Master of Arts

Master of Arts: British and American Studies

The focus of the M.A. British and American Studies programme is on intercultural knowledge and skills and on academic and research skills. It is centered around

• the English language and its varieties
• the forms of literatures in English
• media such as films, newspapers, radio, the internet, etc.
• English language cultures and their histories.

Within this spectrum, the Master of Arts programme British and American studies specialises in transculturation. Transculturation refers to processes of cultural exchange and intercultural phenomena.

Please note that all classes are conducted in English.

Special Features

Throughout your studies you will be counselled and supported by your academic advisor who teaches in the field of your specialisation (British Literature and Culture, American Literature and Culture, Linguistics). Your academic advisor counsels you in your studies and ensures coherence and successful specialisation in your studies. Moreover, he or she is available for more general questions and advice.

For general information and study advice, contact:
Dr. Vivian Gramley

For information on the application (process), contact:
Dr. Julia Andres
Dr. Vivian Gramley

Applications and Deadlines

Admission to the MA British and American Studies programme is based on an online application consisting of:

• an undergraduate university degree certificate (minimum 6 semesters; grade 2,5 or above),
• evidence of proficiency in English (IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL [ibt: 94 or above; paper-based: 570 or above] or Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English)
• 15-page sample essay in English
• Reflection on your previous academic experience in English*

In case you have not yet received your Bachelor certificate, you can still apply for the M.A. program with a transcript of your records (i.e. a summary of your preliminary results). If your certificate is acceptable, you will then be admitted on the grounds that you submit your certificate as soon as you have received it.

The sample essay gives the Admissions Committee an impression of the quality of your academic work and achievements in the field of British and American studies. It could, for example, be the first 15 pages of your BA thesis.

On the basis of the applications received by the deadline the admissions committee will decide on the suitability of individual applicants according to a point system. Only online applications will be considered. Please go to the application portal of the Studierendensekretariat (https://uni-bielefeld.de/studium/studieninteressierte/bewerbung/#comp_00005e685436_00000001ac_3691) and upload your files there.

Studienberatung
Course registration
Funding opportunities
Study Regulations

*In the upload area of the application website you will be asked to upload the following:

Skill A: Here you are asked to upload a work sample in English which shows that you can work independently on a problem in the area of English literature, culture, or linguistics using the conventions of academic writing in this area. You may upload, for example, parts of or the entirety of your bachelor thesis, a term paper, or something comparable. Please make sure that it is clear from your document what it is you uploaded (f. ex. parts of your BA thesis, a module/term paper, an article you published,…). Should you not have a work sample, please contact the study advisors (Dr. Vivian Gramley and Dr. Julia Andres) for a task to work on. In this case, please upload a statement that says that you are working on this task.

Skill B: Here you are asked to upload your own reflection of your academic experience in literary-cultural production and phenomena as well as the ability to analyze, interpret, and contextualize practices of the past and present historically, socially, politically, etc. (see literary studies module 23-ANG-Profil4). Please sketch in about 300-400 words your academic experience in this area. You may refer to papers your read or wrote, classes you took, and topics you found especially interesting. Please also include how your own experience relates to our Master’s program in Bielefeld and why you think you are a suitable candidate for us.

Skill C: Here you are asked to upload your own reflection of your academic experience in the understanding of cultural products, phenomena, and practices beyond national borders. You can find more on what students in our bachelor program at Bielefeld University work on in this area here: cultural studies module 23-ANG-Profil5. Please sketch in about 300-400 words your academic experience in this area. You may refer to papers your read or wrote, classes you took, and topics you found especially interesting. Please also include how your own experience relates to our Master’s program in Bielefeld and why you think you are a suitable candidate for us.

Skill D: Here you are asked to upload your own reflection of your academic experience in and the ability to identify and characterize different regional, social, situational, and historical varieties of English as well the ability to understand and describe those conditions of language use (see linguistics module 23-ANG-Profil3). Please sketch in about 300-400 words your academic experience in this area. You may refer to papers your read or wrote, classes you took, and topics you found especially interesting. Please also include how your own experience relates to our Master’s program in Bielefeld and why you think you are a suitable candidate for us.

Skill A is mandatory and of Skills B, C, and D, you please choose at least two.