Application & Admission

Who can apply? – eligibility

  • The academic prerequisite for admission to the programme is an undergraduate degree (BA or equivalent).
  • Applicants for the MA English Studies should:
    • either hold a dual undergraduate degree* in English (English and/or American Studies) and another subject; or
    • are graduates of other BA programmes from the fields of Linguistics, Literature, or Culture (with at least 60 ECTS in these fields) with a focus on English Studies: these applicants are required to submit a writing sample (see FAQ section below).
  • For all applicants, the final grade in the qualifying degree must be 2.5 or better (exceptions for students who achieved a final grade between 2.51 and 3.30 may be made on the basis of an interview).
  • For more details please see the “Further FAQ” section below (“Am I eligible?”).

Do I need to speak German? Do I need to provide proof of my proficiency in English? – language requirements

  • The MA English Studies can be studied entirely in English. Applicants must provide proof of their English language proficiency, level C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) or equivalent. Click here for an overview of accepted certificates.
  • Knowledge of German is not required for admission; proof on the level A1 (very basic) is expected when students graduate.
  • For more detailed information on language requirements please see the “Further FAQ” section.

When can I apply? – application deadline

  • The programme starts each winter term.
  • The deadline for applications is 15 July.
  • We recommend that international students from non-EU countries submit their applications as soon as possible, as visa applications and, if necessary, language courses etc., require extra time.

How do I apply? – application process

  • Submit your application online. Register at www.campo.fau.de and follow the instructions on that site (available in English). You will be guided through the application process. The online portal also provides you with a checklist of required documents. Note that you will be asked to submit copies of your documents electronically.

Which streams are available?

  • The MA offers three streams: students specialise either in literature/culture or in linguistics/second language acquisition. As a third choice, the MA can be studied with “no specialisation”, which requires students to take modules from both sub-fields. Students decide during their application for one of these three options: their application needs to fulfil the specific requirements. For “no specialisation”, the required ECTS equivalents should be divided equally over both fields, i.e. 30 each in literature and linguistics. Admitted MA students can apply for a switch of their specialisation only once, in consultation with their MA coordinator.

Further FAQ

  • The academic prerequisite for admission to the programme is an undergraduate degree (BA or equivalent) in English and/or American Studies, or a related subject.
  • International students may want to check whether their first degree entitles them to study in an MA programme at FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg. If in doubt please contact the Master’s Office.
  • If you hold a qualified degree other than a dual degree in English and/or American Studies you may still want to apply. In this case please consider whether your degree might be recognised as fachverwandt (a degree from a “related” subject). Graduates of BA programmes from the fields of Linguistics, Literature, or Culture with a focus on English and/or American Studies are also invited to apply for places. For more information please see below. Unfortunately, we cannot check your documents in advance. Carefully read the information on this page – if in doubt, please apply!

  1. Once the Master’s Office has received your application (online) it carries out formal checks of the application documents. If your application fulfills the general requirements (Qualified BA or equivalent? Language requirements? All necessary documents received?) it forwards the application to the admissions committee of the department. The Master’s Office does not check subject-related content of applications.
  2. The admissions committee of the department will review your documents and, especially, check the subject-related content of applications. It will establish whether
    • your degree is fachspezifisch (a dual degree in English and/or American Studies). In this case the following applies:
      • Applicants with a final mark of 2.50 or better in their final degree will be admitted.
      • Applicants who achieved a final mark between 2.51 and 3.30 may apply. Qualified applicants will be invited for a 15-minute interview.
      • Applicants with a final mark of 3.31 or lower will not be admitted.
    • your degree is fachverwandt (subject-related). If your degree is recognised as “subject-related”, the same rules regarding the required average apply as for fachspezifisch (see above). Whether your degree can be accepted as a “related” degree will be established on the basis of
      • the transcript of records (at least 60 ECTS in the relevant fields are required)
      • a writing sample (for details see the question on this document below) of 5 to 20 pages to be submitted together with the usual documents by all applicants who do not hold a dual degree in English and/or American Studies (see above). This writing sample must demonstrate the applicant’s expertise in the field of English and/or American Studies. It has to be a text produced by the applicant within the context of their first degree (e.g. an academic essay/term paper/research paper or a part of the final thesis) of 5 to 20 pages, written in English.
  3. As soon as your application has been processed you can review the decision in campo.

