Courses are held in English, and English is the language for all written and oral exams.
The programme starts in the winter semester (October through February). It is rarely that we offer application for the summer semester (April through July). Please see https://www.hu-berlin.de/de/studium/beratung/angebot/master.
Application periods for the following winter semester:
For further information, see https://www.hu-berlin.de/en/studies/admission/calendar?set_language=en.
The MA Programme in American Studies at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin encompasses an interdisciplinary curriculum that can be completed in four semesters. The programme conveys expertise in cultural and literary scholarship and aims to impart a comprehensive understanding of its central aspects: American identities, diversity, gender, and mediality. The MA programme is designed as a consecutive programme that comprises the fields of literary and cultural history, literary and cultural theory as well as in depth studies of questions of identity formation. The centre of attention of the programme lies on cultural diversity, both as a theoretical question and a social reality, focusing particularly on gender and ethnicity. Furthermore, it engages in discussions of media, both in their history and in their present formation, and the consequences of media revolutions in North America.
Guide for international students issued by the International Office of Humboldt Universität zu Berlin: https://www.hu-berlin.de/en/studies/admission/application_information_for_prospective_students
We offer the following modules:
Most courses are conducted in seminar format, with a strong emphasis on discussion. Module exams consist of take-homes, term papers, and oral exams. The “Reading American Literature and Culture” module entails a so-called teaching exercise, which entails MA students tutoring BA students in literary history. The “Intercultural Relations” module comprises a Transatlantic Student Symposium.
https://www.angl.hu-berlin.de/study/general/programmes/ma-amerikanistik
https://www.international.hu-berlin.de/en/going-abroad/our-offers/for-students/regions/north-america
322 EUR per semester (as of summer 2025) – includes semester ticket for public transport
The cost of living in Germany is still quite reasonable, compared to other Western countries. However, expenses for rent are rising and reasonably priced accommodation has recently become much more difficult to find. You should calculate 850 to 1,000 EUR to cover your monthly living expenses. The largest expense is the monthly rent.
A Bachelor's degree in (English or) American Studies (with a focus on literature and culture: their histories, theories, methodologies) and a minimum of 60 ECTS in these fields are required. Of the ECTS, 30 credits should explicitly deal with literary and cultural studies.
English C1 (IELTS 7.0; TOEFL 100)
Language certificates must be submitted with the application. Native speakers of English and students with BA degrees from an English-speaking country are exempt.
Application periods for the following winter semester:
For further information, see https://www.hu-berlin.de/en/studies/admission/calendar?set_language=en.
Applicants with a German Bachelor's degree apply via: https://studienplatz.hu-berlin.de/.
Applicants with a non-German Bachelor's degree apply via: https://www.uni-assist.de/.
There are numerous part-time job opportunities – many, but not all of them requiring German language skills. Students can find jobs in the hospitality industry (bars, restaurants, clubs), in cultural institutions (museums, galleries, theatres), in academia (student assistant), and as private tutors, to give a few examples. Employment laws need to be heeded.
For housing information, please refer to the StudierendenWerk Berlin: https://www.stw.berlin/en/housing/.
There are many websites for rooms in shared apartments in the private sector, e.g. https://www.wg-suche.de, https://www.wg-gesucht.de/ or https://housinganywhere.com.
The Career Center of Humboldt Universität zu Berlin offers career counselling: https://www.hu-berlin.de/en/hu-en/career-centre-scientific-further-education/career-centre/career-centre.
https://www.international.hu-berlin.de/en/coming-to-humboldt-universitat/services-informations
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