English and American Studies

This English-taught master's lets you design a study path around your academic interests in anglophone language and culture. You select a major in either literary studies or linguistics, and pair it with a minor in one of four areas: literary studies, linguistics, cultural studies, or didactics (TEFL). The programme emphasizes independent research and culminates in a master's thesis completed in the final semester.

Coursework typically involves taking four to five courses each semester, with the last semester dedicated to writing the thesis; the thesis contributes 25% of the final grade. The department recognises practical experience and international exposure: you can earn credit for internships and other practical placements, and there are multiple options to study abroad. All teaching and assessment are in English.

Student mentors help newcomers settle in by introducing campus facilities, the library, student life, and programme requirements, which is especially useful for international students. The department is known for small seminar sizes, a well-equipped library, and close student–faculty interaction. Graduates often move into publishing, media, education, or public relations, or continue with doctoral studies at the university.

Program structure and requirements (key points)

• Choose a major: Literary Studies or Linguistics
• Choose a minor: Literary Studies, Linguistics, Cultural Studies, or Didactics (TEFL)
• Take 4–5 courses per semester
• Final semester reserved for the Master’s thesis (counts for 25% of overall grade)
• Opportunities to study abroad; internships and practical work can be credited
• Student mentoring provided to help with campus orientation and programme navigation

This Master's program unfolds over four semesters. The first three are focused on taught modules, with students typically taking four to five courses each term. About half of these are advanced graduate seminars that emphasize discussion and close engagement with current research, while the remainder are survey lectures and practical exercise classes that provide broader subject knowledge and applied skills.

In the first semester you will take a dedicated seminar that introduces the central theories and research methods relevant to English and American Studies. Beyond a small number of compulsory classes, the curriculum is flexible: each semester offers 15–20 thematic courses, allowing you to shape the programme around your own research interests and specialisations. This mix supports both depth (through seminars) and breadth (through surveys and exercises).

The final semester is reserved for your Master's thesis, which you develop and write in close collaboration with an academic supervisor. By the end of the programme you should have a firm grounding in major theories and methods, advanced abilities to conduct independent research and critical analysis, and experience in academic writing and argumentation—skills that support further study (such as doctoral work) or professional roles requiring high-level analytical and communication abilities.

Requirements (curriculum highlights)

• Four-semester structure: first three semesters of coursework, fourth semester for thesis
• Typical course load: 4–5 courses per semester
• Course types: roughly half graduate seminars; the rest are survey lectures and exercise classes
• First-semester methods/theories seminar introducing key approaches in the field
• Few mandatory courses; wide elective choice (15–20 thematic courses available each semester)
• Final semester devoted to the Master's thesis, written in close contact with a supervisor

Alumni typically enter publishing, media, education, and public relations, or continue to doctoral study. The programme’s mix of theoretical and practical modules, including a mandatory internship, prepares graduates for roles in content creation, editorial work, communications, cultural institutions, and teaching-related positions (including TEFL if didactics is chosen).

Graduates are also well positioned for research careers and academic pathways leading to PhD programmes, owing to the programme’s strong supervision, thesis-focused final semester, and opportunities for study abroad and research-oriented coursework.