The teaching language is English. Basic German is helpful for living here in Berlin.
The programme starts every October and takes two years to complete.
30 April each year
The MA British Studies is an interdisciplinary course of study offered at the Centre for British Studies (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, also known as HU), a unique academic institution in the heart of Berlin. The Centre was founded in 1995 after the fall of the Berlin Wall and German re-unification in recognition of the UK’s important role in Germany and Berlin after World War II and during the Cold War. Today, the Centre is a hub for public events on contemporary British issues, a place for research and collaboration with international partners, offering a unique postgraduate course of study to students from all over the world.
The MA British Studies postgraduate course of study is an interdisciplinary teaching programme over the course of two years. Having successfully completed the certificate phase during the first year, students receive a British Studies certificate. After successful completion of the entire programme, students will be awarded the degree MA British Studies.
The certificate phase comprises about 30 weeks of teaching stretching over two semesters. The first semester (core programme) consists of a series of compulsory lectures and seminars. In the second semester (options programme), students can choose three out of six options. Students have to attend an average of at least 20 hours of classes per week. These may include suitable classes taught in other departments.
During the Master's phase, students take part in advanced seminars, including interdisciplinary optional modules, which can be chosen from other Master's programmes. As part of their work placement, they spend three months with a firm or institution in Britain or Ireland. The last six months of the Master's phase are dedicated to writing a thesis.
The programme consists of teaching units (lectures, seminars, theme-oriented project work, etc.) covering the following topics:
The course is taught in English.
Modules of the course
The British Studies Master's course contains the following modules equalling 120 ECTS credit points:
a) Compulsory modules
b) Compulsory elective modules
Three out of the following six modules have to be chosen:
c) Compulsory elective modules at other departments
External optional modules may be chosen from any other Master's programme that offers such modules.
Modules for students of other HU programmes
Students from other HU Master's programmes can attend the following modules:
The course includes a three-month work placement in a company or a public institution in Great Britain or Ireland. The Centre offers students substantial help and support in finding suitable positions.
We are grateful to the numerous and prestigious British and Irish organisations who support us by providing placements for our students, including, among many others: several MPs and MSPs, NGOs, the German-British Chamber of Commerce, city councils, prestigious cultural and literary festivals, publishing houses, museums, and many more.
Approx. 250 EUR
Approx. 1,000 EUR each month
This includes accommodation, matriculation fees, insurances, and general living costs.
Applicants must hold a university degree at the time of formal enrolment (September of the enrolment year). This first degree can be in any subject. With around 130 applications for 32 places, admission is highly competitive. The diversity in standards of university teaching and grading throughout the world makes it impossible to impose any formal requirements on the minimum grade to be obtained. As a rule of thumb, though, successful applicants with a Bachelor's (e.g. BA, LLB, BSc) or similar degree tend to have graduated within the top 10-15%, successful applicants with a Master's (e.g. MA, LLM, MSc) or similar degree within the top 15-20% of their class. We will, however, consider the individual circumstances of each case.
For more details, go to https://www.gbz.hu-berlin.de/ma-british-studies/admissions.
Applicants must have a very good command of English. The application must contain proof of your proficiency in the form of a TOEFL certificate (minimum score of 600 for the paper-based test, or 250 for the computer-based test, 100 for the Internet-based test), a Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (any grade), a Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (grade A or B), or an IELTS test (level 7.0).
Furthermore, a working knowledge of German is highly recommended.
30 April each year
If you are applying with a first degree from a German university, please submit your application to
Catherine Smith
Centre for British Studies / Großbritannien-Zentrum
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Mohrenstr. 60
10117 Berlin
Germany
If you are applying with a first degree from an international university, please submit your application via uni-assist.
There are numerous job opportunities (more difficult for non-German speakers), especially during holidays. However, the MA British Studies is a full-time and intensive 18-month course of study, so there might be no time for a regular part-time job.
Some of our students find accommodation in student residence halls run by the "Studentenwerk" (Association for Student Affairs). Furthermore, students will be provided with information about other forms of accommodation in Berlin, e.g. via useful and trusted Internet links.
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