Comparative Studies in English and American Language, Literature and Culture Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

Courses are held in English (100%). Participants write their Master's thesis in English.

This programme offers courses on English and American literature (covering everything from medieval to postmodernist literature, including specialist courses on postcolonial literature) as well as English linguistics.

The Master's programme Comparative Studies in English and American Language, Literature and Culture (MAComp) is a unique, interdisciplinary programme aimed at providing graduate students with a professionally qualified education within the fields of English and American studies, literary and cultural studies and linguistics. It allows them to hone their academic as well as professional skills on an intercultural level, paving them the way into domestic and international job markets for both academic and non-academic careers. 

In approaching literature and linguistics comparatively, students will engage with cultural phenomena within the changing contexts of history and globalisation. Taking into consideration theories on such socio-cultural variables as class, gender, ethnicity, technology, or media, the MAComp curriculum relates to current research and also includes areas of studies beyond the philologies.

Students have ample opportunity to customise their course of study according to their own interests. They can combine modules or focus on one specific area from all courses offered in the six departments of the Institute for English and American Studies:

• Medieval English Studies 
• American Studies 
• Linguistics 
• Modern English Literature
• Anglophone Literatures
• Comparative Literature 

15 July for the following winter semester

• Basic Module: introduction to literature, linguistics and methodology (first and second semesters)
• Professional English (first and second semesters)
• Four modules, two courses + one exam: choose from our wide range of courses, fully customisable (possible foci: modern English literature, American literature, medieval literature, linguistics) (first, second and third semesters)
• Project Module: two courses + project management course + organisation of a conference incl. presentation (third semester)
• Master's Module: two courses + colloquium + MA thesis (fourth semester)

• Taught entirely in English 
• Curriculum includes seminars on literature and language all over the English-speaking world, including Australia, Canada, India and South Africa
• Comparative approaches may also include literature from other cultures 

No tuition fees

A semester fee of approx. 300 EUR is required upon registration/enrolment as a student or doctoral researcher. This fee covers transport by bus, tram, and regional trains within North Rhine-Westphalia for the entire semester as well as the use of student facilities.

Students or doctoral researchers should calculate monthly expenses amounting to at least 1,000 EUR in order to live in a modest way, including costs for housing, food, health insurance, semester fees, study materials, etc.

• Bachelor of Arts degree (or equivalent undergraduate degree) with a final grade of 2.5 (German standard) or better
• BA should preferably be in English or American studies as a major subject, or at least have qualifications in related subjects.
• English majors must have taken at least 180 ECTS, English minors must have taken at least 54 ECTS. English language practice, English and/or American literary studies and/or linguistics must have comprised at least 1/4 of the applicants' studies.
• at least one substantial academic research paper (10-15 pages) in English on English/American literature or linguistics

English language skills equivalent to at least C1 (CEFR) (will be assessed by the writing sample provided in the application)

15 July for the following winter semester

Funding is possible in the second year of studies if first-year grades are excellent.

Incoming students can fund their studies through the Erasmus programme.

A limited number of campus jobs are available. Students from non-EU countries are permitted to work 240 half days or 120 full days per calendar year without a work permit.

On-campus student accommodation is available, as is private accommodation near campus. For further information, please check http://www.stw-d.de or send an e-mail to info@stw-d.de.
Doctoral students can contact the tutor service of the Junior Scientist & International Researcher Centre (JUNO) for information and support concerning accommodation in Düsseldorf (www.juno.hhu.de/en/tutorservice).

Depending on the type of accommodation, the monthly rent in Düsseldorf usually ranges from around 500 EUR to 600 EUR for a basic apartment or a room in a shared apartment ("Wohngemeinschaft").