collageThe University of Göttingen is an internationally renowned research university. Founded in 1737 in the Age of Enlightenment, the University is committed to the values of social responsibility of science, democracy, tolerance, and justice. It offers a comprehensive range of subjects across 13 faculties: in the natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, and medicine. With over 30,000 students and offering up to 212 degree programs, the University is one of the largest in Germany.
The MA programme in English Language and Literature opens the door to deepening your knowledge in English and American literature, English linguistics and the history of the English language. Improve your English skills to suit your needs.The Master Degree in English Philology is offered by University of Göttingen.
University Of Gottingen Overview
Established in 1737, the University of Gottingen is an open research university which is associated with Guild of European, Research-Intensive Universities, U15, the German Excellence Universities, and U4 Networks. The university is known to be one of the oldest university in Germany with a huge number of the student population. In 1812, the university became internationally famous along with a library which comprises of about 5.8 million volumes. In the late 18th century, Gottingen University gained popularity for its work in the field of History. And later on, it opened the School of History within the premises. However, the university is known to strongly aim at Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
The campus comprises of various departments that include the Faculty of Theology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Economics and the Faculty of Linguistics. Also, a scientific centre has been built within the campus in which most of the laboratories are also located. Some other centres and institutes within the campus include Centre for Medieval and Modern Studies, Diversity Research Institute, Centre for Molecular Biosciences, Centre for Computational Sciences, Centre for Gender Studies and the Centre for Empirical Research. In addition, the university maintains three gardens and museums.
The university offers undergraduate degree program, postgraduate degree programs, and doctoral level programs. As per a report generated in 2018, about 31,654 students have enrolled for the degree programs. Moreover, the university runs a student exchange program which gives students a wide scope to learn a different curriculum and gain exposure. Expert faculty members guide the students for better practical experiences and knowledge. Presently, the university has around 13 faculties and 47 research centres. In addition, the research faculty of the university has contributed to the discovery of the theory of Quantum Physics and Mathematical Aerodynamics. Currently, the university has 482 professors and 12,780 staff members.
The University of Gottingen has a notable list of alumni that includes Carl Friedrich (Renowned mathematician), J. Robert Oppenheimer (Physicist), Heinrich Heine (Poet), Gerhard Schroder (Former Chancellor of Germany), Richard Von Weizsacker (Former President of Germany), Max Weber (Sociologist), Rudolph Sohm (Famous Lawyer) and Rudolph Von Jhering (Jurist).
English: Language, Literatures and Cultures (M.A.)
Come and explore the world of English! The MA programme in English Language, Literatures and Cultures opens the door to deepening your knowledge in English and American literature, English linguistics and the history of the English language. Improve your English skills to suit your needs. Take challenging classes on a variety of topics, and follow your own research interests to lay the foundation for a Ph.D.
Degree programme title: English: Language, Literatures and Cultures (M.A.)
Final degree: Master of Arts (M.A.)
Standard period of study: 4 semesters
Start: Each summer and winter semester
Part-time studies possible
Degree programme options: Single Honours MA in English Philology (78 C); Joint Honours MA in English Philology (42 C); module packages: English Philology as MA minor subjects (36 C/18 C); Anglophone Literature and Culture as MA minor subject (36 C); Language in Focus: Linguistics and Medieval English Studies as MA minor subject (36 C)
Admission requirements for Single and Joint Honours MA: Overview
Language requirements: Demonstration of sufficient English language skills by earning the minimum required grade on an internationally recognised test.
Entrance requirements for module packages: Overview
Note for international applicants: German language skills do not have to be demonstrated for the enrolment.
Application: application procedure (application to the faculty of humanities)
The programme is taught in: English
Description of the Degree Programme:
The course provides an in-depth, specialised education in English Philology, covering linguistics as well as literary and cultural studies. It prepares students for jobs associated with Anglophone and North American territories and/or academically oriented jobs in journalistic, social or cultural sectors.
Degree programme structure:
Please click here for detailed information on the programme.
- transdepartmental module selection (‘pick and mix’): a study variety based on modules from several different specialised departments in which modules from linguistics and literature are taken; this is especially interesting for Master of Education students because this way the teaching-focused training can efficiently combined with a subject-specialised focus.
- specialisation in the studies of literature and culture or linguistics: a study variety where students can specialize in one of these domains, combining modules from either both literary departments or from the linguistics departments.
- specialisation in Anglophone Literature and Culture: a study variety based on modules exclusively in the domain of Anglophone literature and culture. This enables students to major in British/English and/or postcolonial literature.
- specialisation in Linguistics and Medieval English Studies: a study variety based on modules exclusively from the Linguistics and Medieval Studies departments. This enables students to major in various areas of the language-theory section.
