MA North American Studies: Culture and Literature FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg

In the Master's degree programme in "North American Studies: Culture and Literature" at FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, students study the cultures and literatures of the USA, Canada, and the Caribbean in an inter-American context and from a transatlantic perspective. The programme consists of survey and focus courses in cultural and literary studies, including classes on popular culture, cultural and literary history, and general literary and cultural theory.

The MA "North American Studies: Culture and Literature"

• is a research-oriented programme in which cultural phenomena and literary texts, past and present, in the US, Canada, and the anglophone Caribbean are analysed,
• encompasses the fields of cultural studies and literary studies,
• offers cultural and literary study courses on a broad range of topics from both a synchronic and a diachronic perspective,
• includes a language module to foster academic language skills in speaking and writing,
• provides the formal requirements for a doctoral degree programme in American or English Studies, and
• concludes with an MA thesis, written during the final semester (within six months), which focuses on an individualised research project in cultural or literary studies.

In the first semester, basic modules (1) and (2) provide the theoretical and methodological foundations for cultural and literary studies and thus a programmatic introduction to the Master's programme. These modules each consist of an introductory course in North American cultural or literary studies and a class in cultural or literary theory. Additionally, the basic module language (3) assists students in developing their skills in academic discourse in English.

In the second semester, the intermediary modules (4) and (5) examine the research areas of the programme by looking at specific subjects and topics situated in cultural and literary history. These modules consist of a seminar and a class thematically related to the seminar with instructions for the self-study of texts in cultural and literary criticism. These classes build a bridge to the survey module (6), a survey course in cultural and/or literary history.

In the third semester, advanced modules (7) and (8) deepen knowledge by allowing students to work on specific topics. They encourage the development of students' individual research perspectives with their final theses in mind. These modules consist of an advanced seminar in cultural or literary studies and an independent study group, thus providing further preparation for the Master's thesis. In addition, students attend an interdisciplinary, thematically specific lecture series or conference in North American studies (9).

In the fourth semester, students write their Master's theses, accompanied by a Master's study group.

None

• BA or equivalent, usually in American Studies or English (transcript of records must show that a significant percentage of the undergraduate degree included content related to American studies).
• overall grade of the prior degree: minimum 2.5 (on a scale from 1 to 4); if between 2.51 and 3.5: individual application interview
• applicants must submit a 1,000-1,500-word essay as a writing sample (see programme website for essay questions)

FAU does charge tuition fees for students from non-EU states. Using the fee finder, you can quickly check whether you are required to pay tuition fees. Irrespective of tuition fees, all students are required to pay a semester contribution of 82 EUR per semester. As of winter semester 2026/27, FAU will be charging a processing fee of 100 EUR per application for applicants from non-EU states. 

General guidelines on the average costs that can be expected are provided by the results of the social survey undertaken by the German National Association for Student Affairs in 2021 (prices may vary):

According to this study, students who no longer live with their parents should have an average amount of 1,106 EUR per month at their disposal. However, monthly expenditures for personal lifestyle vary a lot. For former West Germany, the study revealed the following details on average expenditure:

• Rent, including ancillary costs (in Erlangen, Nuremberg and surrounding areas): 410 EUR
• Food: 198 EUR
• Clothing: 46 EUR
• Travel costs (public transport and/or car): 89 EUR
• Study materials (depending on subject): 31 EUR
• Health insurance, doctors, medicine: 100 EUR
• Telecommunications: 31 EUR
• Leisure, culture, sports: 65 EUR

There is a wide range of scholarships available for outstanding students. In addition to requiring applicants to have excellent grades, most scholarship programmes have additional conditions regarding cultural, political, religious, or social involvement. If you have any questions about the application procedure or selection criteria, you can contact the Student Advice and Career Service (IBZ) or speak directly to FAU’s liaison officer for the scholarship organisation you wish to apply to.

Funding your studies | FAU

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The services we offer include career guidance and advice on applying for jobs, job application training, and seminars as well as presentations and information on specific careers.

The cities of Erlangen, Fürth, and Nuremberg offer a very good standard of living. They are popular places to live, meaning that accommodation is in high demand but often in short supply. This is particularly the case during the period before the start of a new semester. We therefore recommend that you start looking for accommodation as soon as possible. If you are flexible and also look in the surrounding area, you will have a better chance of finding somewhere affordable to live. The region has an excellent public transport system, so you should not have any problems getting to your place of study or work.

It is worth checking the available accommodation on the Internet every day, as new accommodation becomes available on a day-to-day basis. It pays to be flexible when it comes to the price, location, and available facilities of your accommodation.

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