Master American Studies / British Studies / English Linguistics

Recently Accepted? Please check here for further information.

Newly enrolled? Please check here for further information.

 

Dear prospective student,

Thank you for your interest in our Master’s programme American Studies / British Studies / English Linguistics here at the English Department at Saarland University.

Consider watching this video for more information about the university, the Saarland, and the specificities of our study programme: https://youtu.be/qZnwDBX5Uhk

For more General information, please see: https://www.uni-saarland.de/en/study/programmes/master/english.html

 

Specialisations:

If you want to learn more about the special interests of the professors, visit their homepages:

North American Literary and Cultural Studies: Prof. Dr. Astrid Fellner: http://www.amerikanistik.uni-saarland.de/home

British Literary and Cultural Studies: Prof. Dr. Joachim Frenk: https://www.uni-saarland.de/lehrstuhl/frenk.html (see menu on the right)

English Linguistics: Prof. Dr. Remus Gergel: https://www.uni-saarland.de/lehrstuhl/gergel.html (see menu on the right)

 

Entry requirements:

You must have studied English as a scientific subject to apply. We accept degrees in English language and literature, in philology, in American studies, linguistics, TEFL, and in some cases in related fields such as gender studies, media studies, cultural studies, or translation. Whether your BA or other diploma makes you eligible can only be determined when you actually apply. (Please refrain from sending emails about this matter since they cannot be answered for legal reasons.) Your grade point average must be at least 2.0 (converted to the German scale 1–6, with 1.0 being best).

 

Language requirements:

You must submit an internationally-recognised certificate of English attesting C1 level (for all skills individually) according to the European framework (CEFR). This applies even if your Bachelor’s degree was taught entirely in English or your school issued a statement to this effect. Simply submit a copy of the certificate. If you choose “Kernbereich”, i.e., English only, you need not speak or understand German. If you are interested in the dual subject programme, please check the relevant information on the pages of the other subject as well.

 

Acceptable Language Proficiency Certificates:

TOEFL iBT (Teaching of English as a foreign language): https://www.ets.org/toefl

Reading            24 points

Listening           22 points

Speaking           25 points

Writing             24 points

 

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System): https://www.ielts.org/

Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking: 7.0 points each

 

CAE (Cambridge English Advanced): https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/

Listening, Reading, Use of English, Speaking and Writing: 193 points each

 

PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English): https://pearsonpte.com/

Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing: 76 points each

 

Duolingo

Literacy, Conversation, Comprehension and Production: 135 points each

 

 

You do NOT need to provide proof of your proficiency in English if you’re from one of the following countries or territories, or you’ve completed your previous university degree in one of them:

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Australia
  • The Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • the British overseas territories
  • Canada (with educational background in English)
  • Dominica
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • Ireland
  • Jamaica
  • Malta
  • New Zealand
  • St Kitts and Nevis
  • St Lucia
  • St Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • UK
  • USA

 

We also waive the English language requirements for students who have completed their previous university degree in English in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, France, the Netherlands, the Scandinavian countries, Finland, Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic, and potentially other European Countries. Please check with masterenglish@uni-saarland.de in case the European country in which you obtained your degree is not listed.

 

Documents:

Documents may be submitted in German, English, or French.

Mandatory:

  • Language certificate (with some exceptions; see above)
  • University entrance qualification (e.g., high school diploma, bac, Abitur, Matura)
  • Prior university degree (e.g., Bachelor’s degree): diploma and transcript of records.

A motivational letter in English may be helpful in exceptional cases (e.g., when you did not study English but rather a related field). This, however, is not required. This is also the case for all other documents, such as curriculum vitae or letters of recommendation. There are no further admission tests or interviews.

 

 

Financing your studies:

There are no tuition fees as such. However, there is a semester fee covering administrative charges, a student council fee, and a Saarland bus and train ticket. The semester fee currently amounts to 289 EUR per term (6 months). Students pay 270 EUR for their accommodation per month on average in Saarland. The university does not offer any bursaries or stipends on a regular basis.

 

Application:

To apply, please visit: https://www.uni-saarland.de/en/study/application/master.html

The application period for the winter term closes at the end of August and for the summer term at the end of February. The application portal opens at the beginning of June for the winter term and at the beginning of December for the summer term.

Follow the procedures as indicated. Here are a few pitfalls:

  • At the start, if the page is not in English, check the upper right corner and hit EN.
  • Choose ‘Application for a restricted entry programme’.
  • Do NOT choose Higher level entry unless you have discussed this with us.
  • Choose M.A. ASBSEL – either British Literary and Cultural Studies or English Linguistics or North American Literary and Cultural Studies, depending on your interests. Kernbereich signifies that you will take on a course of study in our department only (no second minor subject).
  • Do NOT choose M.A. American Studies/British Studies/English Linguistics unless you want to apply for a dual subject course of study (with the second subject being in German).
  • When asked for grades, enter 8,0 (with a comma) if you have a foreign diploma.

 

Further information:

For general information about studying at Saarland University, matriculation, administrative questions, please contact studium@uni-saarland.de.

International students, please also see: https://www.uni-saarland.de/en/global/welcome-center.html

If you have questions about the CONTENT of the Master’s programme American Studies / British Studies / English Linguistics, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Cornelia Gerhardt, the Master’s programme study advisor: masterenglish(at)uni-saarland.de.

 

We are very much looking forward to welcoming you to the department soon!

Have you been accepted?

If we have sent you an offer (Zulassung) and you have not decided yet whether you want to study at Saarland University, watch this video for more information about the university, the Saarland, and the specificities of our study programme: https://youtu.be/qZnwDBX5Uhk

If you have any further questions about the programme, do not hesitate to contact Dr. Cornelia Gerhardt, the Master’s programme study advisor: masterenglish(at)uni-saarland.de.

If anything is unclear or you have an issue you’d like to discuss, do not hesitate to contact your study advisor, Dr. Cornelia Gerhardt: c.gerhardt(at)mx.uni-saarland.de.

Newly enrolled students

We are delighted that you have accepted our offer. A warm welcome to the department!

Here is some information from the department that might be relevant and helpful before you arrive here. Please also carefully read the emails from the university administration. Make sure you start checking your university email and Teams messages once you have enrolled.

For further information about the professors and their specialisations, please see:

 

After you have enrolled, register for the following classes on LSF in your first term:

1 Hauptseminar (seminar in your specialisation)

1 Vorlesung (lecture in your specialisation)

1 Kolloquium (in your specialisation)

1 Kolloqium Career Orientation and Specialisation

For American and British Studies: 1 Foundations of Cultural Studies (American Studies in the summer term and British Studies in the winter term)

For linguistics: 1 Introduction to English Linguistics–Syntax

You can also take Written Expression (Advanced) and/or Language Course IV in the first term. This depends on your schedule and other personal considerations, such as whether you need to finance your studies through work or whether you need the first term to adapt to the German University system and its typical requirements like Hausarbeiten.

Please do not hesitate to contact your professor about classes, especially regarding the colloquium in your specialisation.

If anything is unclear or you have an issue you’d like to discuss, do not hesitate to contact your study advisor, Dr. Cornelia Gerhardt: c.gerhardt(at)mx.uni-saarland.de.