English and American Studies

The international Master's programme in English and American Studies offers a core curriculum of seminar and lecture courses in literary and cultural studies as well as in English linguistics. In addition, there are courses in English language proficiency, and free electives in other fields and disciplines, such as history, philosophy, art history, and the social sciences. Students may opt for a specialised degree in one of three focus areas: English studies, American studies, or English linguistics; alternatively they may opt for a degree in general studies, combining elements from all the three focus areas.
Literary studies are concerned with central topics, approaches and theories in the scholarship and research on literature in English, including the literary production of specific periods (e.g. Renaissance, Romanticism, Postmodernism) and the changing forms and functions of literary texts over time. Participants will engage in critical discourse and broaden their existing knowledge of literary history, literary theory and its applications.
Cultural studies are concerned with cultural production in English-speaking countries in general, and specific periods in particular (e.g. Colonialism and Postcolonialism, Gilded Age, Cold War), critically engaging with them against the backdrop of the cultural, social, and historical circumstances within which they originate. Specific areas of cultural studies in the Master's programme include popular culture, film, new media and visual culture as well as gender and ethnic studies.
In English linguistics, participants will further familiarise themselves with the principles of language structure, use, and variation acquisition. They are given the opportunity to specialise in areas such as cognitive linguistics or sociolinguistics. Participants will be given the opportunity to acquaint themselves with current debates and advanced methods in linguistic research.
Specifically designed language practice courses focus on topics such as essay writing, rhetoric and debating, textual analysis, translation, and creative writing. These courses will help students to increase their proficiency in English conversation and composition.
Free electives offer a considerable degree of choice for students, enabling them to branch out from and/or specialise in English and American studies, by increasing and complementing their curriculum with courses from other disciplines, such as history, philosophy, art, and the social sciences.

Educational organisation

Courses are taught both in form of lectures and seminars; the latter are the core of the programme's educational organisation. All courses in the core programme are taught exclusively in English, and the free electives are partly taught in German. Therefore, a sufficient degree of German language proficiency is required in order to attend these electives.
Since participants are expected to be familiar with the basics of English and American literary and cultural studies and linguistics upon enrolment, all courses are non-consecutive and may be taken at any point during the studies. This ensures a wider range of choice at any given time for the participants on the one hand, and a self-determined, self-organised study experience on the other.
Participants may choose to specialise in English or American literary and cultural studies or linguistics, according to their strengths and interests. After three semesters of study, participants are expected to write a Master's thesis in one of these three core areas. In accordance with the institute's research specialisations in the fields of law and literature or cognition and poetics, for example, interdisciplinary approaches are very much encouraged in the Master's theses.
A mandatory self-organised internship during the course of studies complements the programme Possibilities for this internship include, but are not limited to, editorial offices and publishing houses, museums, theatres, libraries, or the media. Participants in the programme also frequently participate in the organisation of events and courses at the institute - e.g. summer programmes, conferences, or tutorials for undergraduates - for internship credits.

Study abroad unit(s)

Participants of the English and American Studies Master's programme are expected to spend a period of at least three months in an English-speaking country if they have not already done so during their Bachelor's programme. During this stay, participants work in an area relevant to their studies to complete their internship module (e.g. as interns in libraries, editorial offices, public relations, the media; see above), or continue and supplement their regular studies at a university abroad. The stay abroad is usually self-organised, and supervised by the institute's study coordinator.

Forms of assessment

Participants are assessed primarily through written and oral exams and academic papers, the latter being the most common form of assessment. Other forms of assessment include podcasts, portfolios, and essays. Courses award between three and five credit points. The entire programme awards 120 ECTS credits, Master's thesis included.

Course objectives

The fields of linguistics and English and American literary and cultural studies are deeply intertwined, and participants graduating from the programme will depart with a comprehensive, interdisciplinary and in-depth knowledge of the fields. The ability to integrate theoretical viewpoints, methodological approaches, and knowledge from different disciplines will be a distinct advantage and give alumni a professional head-start, no matter which career they end up pursuing.
Transferable soft-skills such as self-organisation, independent research, team work, networking, communication and presentation skills are central part of the programme and will prove instrumental in subsequent careers, regardless of the area of employment.
Graduates will be highly qualified to work in fields as diverse as international relations, advertisement, editing and translation, cultural management, event marketing, as well as in the culture sector - from museums, libraries and archives, to media production. Participants will be singularly educated and trained in the craft of academic research and will thus be prepared to study at the PhD level and work as academic teachers and researchers.

Language requirements

Students are required to have a good command of German and English from the beginning of their studies in order to understand lectures, participate in discussions and take examinations.
Proficiency in English is to be proved through a passed IELTS exam (with at least 6.0 points) or by equivalent certificates of qualification. A Bachelor's degree in English or American studies is also accepted.
Proficiency in German is to be proved by TestDaF (at least 12 points), DSH-1 or equivalent certificates of qualification.
Moreover, proficiency in another foreign language must be proved on B1 level.

Required DSH / TestDaF

Yes

Academic requirements

Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree in English or American studies.
Proficiency in English is to be proved through a passed IELTS exam (with at least 6.0 points) or by equivalent certificates of qualification. A Bachelor's degree in English or American studies is also accepted.
Proficiency in German is to be proved by TestDaF (at least 12 points), DSH-1 or equivalent certificates of qualification.
Moreover, proficiency in another foreign language must be proved on B1 level.

Enrolment fees

Students have to pay an enrolment fee of approx. 330 EUR. For students receiving a scholarship from a German funding organisation, enrolment fees are reduced.
Students must provide proof of health insurance upon registration.

Costs of living

The costs of living for students are currently estimated at a minimum of 670 EUR per month.

Job opportunities

Students may be employed as student assistants.

Arrival support

At the beginning of each semester, the International Office offers all new international students a pick-up service and an orientation week ("Welcome Week") which enables new students to complete all official formalities, to become acquainted with the city and university, and to get to know other international and German students.

Services and support for international students

The intercultural mentoring programme at Osnabrück University ("imos") provides new international students with social and subject-specific support by a fellow student and an academic staff member.
In addition, an international cultural programme ("JOIN-OS") offers several day trips to cities in the region as well as visits to the theatre, Christmas dinner, etc.

Accommodation

The Accommodation Office of the Student Services ("Studentenwerk") offers rooms in dormitories and also helps students find private rooms and flats. Costs for a single room in a student dormitory are approx. 150-250 EUR per month.