MA English Studies FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg

Courses are completely held in English.

The FAU Master of Arts English Studies is a degree programme with a focus on research. It offers in-depth study of the English language and the literatures and cultures of Great Britain and Ireland (as well as other English-speaking countries). The course of study is modularised and encourages a specialisation in one of the two following fields:

"Culture and Literature"

• Culture and Literature employs two of the most prominent approaches in the humanities: the history of ideas and discourse analysis.
• Courses in Cultural Studies focus on cultural history, popular culture, and processes of cultural and medial translation.
• Courses in Literary Studies cover a wide range of English literatures from the Renaissance to the present, closely examining literary texts as well as their relations to other discourses such as philosophy and religion.
• A Wild Card module provides the opportunity to do an internship in order to get work experience in a related area (optional). Students have to organise internships by themselves.

"Linguistics and Applied Linguistics"
This specialisation focuses on the description and empirical analysis of the English language in the light of current linguistic theories and teaching approaches. The following topics are covered:

• the idiomatic element of language: construction grammar, valency theory, research on collocation and idiomaticity
• corpus linguistics
• first and second language acquisition and research on learner language
• the English language: history and variation
• foreign language teaching: lexicography, grammar, contrastive linguistics, speech perception and production, literacy development, bilingualism and bilingual education

Students may specialise on either literature/culture or linguistics/applied linguistics, or they may choose to study a combination of the two fields (dedicating an equal amount of their studies to both fields). All three paths:

• comprise advanced language classes to further develop students' skills in the English language as well as their academic skills
• encourage students to choose modules from a range of related subjects (including North American Studies, Book Studies, Romance languages and others)
• offer opportunities for studying abroad at other European universities
• are taught entirely in English

The areas of research are also embedded into a number of well-established research centres, including:

• the Interdisciplinary Centre for Research on Dialects and Language Variation
• the Interdisciplinary Centre for Research on Lexicography, Valency and Collocation
• the Interdisciplinary Centre for Contemporary Literature and Culture
• the Center for Literature and Natural Science Studies, ELINAS
• the Interdisciplinary Centre for Research on Gender, Difference and Diversity

All applicants: 15 July

Application starts: 15 April

The MA programme in English Studies is a consecutive two-year full-time course (or four-year part-time course) with a total of 120 ECTS points (60 ECTS/30 ECTS points per academic year). The course is fully modularised. A number of places for studying abroad at other European universities are available.

As there is a large number of courses to choose from, we recommend that students explore the structure of the programme on our website (https://www.angam.phil.fau.de/degree-programs/ma-english-studies/). The website also offers more information on the following:

• the online application process
• language requirements and accepted certificates
• structure of the programme (model courses for all three paths)
• general information about studying at Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg
• list of courses currently on offer

No tuition fees

FAU does not charge tuition fees. However, each semester students must pay semester fees consisting of student services fees (42 EUR) and a fee for the basic semester ticket (72 EUR).

General guidelines on the average costs that can be expected are provided by the results of the social survey undertaken by the German National Association for Student Affairs in 2021:

According to this study, students who no longer live with their parents should have an average amount of 1,106 EUR per month at their disposal. However, monthly expenditures for personal lifestyle vary a lot. For former West Germany, the study revealed the following details on average expenditure:

• Rent, including ancillary costs (in Erlangen, Nuremberg and surrounding areas): 410 EUR
• Food: 198 EUR
• Clothing: 46 EUR
• Travel costs (public transport and/or car): 89 EUR
• Study materials (depending on subject): 31 EUR
• Health insurance, doctors, medicine: 100 EUR
• Telecommunications: 31 EUR
• Leisure, culture, sports: 65 EUR

The academic prerequisite for admission to the programme is an undergraduate degree (BA or equivalent) in English and American Studies (or a related subject). For all applicants, the final grade in the qualifying degree must be 2.5 or better. (Exceptions for students who achieved a final grade better than 3.3 may be made in well-substantiated cases.) For details concerning the requirements, please consult the programme's website: https://www.angam.phil.fau.de/degree-programs/ma-english-studies/

Applicants must provide proof of their English language proficiency, level C1 (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) or equivalent. For further details and a list of accepted language proficiency tests, please see the programme's website: https://www.angam.phil.fau.de/degree-programs/ma-english-studies/.
Knowledge of German is not required for admission. Proof of level A1 (very basic) will be required by the end of the first year of your studies at FAU.

