Are you interested in the study of literature? Investigate our tracks to see the courses we offer.
The one-year Master's degree in Literary Studies offers three
tracks: European Literatures and Interculturality, English
Literature and Culture and Writing, Editing and Mediating.
In the track in European Literatures and Interculturality you
study the arts and literature of Europe. You explore subjects such
as the impact of globalization on European literature; and the
shifting of world views within European art. You focus on the
language and culture you studied as a Bachelor's student.
The track in English Literature and Culture explores
English literary classics and new works of English literature in
their cultural context. As a student of this programme, you can
draw from the full historical and geographical sweep of literatures
in the English language.
In the Writing, Editing and Mediating track you focus
on all aspects of writing, editing and publishing. You will improve
your English writing and editing skills. In addition, you will
learn to help others in their writing process. The track is meant
for graduates with a near-native command of the English
language.
Read more about the discipline of European Languages and Cultures.
Read more about the discipline of English Language and Culture.
Programme options |
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Writing, Editing and Mediating (WEM) (track) What makes a text a good or captivating English text? How do you recognize repetitions, inconsistencies, faulty logic and other problems in English texts? What does it take to guide a text from writer to reader?.Working with English texts in a professional setting involves a special set of skills. The Writing, Editing and Mediating Master's track (often abbreviated to WEM), offers students a choice of courses that focus on non-fiction and fiction writing for specific audiences, the history of texts in their various forms (from manuscript to digital book), proof-reading and correcting English texts, and producing texts for publication. Topics addressed include censorship, copyright, scholarly editions, and social issues in contemporary literature.Students on the course typically have a BA in English or in an Anglophone culture (e.g. American Studies). Some students with other humanities qualifications and a sufficient level of academic English are accepted by the admissions board. In all cases, a good background in literary studies is required (60 ECTS)The one-year Master's track in Writing, Editing and Mediating (WEM) is a track within the Master's degree in Literary Studies and is run by the Department of English Language and Culture. It is taught and assessed wholly in English and focuses on English texts. |
European Literatures and Interculturality (track) How do literature and culture interact with and reflect on socio-political challenges such as the EU (dis)integration, rise of populism or migration crises? How can literature facilitate inclusion, empathy and intercultural awareness, and contribute to sustainable societies and environmental issues? How can literary analysis be applied to other cultural forms or productions? What does it mean when we say: “culture is political” and “politics is cultural”?In the Master's track European Literatures and Interculturality, you will explore the connection between literature and culture in the processes of nation-building, the formation of attitudes towards migration, environmental issues and other socio-political issues. This track teaches you academic skills and approaches that will prepare you to operate as a cultural expert wherever texts are involved: in the media, institutions and networks.Each course builds on a theoretical foundation and simultaneously trains your research skills and ability to communicate with a range of different audiences. This unique and innovative literature programme is based on cutting-edge research in literary studies, is international in scope and comprises several modern European languages. You will follow courses in which you study and compare literatures originally written in French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish in a global perspective. You can choose to read the books in the original version or in translation.The Master's track in European Literatures and Interculturality is located at the Department of European Languages and Cultures. This international, interdisciplinary and multilingual environment offers excellent opportunities for research and immerses them in vibrant networks of experts across different European countries and languages. |
English Literature and Culture (track) Literary study is socially relevant: from the medieval to the modern, it maps the forces which divide and unite people. English is the global language of cultural exchange and experiment. The themes of conflict and co-operation are at the core of the Master's track in English Literature and Culture, a programme that allows students a broad choice from a range of modules drawing on the full historical and geographical sweep of literatures in English. It is a key tenet of the track that the academic study of English literature can be used to reflect on the ways that people - as individuals and as groups - interact with one another, and that it provides a catalyst for insight into contemporary social debates. Literature captures the separation and the solidarity of its writers and audiences in a manner particular to itself: it is a multidisciplinary practice that is as diverse as the texts it studies. The programme's core themes of conflict and co-operation are linked to sustainable society, a research priority of the university.For more information see: English Language & Culture. |
