Course structure
The postgraduate course is an interdisciplinary teaching programme over 2 years. Having successfully completed the Certificate Phase during the first year, students receive a British Studies certificate. After successful completion of the entire course, students are awarded the degree M.A. British Studies.
The Certificate Phase comprises about 30 weeks of teaching stretching over 2 semesters. The first semester (Core Programme) consists of a series of compulsory lectures and seminars. In the second semester (Options Programme) students can choose 3 out of 6 options (see course outline below). 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 Phase students take part in advanced seminars including transdisciplinary optional modules, which can be chosen from other master programmes. As part of their work placement, they spend 3 months with a firm or institution in Britain or Ireland. The last 6 months of the Master Phase are dedicated to writing a thesis.
Application requirements
Applicants need to have a university degree at the time of formal enrolment (October 2017). This first degree can be in any subject. With usually over 100 applications for 30 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 (e.g. BA, LLB, BSc) or similar degree tend to have graduated within the top 10-15%, successful applicants with a Master (e.g., MA, LLM, MSc) or similar degree within the top 15-20% of their class. We will, however, look at the individual circumstances of each case.
Applicants need to speak very good English. The application must contain proof of your proficiency in form of an ETS TOEFL certificate (minimum score of 600 for the paper-based test, 250 for the computer-based test, or 100 for the internet-based test), or a Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (any grade), or a Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (grade A or B), or an IELTS test (level 7.0). Neither a degree in English language, nor English language teaching experience will be considered as adequate proof. Only native speakers are exempt from this requirement. Lower scores than those required will substantially reduce your chances of being accepted onto the course. Furthermore, a working knowledge of German is highly advisable.
Application procedure
The deadline for applications is 30th April (for admission in October). A shortlist of candidates will usually be drawn up during May, with applicants invited for interviews which take place in Berlin, usually in June. Interviews via telephone or skype will be conducted with applicants who cannot reasonably be expected to travel. Places are allocated and all applicants notified after completion of the interviews.
Grants
Applicants who are in need of a scholarship are strongly advised to apply to institutions such as the German Academic Exchange Service, the Alfred Toepfer Stiftung and to search for other opportunities via directories. Please note that the German Academic Exchange Service operates with an earlier deadline than the course itself, usually November of the preceding year for enrolment in October.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
https://www.gbz.hu-berlin.de/ma-british-studies