Master in English

Master in English is one of 11 English-taught Humanities & Theology programmes at Master's Degree level in the register, offered by 6 institutions. 10 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, from EUR 3,582 to EUR 15,000; this programme lists EUR 4,000 a year. 10 are recorded as free for EU, EEA and Swiss students.

The MA in English at Aarhus University is a two-year full-time programme taught in English and Danish. It builds on a BA in English studies and lets you specialise in English-language literature, linguistics, or the history, society and culture of the English-speaking world. You work with contemporary topics and go deep into questions of evidence, language variation, cultural influence and creative processes.

What you study

The programme mixes obligatory and elective courses. You can shape your degree around your interests, whether that is Anglophone literature, language, history or all things English. You will examine what counts as evidence in literature, linguistics, culture and history. You will look at standard English, its variations and the changes that have shaped it around the world, as well as myths about language itself. In literature, you approach works with new reading techniques and theories, and work with creative processes, storytelling and adaptation, including how creativity can be commercialised. You also engage with social media, film and other elements of visual culture, and with current concerns such as identity politics, gender, media and transnationalism. The programme teaches you to apply historical, social and cultural knowledge within contemporary markets.

How the programme is organised

Teaching takes place at the Department of English in Aarhus. It includes lectures, seminars, group work and student presentations. Lectures are shared with many other students, while supplementary subject courses have between five and twenty students. You are encouraged to participate actively and express your opinions. Excursions are part of the activities. Exam forms vary: you might write for popular magazines, produce academic research papers, or take an oral exam. The programme starts in August or September, and there is no winter intake. Student life includes the Anglia parties, the English Lecture Society guest lectures, the Esperanto Friday bar, the Dolphin Newsletter, and the Mobile University where you can try teaching at an upper secondary school.

Who it suits

This degree suits you if you want to work with English at a high international level and gain in-depth knowledge of the history, culture and social conditions of English-speaking countries. It is for students who are curious about language, literature and culture, and who want to communicate ideas clearly and vividly in speech and writing. You should be ready to plan and carry out large, complex projects, and to work both individually and in groups. The programme prepares you for careers in the private and non-profit sectors, in cultural and creative industries, or in teaching.

Admission, language and next steps

To be admitted, you need a bachelor's degree comparable to a Danish bachelor's degree (180 ECTS). You must have at least 90 ECTS within English studies, including at least 20 ECTS in two of three subject areas: English-language literature, English linguistics, or history, society and culture in English-speaking countries. You also need 5 ECTS in scientific method or research method. The programme has limited intake, and applications are ranked by grade level from your qualifying degree, then by grades in the three relevant subject areas, then by ECTS credits in those areas. Certain Danish bachelor's degrees give direct admission or legal right of admission; for example, the BA in English from Aarhus University gives a legal right if you apply within three years. You must meet the university's English language requirements. Applications for master's programmes go directly to the institution. Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland study free of charge; other students pay a fee set by the institution. The next step is to check the programme's official page for application deadlines and detailed requirements.

Master’s applications go straight to Aarhus University, not through optagelse.dk, and the institution sets its own deadline. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, residence permits and housing.