Programmes: MAHF-ENG Master's Programme in English - Autumn 2019




Full-time/Part-time

Full-time

If you want to complete a part of or the whole programme as a part time student (at minimum 50%), you must apply to the department for changes to your academic progress, using the applicable form. Please see Routines for the master¿s degree programme.

Language of Instruction

English

Objectives and content

The Master's Programme in English is a full-time program of study over four semesters. It is composed of 120 ECTS credits and is made up of two main parts: coursework and a Master's thesis each worth 60 credits. The courses can be chosen from those offered by the department each semester. At least thirty credits of the coursework must be in the same discipline as the Master's thesis. The courses taken must represent different areas within the discipline. The students will be encouraged to find a topic for their Master's thesis and sign a supervision contract as early as possible in the second semester.

Required Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, the candidate will have achieved the following learning outcomes in the categories of knowledge, skills, and general competence.

 

Knowledge

The candidate

- has furthered the knowledge which he/she has taken from earlier English studies through specialized studies in English linguistics and English-language literature/culture.

- has developed a critical and independent attitude through theoretical and methodological training in the different courses

- has knowledge of newer research in the different subject areas

- has developed specialized in-depth knowledge about one self-selected area within English studies through the Master's thesis

-can communicate and problematize key subject matter

 

Skills

The candidate

- has good language skills in spoken and written academic English

- has mastered relevant subject terminology, theories, tools, and techniques

- can reflect on their own skills and academic development

- can use subject knowledge and research results to work with English linguistic or literary research questions

- can critically select and use relevant materials relating to English linguistics or literature/culture

 

General knowledge

The candidate

- can formulate a hypothesis or a research question which will lead to new knowledge

- can carry out an independent research project with supervision

- can use different research tools to survey a research field

- can follow ethical norms for research, for example, rules for the use and citation of sources

- can organize and produce a comprehensive written document in accordance with specified requirements and guidelines.

 

To reach these goals, the candidate must work independently with subject literature and participate actively in seminars. The Master's thesis in particular requires independent and goal-oriented work.

Admission Requirements

Applicants with education from Norway:
Entrance to the Master's program in English requires a Bachelor's degree with a specialization in English consisting of minimum 80 credits, with C or better grade average for those courses that make up the specialization.

Applicants with education from outside of Norway:
Applicants with education from outside of Norway, must have finished a three- or four-year undergraduate (Bachelor's) degree at an approved institution of higher education.

The Bachelor's degree must include a specialization in English equivalent to one and a half years of full-time study.

The language requirements for admission to the programme are:
IELTS: minimum 7
TOEFL:
- Internet-based test (iBT): 90
- Paper-based test (PBT): 560
University of Cambrigde examinations:
- First Certificate in English: Grade A
- Certificate in Advanced English: Grade C
- Certificate of Proficiency in English: Level C1
ETS - TOEIC Listening and Reading Test:
- TOEIC Listening: 490
- TOEIC Reading: 455

If your first language is English, you will not be required to provide an English language test score. You are considered a native speaker of English if you are from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, the UK, USA or South Africa, and if English was the language in which you gained all your qualifications.

Test results must be valid (not older than three years) on the date of the application deadline.

Applicants will be evaluated based on results from earlier studies.

Compulsory units

Within the Master's program in English, one can specialize in either linguistics or literature/culture.

 

Specialization in linguistics

ENG339 Selected topic in English Linguistics I (10 credits) (A)

ENG341 Selected topic in English Linguistics II (10 credits) (A)

ENG343 Selected topic in English Linguistics III (10 credits) (A)

ENG345 Selected topic in English Linguistics IV (10 credits) (S)

ENG349 Selected topic in English Linguistics VI (10 credits) (S)

LING311 Methods for Master's students in Language and Linguistics (10 credits) (S)

 

Specialization in literature/culture

Pick three out of five courses

ENG331 Selected Topic in English Literature and/or Culture I (10 credits) (A)

ENG332 Selected Topic in English Literature and/or Culture II (10 credits) (A)

ENG333 Selected Topic in English Literature and/or Culture III (10 credits) (A)

ENG334 Selected Topic in English Literature and/or Culture IV (10 credits) (A)
ALLV221 Literary Theory (10 credits) (A)
 

Pick two out of three courses

ENG335 Selected Topic in English Literature and/or Culture V (10 credits) (S)

ENG336 Selected Topic in English Literature and/or Culture VI (10 credits) (S)

ENG337 Selected Topic in English Literature and/or Culture VII (10 credits) (S)

Compulspory course

ENG340 Thesis Writing Preparation for English Literature and/or Culture (10 credits) (S)

 

Compulsory course for both specializations

ENG350 Master's thesis in English (60 credits) (A/S)

 

 

When resources allow, the courses ENG334 and ENG338 will be offered as electives in the fall and spring. The students would, in this case, choose three of the four literature courses offered.

 

At least thirty credits must be in the same discipline as the Master's thesis, and these credits must be taken, as a rule, at the Department of Foreign Languages at the University of Bergen. Students must apply on an individual basis for approval of courses taken at other departments or institutions.

 

The students will be encouraged to find a topic for their Master's thesis and sign a supervision contract as early as possible in the second semester. The Master's thesis will normally be written during the third and fourth semesters.

 

Students receive supervision for their work on their Master's thesis. A supervision contract outlinining the rights and responsibilities of the student is signed by the student, supervisor, and department administration.

