A1 at the end of the first year of study
Do you need help or more information?
Our Student Advice and Career Service (IBZ) is the central point of contact for all questions about studying and starting a degree programme. Our Student Service Centres and subject advisors support you in planning your studies.