Entry requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university. The main field of study must be English.

Aims

The programme, which comprises four terms full-time study, aims to develop students' competence within one of three specialisations: English language and linguistics, British literature, or American literature and culture. The programme prepares students for graduate studies in English and for careers in, for example, education, publishing and translation.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the Program students will be able to

• show good knowledge of one of the fields of English language and linguistics, English literature, or American literature and culture;
• show knowledge of the methods and main issues of linguistic or literary studies;
• gather and process complex theoretical material of relevance to the field of study;
• actively stay abreast of developments and research in the area of specialisation;
• show the ability to critically and independently review the work of others;
• participate actively in seminar discussions by making informed contributions and also by being able to lead such discussions;
• independently produce and present work in a manner showing solid knowledge of the conventions of academic writing;
• work with a high degree of independence to delimit, structure, and carry out a research task of relevance to the selected specialisation;
• independently compose and defend an academic degree project worth 30 academic credits (for the Swedish magister degree 15 academic credits);
• give oral and written accounts of important aspects of the selected specialisation in fluent and accurate English;
• show an ability to reflect on the social and ethical dimensions of research.

Layout of the programme

The programme covers two years (120 academic credits) with one of three specialisations: English language and linguistics, English literature, or American literature and culture. The respective specialisations in English literature and American literature and culture consist of seven courses worth 7.5 and 15 academic credits in the first year. The specialisation in English Linguistics comprises eight courses worth 7.5 academic credits each in the first year. In all specialisations modules amounting to a total of 15 academic credits may be replaced by a degree project worth 15 academic credits in the second term in order to obtain a one-year Master's Degree (magisterexamen). In the third term students in the literature specialisations study four modules worth 7.5 credits each. In English linguistics students take four modules worth 7.5 credits each; at least 15 academic credits' worth of these modules must be in the chosen specialisation for the programme. The 30-credit degree project in the fourth term must also be in the chosen specialisation for the programme. The content and sequencing of the modules may vary from one year to another.

Specialisation in the English language and linguistics:

Term 1 includes a 7.5-credit course in academic writing, and three reading courses of 7.5 credits each.

Term 2 includes three courses of 7.5 credits in English language and linguistics as well as an elective of 7.5 credits consisting either of a course in English literature or American literature and culture or of one of the pan-faculty courses offered by the Faculty of Languages, worth 7.5 academic credits. See course offerings for these two specialisations of pan-faculty course offerings for the relevant term.

Term 3 includes one course of 7.5 credits in English language and linguistics, one 7.5-credit course in academic writing, and two electives of 7.5 credits each consisting either of courses in English literature or American literature and culture or of one or several of the pan-faculty courses offered by the Faculty of Languages, worth 7.5 academic credits. See course offerings for these two specialisations and pan-faculty course offerings for the relevant term. Students can also choose to do 7.5 credits’ worth of practical placement (i.e. practicum, 7.5 credits).

Term 4 consists of a degree project (30 credits).

Specialisation in English literature or American literature and culture:

Term 1 includes a 7.5-credit course in academic writing, and a course in literary theory, also 7.5 credits. In addition, students read two literature courses of 7.5 credits each, with a specific focus on the chosen area of study, English literature or American literature and culture.

Term 2 includes a literature course of 15 credits, which is read jointly by students in both specialisations. In addition, students read two literature courses of 7.5 credits each, with a specific focus on the chosen area of study, English literature or American literature.

Term 3 includes three literature courses of 7.5 credits each, which are read jointly by students in both specialisations. In addition, students take an individually designed reading course of 7.5 credits geared towards the degree project in term 4. Students may choose to replace one 7.5-credit literature course with a practical placement (i.e. practicum, 7.5 credits).

Term 4 consists of a degree project (30 credits).

Instruction

Instruction, class discussions, and examinations are in English. All teaching materials are in English.

Degree

The one-year Masters' Degree (magisterexamen) in English is obtained after completion of course requirements worth a total of 60 academic credits at the advanced level (year one of the programme), including a degree project worth 15 academic credits.

The two-year Masters' Degree in English is obtained after completion of course requirements worth a total of 120 academic credits, including a degree project worth 30 academic credits.

Other directives

For the three specialisations, students must have completed 75 of 90 credits before they are accepted to the final course degree project (30 credits).

The programme prepares students for careers that require comprehensive knowledge and skills as well as academic training in the subject of English, such as positions in higher education, schools, museums, archives, libraries, publishing companies, governmental authorities, government ministries, tourism, media (journalism, translation, for instance), the EU (interpretation).

Transitional provisions

For transitional regulations prompted by changes in the curriculum, please contact the student adviser.