All applicants: 15 July

Application starts: 15 April

There is a wide range of scholarships available for outstanding students. In addition to requiring applicants to have excellent grades, most scholarship programmes have additional conditions regarding cultural, political, religious, or social involvement. If you have any questions about the application procedure or selection criteria, you can contact the Student Advice and Career Service (IBZ) or speak directly to FAU’s liaison officer for the scholarship organisation you wish to apply to.

https://www.fau.eu/study/prospective-students/financing-your-studies

The cities of Erlangen, Fürth, and Nuremberg offer a very good standard of living. They are popular places to live, meaning that accommodation is in high demand but often in short supply. This is particularly the case during the period before the start of a new semester. We therefore recommend that you start looking for accommodation as soon as possible. If you are flexible and also look in the surrounding area, you will have a better chance of finding somewhere affordable to live. The region has an excellent public transport system, so you should not have any problems getting to your place of study or work.

It is worth checking the available accommodation on the Internet every day, as new accommodation becomes available on a day-to-day basis. It pays to be flexible when it comes to the price, location, and available facilities of your accommodation.

Student Services Erlangen-Nürnberg runs its own student accommodation in Erlangen and Nuremberg. You will be informed about how to apply for a room in Student Services accommodation while you are in the process of applying to be admitted to FAU.

Founded in 1743, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) is now one of the largest research universities in Germany with 40,996 students and 276 degree programmes. The five faculties cover the entire spectrum of modern academic disciplines – from humanities, social sciences and theology to medicine, law, economics, sciences and engineering.

One of FAU’s defining features is its commitment to interdisciplinary teaching and research, which frequently go beyond the boundaries of individual subjects.

FAU’s outstanding research and teaching is reflected in top positions in both national and international rankings as well as the high amount of DFG funding that its researchers are able to secure.

FAU is based in three cities – Erlangen, Fürth and Nuremberg. Each of the FAU campuses is closely connected to the social and economic pulse of these cities. Studying and city life at FAU go hand in hand, so much so that it’s hard to tell city and campus life apart.

"Moving Knowledge" is our motto and guiding principle at FAU. Therefore, we strive to generate knowledge to shape the future responsibly and openly share knowledge with all stakeholders in society to drive prosperity and create value. We also use knowledge to improve our world for future generations.

FAU’s two main sites, the cities of Erlangen and Nuremberg, are located at the heart of the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region. Both Erlangen and Nuremberg have their own unique charms. Erlangen is a city of 100,000 inhabitants, was the former home of the Huguenots, and it is a key location for Siemens. Nuremberg is a city with a metropolitan flair and a population of half a million. The opera, theatre, and museums, along with a lively pub scene and nightlife, offer plenty of opportunities to relax after a day in the lecture theatre, lab, or library. The highlights of the cultural calendar in Erlangen include the "Hörkunstfestival" (acoustic art festival), International Comic Salon, "figuren.theater.festival" (puppet theatre festival), "Poetenfest" (poetry festival), and the "ARENA… of the young arts" theatre and performance festival. A wide range of cultural institutions open their doors to visitors during the Blue Night in Nuremberg, and once every two years, the Long Night of Sciences gives the public a chance to take a look inside research institutions in Erlangen, Nuremberg, and Fürth. In summary, the mixture of academia, innovative companies, art, and culture makes the region the perfect place for creative minds. There is also plenty on offer for keen athletes and nature lovers. Fränkische Schweiz, a paradise for climbers and walkers, is located to the north of Erlangen and is at FAU’s doorstep. Water sports enthusiasts will love the Franconian lakes and the university’s water sports centre, which is located just south of Nuremberg.