Bitesize Information: MA in English: Language, Literatures and Cultures

Bitesize Information: MA in English: Language, Literatures and Cultures

Welcome to Bitesize MA! The tiles below contain brief information on a broad range of topics relevant for the MA study programme. Just click on a tile!
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Finding Accommodation

Finding accommodation in Göttingen from far away can be a challenging endeavour. It is important that you initiate the search for accommodation as soon as possible. Georg-August-University Göttingen offers an accommodation service for international students. You find it here.

MA in ELLC: Single Honours vs Joint Honours

  • Study Combinations:
  • Option 1: Single Honours MA - 78 credits core curriculum, 12 credits soft skills, 30 credits MA thesis. Core modules are from ELLC areas.
  • Option 2: Joint Honours MA - 42 credits ELLC core curriculum, 12 credits soft skills, 30 credits MA thesis. In addition 36 credits come from another study programme.
  • Option 3: Joint Honours minor - 18 or 36 credits core curriculum modules. In addition 42 credits (or 42 + 18 credits) must be taken from other study programmes, plus soft skills and MA thesis.
  • Admission regulations differ depending on the size of the study programme.

Finding Your Way on Campus

  • The English Department is located in the "Altklinikumsbereich" of Göttingen, in Käte-Hamburger-Weg 3, 37073 Göttingen.
  • In about five minutes on foot students can reach the central campus area including the ZHG, Theo, OEC and VG buildings. The Zentralmensa and the Mensa am Turm are also in the immediate vicinity.
  • For finding rooms and buildings, use the interactive campus map.

MA Modules

Modules are units which can consist of one or several courses that need to be completed in one or several semesters. We offer a variety of modules from foundations and advanced, or focus and research modules, to completion modules. There are up to three compulsory modules that all students need to complete.
Given the broad range of modules and courses on offer, there is no master plan for studying with us. During the Orientation Week, we will discuss your individual timetable for your first semester that takes into account both the German language requirements and possible learning agreements. Especially for their first semesters, students are asked to contact the Student Advisors Katharina Nambula or Dr. Frauke Reitemeier for help.
You find further information on the modules in the information brochure.

MA: Which Courses Should I Pick?

In your first semester it makes sense to focus on the foundation modules and couple these with one of the compulsory modules and begin with your German classes. We recommend that you pick courses worth no more than 30 credits per term but in your first term less is even better as adjusting to the foreign system consumes a lot of energy. We offer timetabling session for you to learn more about which modules to complete in your first term. You will receive an invitation to the Orientation Week during which you will learn everything about studying with us.
Please also read our information brochure to find out more about how to organise your studies.

MA: Learning German

If you speak little or no German, classes on German language are obligatory for you. You will need to complete two German modules, worth a total of 12 credits. You do not need to begin with the German classes in your first semester, but we strongly recommend you to start as early as possible because knowing German will make life in Germany much easier for you. You find all the information about the German courses on the homepage of the lectorate for German as a foreign language.

MA: Finding a Job

For most students it is crucial to have a job that helps them to meet their monthly expenses. The Georg-August-University offers a service on how to find a job, the Stellenwerk.

MA Thesis: A Brief How-To

  • length: 70-100 pages - differs between divisions
  • overall worth: 30 credits
  • requirements: must be taken together with completion module in the same division
  • registration deadline: none
  • overall time for writing: 6 months from registration
  • for inspiration and insights: see GSEP volumes
  • more info: see our dedicated website!

Right of Appeal against Grading

Within a month of the publication of the grade, students can lodge an appeal against a grade if they consider it inadequate or unfair (§ 20 par. 1 Allgemeine Prüfungsordnung für Bachelor- und Masterstudiengänge | EN version). The Faculty's Exams Committee will then request a clarification of the grade and, if necessary, submit the thesis/paper to a third supervisor.
To lodge an appeal, send an email to the Prüfungsamt with information on the module/exam and your reasons for feeling treated unfairly.

MA Thesis
(AngloLit division only)

This flipcard is for the Anglophone Literature division only.
Through the Master's thesis with a length of 80 pages (+\- 10%), students demonstrate that they are able to work on a problem within a specified period of time using the methods of their field of specialisation to develop an independent, theory-based judgement, to arrive at well-founded statements and to present the results in a linguistically and formally and formal aspects. Students have six months to complete their MA thesis and will receive 30 credits upon completion.

MA: Deleting Grades

Two graded six-credit modules, or one graded twelve-credit module, can be converted into an ungraded module at the end of programme. On requesting the final documents for the Master's certificate, students can indicate this in the application form. Please note that such an request can only be made once, and it is irreversible, once it has been approved and implemented in the examination administration system.

MA: Academic Writing

Academic Writing is a crucial skill as a student at the English Department. If you do not feel confident regarding your academic writing skills, there are several courses on offer.

Career Options: Brief Overview

  • We do not expressly train for specific jobs. Students should follow their inclinations and interests. For inspiration, see our Alumni page.
  • The Department offers career orientation on Literary and Cultural Management aspects - see the dedicated web page.
  • The Faculty maintains an Online Study Guide on career options.
  • Questions? Ask Dr. Reitemeier or the Career Service staff!

MA: Am I Eligible?

  • Admission to the MA in English: Language, Literatures and Cultures is not by GPA or previous study programme but by subject-specificity.
  • Applicants must have a sound foundation in the areas pertaining to ELLC to be admitted.
  • The admission regulations outline what is meant by this.
  • Language requirements may not be waived.
  • Eligibility can be assessed through a website tool.

Contacting Instructors

  • All our instructors are approachable in person, by email and on the phone.
  • For in-person meetings, check the information on individual office hours.
  • Email addresses can likewise be found in the individual office hours list but also on eCampus - search for the instructor's name.
  • Please use your student email address in email contacts, not your private address.
  • Please remember that all instructors read and answer their emails regularly. Do not assume they will do so within the next two hours - our job is to instruct, not to send emails.