Dear Prospective MA Students,
please find below the answers to the questions most frequently asked by our applicants. Please read these questions and answers carefully. If you need information not listed below, you should feel free to contact us.
How do I apply?
To apply, you need to hand in an application package. You will find all relevant information at the MA Application Page .
When can I apply? When does the program start?
You will find all relevant information at the MA Application Page . Usually, application programs for admission in the fall will have to be handed in the spring. Please consult the MA application page for more information.
I have a degree as ...................., can I apply to the MA program
You can apply to the MA program if you have a BA degree in a field that can be seen as relevant to American studies (among them other literary studies, cultural studies, political science, etc.). You obviously need to have solid knowledge of US literature, culture, and history to start with American studies as an MA student. Among other things, our entrance exam tests this knowledge. In other words, we welcome your application.
I have a BA (in a suitable field) from university ...................., can I apply to the MA program
Unfortunately, we as a degree program cannot determine the eligibility of your BA degree. Please consult the International Office for information about this. Ultimately, your degree will be checked by uniassist .
Can I apply to the MA American Studies without German Language Skills?
Yes. We do not recommend taking up your studies in Germany without any language skills in German, but it is possible to study the MA American Studies with good English skills alone.
What can I do if my BA thesis is not graded at the time of application and I thus cannot include my BA certificate with the application package?
We need some kind of statement from your advisors/professors which certifies that you will finish your studies by the end of September. The actual certificate can be handed in later.
Do I have to apply via the international office?
The decicive criterion is whether your BA certificate was (or will be) issued by a German university. If not, you have to apply via the international office.
Are my English Language Skills sufficient?
You will need to provide evidence of English skills corresponding to level C1 of the Common European Reference Frame (documentation of at least ten years of English instruction, and/or any of the standard language certificates). For orientation concerning the test scores commonly expected for C1, please see this link ). Applicants' language skills will be finally evaluated in the course of the entrance exam.
In general C1 is considered to be 8 years of learning English at primary and secondary school (generally known as level B2) plus an additional 2 years of English instruction on post-secondary level. The formal definition is as follows: Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognize implicit meaning. Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions., Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purpose. Can produce clear, well-structure, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organizational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.
Can I send you my Application Packet for review?
No. We are not able to check you application packet for completeness or to otherwise assess the strength of your application before the end of the admission deadline. The first thing our application process tests is your ability to compile a complete and convincing application packet. Please do not ask us to review your packet.
Is my application packet complete?
On our MA Application Page you will find a list of all required documents. Please check for yourself whether your packet is complete.
How can I prepare for the application process?
First of all, make sure to upload a complete application package online at our application portal on time for the deadline. Also, make sure to apply through the university's Studentensekretariat (for domestic applicants) or the International Office (for international applicants). If you would like to do some reading to prepare for the application process, checking out any of the following sources might prove useful:
The ASL webpage generally and the pages on the MA program in particular
Abbott, H. Porter. The Cambridge Introduction to Narrative . Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2003. Print.
Burgett, Bruce, and Glenn Hendler. Keywords for American Cultural Studies . NYU P, 2007. Print.
Campbell, Neil C., and Alasdair Kean. American Cultural Studies: An Introduction to American Culture . Routledge, 1998. Print.
Fluck, Winfried et al., eds. American Studies Today: New Research Agendas . Heidelberg: Universitätsverlag Winter, 2014. Print.
Hebel, Udo J. Einführung in die Amerikanistik / American Studies . Stuttgart: Metzler, 2008. Print.
Marcus, Greil, and Werner Sollors, eds. A New Literary History of America . Cambridge: Belknap, 2009. Print.
Modern Language Association. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7th Edition . New York: Modern Language Association, 2009. Print.
Paul, Heike. The Myths That Made America: An Introduction to American Studies . Bielefeld: transcript, 2014. Print.
Are there any funding options for this program?
Unfortunately, we cannot offer any funding. To study in the MA program, you will either need a sponsor (a stipend, parents, etc) or you will have to work on the side.
Can I attend your program using the stipend ...........?
Generally, you will have to talk to your stipend sponsor for this. If you have a stipend to study in an MA program in Germany, chances are high that you can take the MA program.
I want to transfer to Leipzig from a different university. Can I also transfer credit?
Generally, credit can be transferred. The specific number of credits that will get transferred, however, can only be determined once you have been admitted to the program at Leipzig.