Applications to the MA
General Information
As a so-called “consecutive degree program” the MA program in English Studies (taught entirely in English) requires a first degree in English Studies (linguistics and/or literature), and, on application, the selection of a mandatory focus either on Literary Studies or on English Linguistics. (The two strands have no curricular overlap in the English Studies program; in this respect they are like two different majors.) The course also requires you to choose a minor; either in the complementary field in English Studies (literature or, vice versa, linguistics), or in a different subject.
You can find a list of possible minors through the university's central website (Many of these require German proficiency; please check the respective departmental websites.)
We welcome applicants with excellent English language skills (for international applicants, unless they are native speakers: IELTS 7.5, TOEFL 115, or C2, to be proven by a standardized test; no MOI-certificates please), who have received academic instruction during their undergraduate education in literary studies and/or linguistics. The program emphasizes scholarly approaches in both its areas, and expects students to be familiar with conducting research, with various methodologies, and with the writing of academic papers. The degree is not a teaching degree, and it does not qualify for an appointment in the German public-school system.
The fees per semester for students from the EU are 151,05 €, for students from outside the EU 1500 €. For more details on the fee structure, please visit the university's central websites.
Course Specifics
You can read up on the details of our course in the Studienführer. Please make sure to click on both the “Curriculum and schedule of the MA Program”, and on “Prüfungen/ Exams” because it is only in combination of these two sets of information that you gain a full impression of the program and its requirements.
Application Process, Documents, and Deadlines
Please apply online, first by creating an application profile and then by uploading the required application documents, including a standardized language certificate and a sample of your academic writing. All the other required documents are specified on the website.
On application, it is necessary to specify whether you would like to specialize in linguistics OR in literary studies (in your motivation letter) and to upload a sample of your academic writing (term paper, BA thesis), as we will need this in order to assess your eligibility. If you do not have previous experience in writing research papers, you are not eligible for the program. The admission committee will evaluate your eligibility on the basis of your transcript, your motivation letter, and the academic promise of your writing sample.
Although the application deadline is the same for all applicants (the end of September for the following winter term / end of March for the following summer term), we would like to encourage international students to apply as soon as possible so that they have sufficient time to gather all the necessary documents (visa, etc.) if they have been admitted to the program.
Thank you very much again for your interest and we look forward to your application!