This one-year international Master's programme for advanced students was developed by the English Department at the University of Groningen in 2000. Since September 2003 it has formed part of the regular Master's programme of the English Department.
The programme is taught in English and is open to students who have received a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in English Language and Literature.
The English Studies programme will provide knowledge and expertise for those students who wish to pursue a Ph.D. in the Arts or Humanities, as well as training for students who wish to extend their expertise as a prelude to a career outside academia.
Background
English was first introduced as an academic subject at the University of Groningen over a hundred years ago, in a pioneering move which established a programme for the study of modern languages in 1876. The first professor of English Language and Literature in the Netherlands was appointed in Groningen in 1885. The subject has changed significantly over the last decades, from a largely philological study to a richly varied programme with a special emphasis on the cultural study of language and literature from the medieval period to the present day. The Department of English offers a wide range of undergraduate courses and postgraduate training leading to the award of Ph.D. A new MA programme has been developed in recent years, and has attracted students from Europe, America, Asia, and South Africa.
Aims
The MA Programme English Language and Culture aims to develop a critical, reflective and scholarly attitude towards the disciplines of English Literature and Language. Graduates of the course will be able to participate in the important debates concerning theory, methodology and interpretation in their chosen subjects. They will have developed skills needed to undertake research, and gained practical experience of completing a major research project.
The programme requires students to choose four modules from among those offered by the English Department at Master level, which means that students must usually take both linguistics and literature courses at an advanced level. Undergraduate training in both fields is therefore essential.