Focus of Research in Göttingen:
Students are trained in both linguistics as well as literature and cultural studies. In the field of linguistics, it is possible to specialise either in the study of contemporary English or in historical linguistics. In the fields of literature and cultural studies, students can choose between British or Anglophone literature and culture and North American literature and culture.
In linguistics, research focuses on syntax theories, semantics research and the historical analysis of language transformations in connection with the study of medieval English literature and culture in its European context.
In literature and cultural studies, research focuses on postcolonial Anglophone literature; romantic and contemporary literature, on gender studies and cultural theory receive a special attention. In the North American Studies Department, the crossover between media and literature and theories of transnationality are of key interest.
Language skills during the academic programme:
German language skills (if not already present) be acquired in the electives during the academic programme.
Professional fields:
This degree qualifies graduates for work in business, journalism and at non-government organisations (NGO) or in the governmental sector; scholarly work for publishing houses or at institutes of higher education.
DegreeMaster of Arts in English PhilologyTeaching language
- English
Languages
Core-curriculum courses are held in English only. Students with no or little German language skills are required to take German-language courses which are taught in German.Programme duration4 semestersBeginningWinter and summer semesterApplication deadline
1 June for the following winter semester
1 December for the following summer semesterTuition fees per semester in EURNoneCombined Master’s degree / PhD programmeNoJoint degree / double degree programmeNoDescription/content
Students can choose between a Single Honours Master’s programme and a Joint Honours Master’s programme.
For the Single Honours MA programme, students have to complete a total of 78 credits (plus 30 for the MA thesis) from the curriculum offered by the Department of English. In addition to two obligatory modules on Life and Institution and Practical English Language, students are offered a range of modules on Anglophone Literature and Culture, American Studies, Medieval English Studies, and Modern English Linguistics. Students may specialise in particular areas, which may be certified:
- Anglophone Literature and Culture
- Studies in (American and English) Literature and Culture
- Literary and Cultural Management, an area of study that includes modules on literary analysis as well as practical modules in the literature industry
- English Language in Focus (Linguistics and Medieval English Studies)
Students may also opt to combine modules from all areas in order to cover a broad range of various topics. Basic modules tend to stress the survey aspect of training, while advanced modules focus on in-depth analysis. This study option is suited for anyone who wishes to broaden his/her knowledge in various fields relating to English before deciding which field to choose for an MA thesis.
For the Joint Honours MA in English Studies / English Philology, students have to choose at least one other subject. This can be closely related (e.g., American Studies) or completely unrelated (e.g., Law or German History); any combination is acceptable, provided that the subject is offered as a 36-credit module package at the University of Göttingen.
In their course of study, students can choose between four study varieties:
- across the disciplines
- with a focus on either literary or language studies
- with a focus on Anglophone literature and culture
- with a focus on English language theory and history
Obligatory modules include advanced courses on English language and on culture and institutions of the UK or the USA. Elective modules depend largely on the kind of specialisation students wish to acquire. In studying across the disciplines, students can choose between basic and advanced modules in English and postcolonial literature and culture, North American literature and culture, modern English linguistics, and the history of English. Students whose interests lie in either English / North American literature or in language studies can opt for a large variety of modules on offer in the respective disciplines. Thus, students can take English linguistics, for example, and supplement them with a module on the history of English; likewise, students interested in focusing on North American literature and culture can take the respective modules on offer and supplement them with a module on (e.g.) postcolonial literature.
The Department of English also offers three module packages (minor subjects) to be taken in combination with a 42-credit (Joint Honours) MA programme:
- English Philology, which meets the same criteria as outlined above
- Anglophone Literature and Culture
- Linguistics and Medieval Studies (Language in Focus)
English-language MA programmes at the University include American Studies and Modern Indian Studies.
University Of Göttingen: New Masters Programme In Applied Data Science At The University Of Göttingen
In this coming winter semester, the University of Göttingen is establishing a Master’s programme in Applied Data Science. Students will specialise in dealing with large amounts of data, and how to gain meaningful insights from the data sets. The programme is taught in English and leads to a Master of Science (MSc) in four semesters. Göttingen University is the first university in Lower Saxony to offer both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Applied Data Science.
This is an interdisciplinary Master’s programme, which will provide in-depth knowledge of computer science, mathematics and statistics. Students also deal with technical infrastructures, machine learning, statistical models and ethical, legal and social aspects of data science. For their chosen area of data application, they can currently choose between the following disciplines: Computational Neuroscience, Bioinformatics, Medical Data Science, and Digital Humanities. Further subject areas for data application will follow next year.
The course is aimed at graduates of bachelor’s degree programmes in the field of data science, mathematics or computer science, as well as graduates from the areas that can be chosen for data application (as above), if students focussed on these topics during their studies. The application deadline for prospective students from countries outside the EU is 16 May 2021; prospective students from the EU can apply until 15 June 2021. Further information on the study programme can be found at www.uni-goettingen.de/msc/datascience.
collage