Overview

The English MA programme at the University of Bern convey profound historical and systematic knowledge of the varieties of the English language as well as English-speaking literatures and cultures. They promote expertise in theories, concepts and methodologies in the field of English literatures and language and linguistics, advance oral and written competences in English academic discourse, and instruct students in developing their own research questions and independent academic work.

Career

Students who have obtained their MA in English find employment in a wide number of fields and institutions related to education, research, publishing, journalism, and public administration, for example. The Students’ Committee regularly organizes Alumni events which bring together current and former students to learn more about possible careers.

Programme Structure

The MA major program consists of three phases:

Induction Phase: In this phase, MA major students complete the Foundation Lecture Literary Theory and the Foundation Lecture Language and Society. Both foundation lectures must be passed to continue with the MA studies.

Focussing Phase: In this phase, MA major students complete four graded seminars, one ungraded lecture and attend at least three guest lectures (ungraded).

Completion Phase: This phase consists of the Research Module, which in turn consists of the MA Colloquium (three semesters) and the MA Thesis

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-09-14 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-04-30 00:00:00 , International
- Apply before 2026-08-31 00:00:00 , National
Starting 2027-02-16 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-01-31 00:00:00 , National
- Apply before 2026-12-15 00:00:00 , International

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

7

Prepare for Your English Test

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Credits

120 ECTS

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Bern, Switzerland

Disciplines

Language Studies View 8 other Masters in Language Studies in Switzerland

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

7

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Bachelor of Arts in Languages and Literatures in English from the University of Bern or an equivalent degree. Additional attainments of up to 60 ECTS credits may be required.

Bachelor minor in Languages and Literatures in English from the University of Bern or an equivalent degree, provided that the master's degree can be successfully completed with an additional maximum of 60 ECTS credits.

Student Insurance via Studyportals Partner

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items like Additional medical costs, Repatriation, Liability etc. Make sure your student insurance covers your needs.

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Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at University of Bern and/or in Switzerland, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

1900 CHF / year

≈ 1900 CHF / year
Domestic Applies to you

Applies to you

Citizens or residents

1500 CHF / year

≈ 1500 CHF / year

Additional Details

National: CHF 750 per semester

International: CHF 750 per semester + CHF 200 per semester, in addition to the regular tuition fee = 950 CHF

Living costs

Bern

Switzerland

1655 - 2130 CHF / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for English.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Career

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Student Insurance via Studyportals Partner

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic Applies to you

Additional Details

Living costs

Bern

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

Our partners