  • Who needs to submit a sample? – all applicants who do not hold a dual degree (or ‘double honours’) in English (English and/or American Studies) and one other subject.
  • Length: 5 to 20 pages
  • Language: in English (no translation)
  • Submission: to be submitted together with the usual documents (you can upload it directly via campo).
  • Aim: Together with your transcript of records the writing sample allows us to check whether your degree is ‘fachverwandt’ (subject-related). This writing sample must demonstrate the applicant’s expertise in the field of English and/or American Studies in a paper that adheres to academic standards (e.g. language, format, engagement with scholarly literature, citation).
  • Can I/Do I need to write a paper now? – No, we do not ask you to write a paper for your application. On the contrary, you are required to submit an existing paper, one that you produced yourself within the context of your first (your qualifying) degree. In other words, you are required to submit an academic essay/term paper/research paper or a part of the final thesis (5 to 20 pages) that you already submitted during your studies.
  • Can I submit a co-authored paper? – No, we need something written solely by you that allows us to assess your writing and thinking.
  • What format? – We do not require a specific format. However, the paper must include citations, a bibliography, and other aspects relevant for an academic paper. It should be clear from the title page for which course (listed in the transcript of records) you submitted this particular work. If you submit only a part of a longer paper, please make sure that you include title page, contents page, and the bibliography/list of works cited.
  • Content (What topic?) – Any topic within the fields of English and/or American Studies is acceptable. If you apply for a specialization in linguistics it is recommended that you choose a paper from that field; or accordingly for literary and cultural studies.
  • Can I submit a second paper if the first one is not accepted? – No. Please carefully consider the above criteria and submit an appropriate paper that to the best of your knowledge fulfills these criteria. You will not be able to submit a second paper.
  • Practically speaking, what should I do? – You simply need to go through the papers you have written (and submitted) during your BA and select one that fulfils the mentioned criteria. The papers for which you got the best marks may not always be the best to illustrate your expertise in the noted fields. It should be a paper that, to the best of your judgement, is well-written, conforms to academic standards (use of scholarship, citation, structure, argument) and shows that you have engaged with a topic in the field of English and/or American Studies in depth.

Applicants who completed their first degree in China, Vietnam or Mongolia are required to submit an APS certificate.

This will be done by the Master’s Office according to the so called “Modified Bavarian Formula”. More information on the “Modified Bavarian Formula” as well as an (unofficial) online “grade calculator” can be found on the web. Note: The Master’s office cannot calculate your grade before your application has been received. An online “grade calculator” offers some help but will not be officially recognised. For general enquiries regarding the application process you can contact Cornelia Zapf (cornelia.zapf@fau.de) of the Master’s Office or use their contact form.

  • Applicants who achieved a final mark between 2.51 and 3.30 may apply. Qualified applicants will be invited for a 15-minute interview.
  • Applicants with a final mark of 3.31 or lower will not be admitted.

  • It is possible to apply for and in some cases even start a Master’s degree programme before completing your undergraduate degree if you have achieved a minimum of 140 ECTS.
  • You must present your undergraduate degree certificate within one year of starting your Master’s degree programme. If you are unable to do so, you will not be able to continue with the Master’s degree programme.
  • Applicants with Bachelor’s degrees from outside Germany must present their Bachelor’s degree certificate before enrolling.

  • The MA English Studies can be studied entirely in English.
  • 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 here. We can only accept the listed certificates.
  • The test for English C1 can also be taken at our university’s Language Centre. Please apply here.

  • As of the winter semester 2017/18 no knowledge of German is required to be admitted to the MA English Studies (for any of the three lines of study).
  • To acquire and improve German language skills will be essential in order to make the most of your studies and, later, for job opportunities in Germany. FAU supports international students in a number of ways in their endeavour to learn German. For more information please see the pages of the Central Office for International Affairs (RIA).
  • Whether an applicant has any knowledge of German on application will not influence their chances for admission. However, as of the winter semester 2017/18, all students whose native language is not German will be required to submit proof of their knowledge of German on the level A1 CEFR or equivalent (i.e. very basic) by the end of their first year of study (not on admission). There is a variety of ways to provide proof of German language skills. For further information please see here or, if in doubt, contact Peter Forna of the International office (peter.forna@fau.de).

Tuition is free in Erlangen. You will only have to pay a moderate fee (approximately 120 EUR per semester) for student services and a basic public transportation ticket (see the links regarding scholarships and accomodation below for updates and details on costs of living and fees).

There is a page that offers detailed information on these questions – click here.

There is a helpful brochure which offers advice on various aspects of studying and living in Germany. You can download the brochure “Welcome. Living in Germany. Studying at FAU” as a PDF here.

  • General contact: Please follow this link and use the form at the bottom of that page to contact the Master’s Office.
  • Supervisor for international students: Jemina Hellmann
    • Phone: +49 9131 85-24838
    • Email: zuv-masterbuero@fau.de
  • Supervisor for German students: Anja Bohn
    • Phone: +49 9131 85-23270
    • Email: zuv-masterbuero@fau.de
  • Responsibilities of the Master’s Office
    • The Master’s Office manages the online Master’s application portal.
    • It also processes applications for admission to Master’s degree programmes and carries out formal checks of application documents.
    • The Master’s Office is not responsible for checking the subject-related content of applications. This is done by the admissions committee of the department.

  • No, students get admitted for one particular year and cannot defer to a later date.
  • If you cannot start your studies the year you get admitted, you have to reapply the following year.

  • General questions (studying in Germany, studying at FAU):
  • Questions concerning the application process (online portal campo) and general eligibilty (conversion of grades and accepted degrees): Please contact the Master’s Office (zuv-masterbuero@fau.de). Most common questions are actually answered on this website, so please refer to the FAQs above before contacting the Master’s Office.
  • Questions concerning courses, specialisation, and subject-related content of applications: Please read the information on this page carefully. For further questions please contact the responsible Academic Advisor.