• English language proficiency at least at the C1 level
• A love of reading!
• A comprehensive educational background in literary studies.
• A willingness to familiarize yourself with material previously unknown to you and to seek answers to new questions.
• A keen interest in how language works and the particular characteristics of English.
• Historical issues pique your interest – as do global connections in the modern world.

The subject-specific entrance requirements include the completion of a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Culture or in a related field (B.Ed. English, B.A. British Studies, B.A. British and American Studies etc.) or an equivalent degree from a higher education institution. At least 20 of these credit points must have been clearly earned in the field of Anglophone literary studies.

If you have earned fewer than 20 credit points in the field of English Literature and Culture at the time of application, you may be admitted to the program on the condition that you take part in an obligatory individual advising session. After the session, you may be required to attend additional courses from the English Literature and Culture bachelor’s program in order to be admitted to the master’s program. The additional courses should be defined in a way that allows the credits to be earned in one semester.

If you have not yet received your bachelor’s degree certificate by the application deadline, but have earned at least 135 credits in your bachelor’s program, you must apply by the set deadline with a transcript (certified copy issued by your university) of all coursework and exams completed to date, including your average grade to date.

Good to know: The legally binding basis for selection, admission and enrollment is the text of the entrance requirements as specified in Section 2 of the currently valid examination regulations and, where applicable, in the appendix.

You can find more information in the examination regulations of the master’s program.

Over the course of four semesters, the M.A. ELC focuses on central aspects of anglophone literature as well as on other aspects: academic writing, literary and cultural theory, aspects of professional practice, cultural studies, and exam preparation. Furthermore, you can pick out courses that interest you from the entire course catalog offered by the Department of English and Linguistics as your electives – whether your goal is to strengthen one of your weaker academic points or simply because you have discovered something new that sounds interesting. Perhaps you would also like to write your master’s thesis on this topic, but there is currently no suitable compulsory seminar offered in your degree program. This is where the electives can be useful.

Stays abroad

Would you like to live abroad for a semester or a year? Do you want to learn another language and get to know a new culture? Or gain a different perspective on your particular subject? A stay abroad provides you with the perfect opportunity to achieve this and is possible with every degree program – either self-organized or by taking advantage of one of the popular exchange programs. This is made possible by various cooperation agreements and partnerships with foreign universities.

For more information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. Visit our student exchange platform for an overview of cooperating universities in your field.

This program of study does not require you to spend time abroad, but you nevertheless have the opportunity to do so.

We recommend that you spend at least three months studying in an English-speaking country as part of the master’s program. The second and third semesters are particularly suitable for this – but the other semesters are by no means excluded.

Internships

This program of study does not include a mandatory internship. However, voluntary internships are a great way to gain insight into a professional field.

An internship allows you to discover whether everyday life in a particular occupation suits your career expectations and interests. You can gain qualifications for a professional field and acquire important professional and personal skills to start a career. An internship helps you both shape your career path, and mold the remainder of your course sequence – in particular by selecting specializations that suit your practical experience.

You can find further information and relevant internships on the Career Service website.

In addition to the compulsory and compulsory elective courses, it is highly recommended to complete an internship of at least 6 weeks in preparation for a career. The department and the Career Service will support you in applying for an internship. Proof of an internship of at least 4 weeks can also be credited toward the degree.

The master’s program provides advanced training in research practices as well as contemporary theories that will prepare you for a career in further research. You will also acquire many other skills that are important in a wide range of professional fields:

• Analysis and critical examination of complex texts
• Independent research as well as preparation and communication of information orally and in writing
• Critical examination of complex issues from different perspectives
• Intercultural communication
• Practical language skills

English Literature and Culture is not a subject that qualifies students for a clearly defined professional field. Many graduates therefore pursue a career that doesn’t have a traditionally defined education path, such as:

• Foreign correspondence in the media sector
• Editing
• Adult education
• Translation
• Editorial work and journalism
• Corporate communication
• Science management
• Library and archival work

It is therefore important that you gain experience in the professional fields that particularly interest you. This is possible, for example, through the pre-vocational internship that you complete during your studies.

Not sure what to do after graduation? Don’t worry!

A university degree generally does not prepare you for a single profession but qualifies you for a wide range of career paths – for example, in research, in a typical profession related to your field of study, or in one of many other academic fields.

This is why career orientation is also part of your studies. Gaining practical experience is key, and you can do so through internships, working student positions, part-time jobs or voluntary work, for example.

JGU’s Career Service will support you throughout the entire process with information, advice, workshops and numerous events – from career orientation and working on your profile and skills to finding your dream job and successfully applying for it.