M.A. in English Literatures and Literary Theory

Do you spend way too much time interacting with other readers on bookstagram and booktok, trying to keep up with all the latest published books? Is a visit to a new city never complete without finding all its indie bookshops? We have got you covered! The Master of Arts in English Literatures and Literary Theory (MELLIT) at the University of Freiburg is the definitive programme for you. Over the course of four terms, you will have the opportunity to take a variety of classes in literary studies, ranging from the Early Middle Ages to the literatures of the present day, across all genres. While courses on canonical authors like Shakespeare are regularly offered, our course catalogue challenges the limits imposed by Western heteropatriarchal bias: not only will classes focused on women writers be on offer, but also seminars and lectures on BIPOC, queer, and trans narratives. The MELLIT programme also places strong emphasis on literary theory: by the end of your studies, you will be expected to apply a wide array of theories to analyse and interpret literary texts. For instance, you will learn how Critical Race Theory can be a productive tool with which to analyse medieval romances, or how historical narratology enables you to gain a deep understanding of the different affordances of narratives throughout the centuries.

An introductory lecture in literary theory and a follow-up seminar will present you with many of the different approaches in the field, from the earlier New Criticism and Structuralism, to Marxist and Postcolonial Studies, up to Posthumanist and Disability Studies. Three seminars and three lectures will accompany your study of literary history, allowing you to focus on specific topics in each class. A seminar on genre is also part of the programme, centred on prose, poetry or drama either synchronically or diachronically. Finally, as a MELLIT student, you will take part in an excursion to an English-speaking country (for many years, the Shakespearience trip to Stratford-upon-Avon and London has been offered at our Department), participate in a conference, and teach a tutorial accompanying an undergraduate lecture.

Graduating from this master’s programme will open up several career paths for you. Not only is a PhD in literature an option for all MELLIT students upon graduation, but other professions in the cultural and creative industries, such as journalism, broadcasting, editing, and publishing are also possibilities.

For more information on the application, admission and enrolment processes, see this page.