If a student takes more than two semesters to complete the Master's thesis, supervision will be reduced. Students using a fifth or sixth semester to write their Master's thesis have the right to feedback on a single full and final draft of their thesis if submitted to the supervisor no later than two weeks before the desired final submission deadline.
 

As part of the linguistics Master's thesis, students must participate actively in their discipline's Work-in-progress seminars (see ENG350 for details).

Recommended electives

Master thesis credits

The master's thesis is a work of advanced study, of between 70 and 110 pages. It is designed to show that you have extensive knowledge of both the subject and relevant research, to reveal your study of related theoretical material and to demonstrate your mastery of the appropriate methodology. You will receive individual guidance during the research and writing process, and are encouraged to find a subject early in the second semester.

Sequential Requirements, courses

Semester 1, Autumn
ENG339 Selected topic in English Linguistics I 10 credits
ENG341 Selected topic in English Linguistics II 10 credits
ENG343 Selected topic in English Linguistics III 10 credits
ENG331 Selected Topic in English Literature and/or Culture I 10 credits*
ENG332 Selected Topic in English Literature and/or Culture II 10 credits*
ENG333 Selected Topic in English Literature and/or Culture III 10 credits*
ENG334 Selected Topic in English Literature and/or Culture IV 10 credits *
Work-in-progress seminar in linguistics, literature/culture or didactics

*Three of the four courses ENG331-334 will be offered each spring semester.

Semester 2, Spring
ENG345 Selected topic in English Linguistics IV 10 credits
LING311 Methods for Master's students in Language and Linguistics 10 credits
ENG349 Selected topic in English Linguistics VI 10 credits
ENG335 Selected Topic in English Literature and/or Culture V 10 credits*
ENG336 Selected Topic in English Literature and/or Culture VI 10 credits*
ENG337 Selected Topic in English Literature and/or Culture VII 10 credits*
ENG340 Thesis Writing Preparation for English Literature and Culture 10 credits

*Two of the three courses ENG335-337 will be offered each spring semester.

Masters students choosing to focus on literature can take ALLV221 (10 credits) as an elective in the Fall semester. The course will then replace of one of the ENG300-level literature courses on offer that semester.

All 60 credits of coursework have to be completed before submitting the master's thesis.

Semester 3 and 4, Autumn and Spring
ENG350 Master's thesis in English
Work-in-progress seminar in linguistics, literature/culture or didactics

Study period abroad

Students can take Master's level courses at foreign universities and get these approved as a part of the Master's degree (see Mandatory coursework/ Specialization).

Teaching methods

Lectures/Seminars/Supervision

Assessment methods

The assessment forms that are used are written exams, a home exam, at times combined with an oral exam, and a supervised term paper, and a written portfolio of work. The assessment forms are explained in the descriptions for each course.

 

The Master's program is concluded with an oral exam where the Master's thesis is discussed.

Grading scale

Grades for the different courses are based on one of two grading scales:

1) A-F, where F is a failing grade

2) Pass/fail

Information about which grading scale is used can be found on the coursedescription.

Diploma and Diploma supplement

The diploma will be printed upon completion of the degree.

Access to further studies

The Master's degree in English prepares one for further study at the PhD-level.

Employability

Candidates with a Master's in English are a relatively sought-after group in the job market. Many work in schools, but an increasing number also work in the public and business sectors. Universities, university colleges, and research institutes also recruit many with a Master's in language studies.

Evaluation

The Master's program will be continually evaluated in accordance with the requirements for quality assurance at UiB. Course and program evaluations can be found at kvalitetsbasen.uib.no

Programme committee

The program committee is responsible for the program¿s academic content, structure, and quality.

Administrative responsibility

The Department of Foreign Languages at the Humanities Faculty is responsible for the administration of this program of study.

Contact information

If you have questions, please contact the student advisor for the program at: Studierettleiar@if.uib.no

Tlf 55 58 22 98

Objectives / Contents

The aim of the master's programme in English is to improve your skills, knowledge and insight in English studies in general, and in your area of specialisation (linguistics, literary or cultural studies) in particular.
The programme will develop a critical and independent attitude in you as a student through theoretical and methodological teaching, as well as further developing your written and oral skills in the English language. In order to reach these goals, you will need to work independently with the course literature in preparation for your own independent work on the master's thesis.

Admission requirements

A first degree (bachelor's degree) of three or four years' duration from an approved institution of higher education, as well as proficiency in the English language.

Prerequisites

A first degree (bachelor's degree) of three or four years' duration from an approved institution of higher education, as well as proficiency in the English language.

Recommended qualifications

Method

The institute's course in theory and method provides a solid methodological basis for the master's thesis.

Thesis

The master's thesis is a work of advanced study, of between 70 and 110 pages. It is designed to show that you have extensive knowledge of both the subject and relevant research, to reveal your study of related theoretical material and to demonstrate your mastery of the appropriate methodology. You will receive individual guidance during the research and writing process, and are encouraged to find a subject early in the second semester.

Programme structure

The Master´s degree programme in English consists of four courses, each equivalent to 15 ECTS credits, and a thesis worth 60 ECTS credits. You are expected to fulfil the programme´s course requirements in the first year and complete the thesis in the second.

Courses at graduate level are designed to focus on selected topics from English linguistics, literature in English, cultural studies in an English language setting, or an interdisciplinary topic combining any of these.

At least one course must be in the same discipline as the thesis.

Assessment / Examination Format

Description of Learning Materials and Media

The reading lists for the upcoming semester will be published on the UiB website by June 1 / December 1.

Start-up Date

Autumn

Further information

studierettleiar@if.uib.no