This two-year consecutive Master's programme is taught entirely in English and therefore accessible to international students without any prior German language skills. Administered by the American Studies division within the English department, it builds on undergraduate training and is aimed at graduates from American Studies, English, or related literary and cultural studies programmes.
The curriculum covers a wide range of courses on the literary and cultural history of North America from the colonial era to the present, while also addressing contemporary developments in a transnational framework. The programme systematically examines categories of difference and diversity — including race, gender, sexuality, class, and religion — and offers opportunities to concentrate on media history and theory. Students are encouraged to engage with emerging approaches in television studies, popular culture studies, and the study of digital cultures, preparing them for advanced research or culturally oriented careers that require critical, interdisciplinary perspectives.
Admission requirements (concise)
The programme is organised around a set of defined teaching units, which are detailed in the module catalogue or the model curriculum available on the programme website (PDF). Instruction combines traditional lectures with smaller, discussion-focused seminars and supervised student work groups to encourage both theoretical understanding and active engagement with historical material.
A compulsory practical element is built into the curriculum: students must complete either an internship or a study abroad period of at least four weeks. This component is intended to give hands‑on experience and international exposure, linking classroom learning with real‑world or cross‑cultural contexts.
Through the mix of lectures, seminars and supervised projects, you will develop advanced skills in historical research and critical analysis, deepen your knowledge of North American history from multiple perspectives, and gain experience presenting and debating complex arguments. The internship/study‑abroad requirement further supports professional development, intercultural competence, and practical application of academic skills—preparing graduates for careers in research, education, cultural institutions, public policy, and related fields.
Requirements and key components:
This master’s programme requires applicants to already hold an academic degree in a relevant field or an equivalent qualification from a foreign institution. Equivalence of non-German degrees will be checked using the Central Office for Foreign Education Systems (http://anabin.kmk.org). Degrees awarded by German universities or by institutions participating in the Bologna Process are acceptable in the form of a Bachelor's, Master's, Diplom, Magister, or state examination degree. Relevant prior subjects typically include English, Anglistics, American Studies, Cultural Studies or other humanities disciplines; however, the final determination of subject relevance is made by the authority named in the programme’s examination regulations (Prüfungsordnung). If the prior degree lacks certain subject modules, admission may be granted on the condition that those modules are completed within the first two semesters.
All applicants must also demonstrate English language competence (see programme-specific details). If you have not yet completed your degree at the time of application, you must show that you have completed at least 83.33% of the required credit points (minimum 150 ECTS). Applicants with officially recognised refugee status who meet the academic criteria but cannot provide documentation may be allowed to take an aptitude test; evidence of passing that test must be included with the application.
Admission requirements (bullet points)
Winter Semester (International)
31 May 2026
Summer Semester (International)
30 November 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 July 2026
Summer Semester (EU/EEA)
15 January 2027
Graduates are prepared for careers in academia and research (including progression to PhD programmes), cultural institutions (museums, archives), publishing, journalism and media, and education. The programme’s emphasis on critical analysis, interdisciplinary cultural studies and transnational perspectives also suits roles in cultural policy, international organisations, NGOs, and cultural or communications management.
Transferable skills gained—advanced research and writing in English, intercultural competence, event organisation (conference/workshop experience), and media-analysis expertise—also make graduates competitive for roles in public relations, digital media, content production, and consultancy that engage with North American contexts or international cultural exchange.