Specific requirements | More information |
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previous education |
For specific information on the entry requirements for the MA track English Literature and Culture, see: https://www.rug.nl/masters/english-literature-and-culture/#!requirements For specific information on the entry requirements for the MA track European Literatures and Interculturality, see: https://www.rug.nl/masters/european-literatures-and-interculturality/#!requirements For specific information on the entry requirements for the MA track Writing, Editing and Mediating, see: https://www.rug.nl/masters/writing-editing-and-mediating/#!requirements |
language test |
Writing, Editing and Mediating / English Literature and Culture: Additional English language requirement: a TOEFL iBT with a score of 110 (min. of 25 on all items); an IELTS, Academic Module, with a score of 8 (min. of 7.5 on all items); ERK level C1. Cambridge C1 Advanced (level A) or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 200. If your BA does not certify this, you may have to take an appropriate language test. European Literatures and Interculturality: Additional English language requirement: A VWO diploma or a subject certificate for VWO English (mark 6 or higher), minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items). Cambridge: C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180. Other language requirements for European Literatures and Interculturality can be found under the entry requirements for that track. |
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
---|---|---|
Dutch students | 15 August 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
Specific requirements | More information |
---|---|
previous education |
For specific information on the entry requirements for the MA track English Literature and Culture, see: https://www.rug.nl/masters/english-literature-and-culture/#!requirements For specific information on the entry requirements for the MA track European Literatures and Interculturality, see: https://www.rug.nl/masters/european-literatures-and-interculturality/#!requirements For specific information on the entry requirements for the MA track Writing, Editing and Mediating, see: https://www.rug.nl/masters/writing-editing-and-mediating/#!requirements |
language test |
Writing, Editing and Mediating / English Literature and Culture: Additional English language requirement: a TOEFL iBT with a score of 110 (min. of 25 on all items); an IELTS, Academic Module, with a score of 8 (min. of 7.5 on all items); ERK level C1. Cambridge C1 Advanced (level A) or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 200. If your BA does not certify this, you may have to take an appropriate language test. European Literatures and Interculturality: Additional English language requirement: A VWO diploma or a subject certificate for VWO English (mark 6 or higher), minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items). Cambridge: C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180. Other language requirements for European Literatures and Interculturality can be found under the entry requirements for that track. |
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
---|---|---|
Dutch students | 15 August 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
Nationality | Year | Fee | Programme form |
---|---|---|---|
EU/EEA | 2024-2025 | € 2530 | full-time |
non-EU/EEA | 2024-2025 | € 18700 | full-time |
Practical information for:
Your possibilities depend on your track. You might work as a translator, journalist or writer. You could also find a job in the field of education, research or publishing. Other options are functions at cultural organizations and government institutes.
The research projects of staff members are innovative and international and range from the analysis of (offensive) humor in controversial cartoons to garden writings and sustainability, from digital media representations to literary self-identification of marginalized or minority groups.
Students have a free choice of dissertation subjects within the areas of staff expertise and are encouraged to develop new and innovative approaches and ideas. Examples of topics that have been proposed by our students focus for example on decolonial or postcolonial discourses, on trauma and exile, on ecocriticsm or on concepts such as transculturality and heterotopia through in-depth analysis of contemporary case studies.
Examples of English Literature and Culture theses are:
Examples of European Literatures and Interculturality theses are:
Examples of Writing, Editing and Mediating theses are:
Each Master's degree programme has a study advisor whom you can contact if you have questions or need advice about your degree programme and other study-related matters. Everything you discuss will be treated confidentially. If you have a more complex problem, for example study delay, a performance disability or if you are ill for a long time, you should contact a student counsellor.
In addition, you can also follow various courses at the Study Support section of the Student Service Centre (SSC), for example on study stress and holding presentations.