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Literary Studies (Research)

Master

This research master programme offers the possibility to combine one year research skills (60 EC) with one year specialization in the literature of one’s choice (60 EC), f.i. Italian, German, Dutch, French, English, Comparative Literature etc.

Besides the obligatory courses (see below) the student can choose three electives (each 10 EC -> 30 EC) from his or her specialization (f.i. Italian, German, Dutch, French, English, Comparative Literature, etc.) and combine them with his or her thesis subject (25 EC).

Entry requirements

Read more on Entry requirements

Information

Coordinator of Studies: Dhr. J. Donkers MA

Year 1

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2

Compulsory Courses
LUCAS seminar: Cultural Theory for the 21st Century 5
Research School Courses (Arts and Culture & Literary Studies) 5
Methodological Concepts in Art and Literature 10

Period Electives

Students take two Period Electives in the first year and one in the second year.
Interculturality 1: Key Concepts 10
Arts and Digital Culture 10
Approaches to Literature 10
Core Course Medieval and Early Modern Studies 5/10
Literature and the Questions of Doing Justice or Making Law 10
Interculturality 2: The Global Imagination 10
Heavenly and Earthly Love in the Art and Literature of the Middle Ages from 1100 to 1500 10
Medieval and Early Modern Studies: Guild of Saint Luke in Antwerp 10

Specialisation Electives

Students take two Specialisation Electives in the first year and one in the second year. They can also choose Interculturality 1 or 2.
Specialisation Electives (Literary Studies) 30

Year 2

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2

Compulsory Courses
Thesis Seminar and Colloquium 10
Research School Courses (Arts and Culture & Literary Studies) 5
MA Thesis Literary Studies (research) 25

Period Electives

Students take two Period Electives in the first year and one in the second year.
Arts and Digital Culture 10
Heavenly and Earthly Love in the Art and Literature of the Middle Ages from 1100 to 1500 10
Approaches to Literature 10
Core Course Medieval and Early Modern Studies 5/10

Specialisation Electives

Students take two Specialisation Electives in the first year and one in the second year. They can also choose Interculturality 1 or 2.
Specialisation Electives (Literary Studies) 30

More info

Objectives

The Research Master Literary Studies is closely connected to the Research Master Arts and Culture and has three main objectives:

  • It seeks to provide students with a shared methodological and theoretical basis and to broaden their scope by adding a comparative study. These objectives will be accomplished in the compulsory team-taught common courses in the program;

  • The program will also allow students to acquire sophisticated knowledge and expertise on Literary Studies in their area of specialization. This objective will be accomplished in the specialisation electives;

  • The programme wants to train the students as independent researchers, in particular in the thesis seminar and the thesis writing.

The aim of the programme:

  • to broaden and deepen the students’ knowledge, understanding and skills, and train them in the use of scientific methods in the field of Literary Studies and;
  • to enable students to develop the following academic and professional skills:
    the ability to solve academic problems independently, critically and creatively;
    the ability to analyse complex problems;
    the ability to clearly report academic results, both in writing and orally;
    Furthermore the programme aims:
  • to prepare students for an academic career at a university for postgraduate programmes;
  • to prepare students for a non-academic career in the public or private sector for which advanced research skills and practical research experience are a prerequisite.

The achievement levels can be found in the Course and Exam regulations

Programme

First semester

Students take the obligatory course ‘LUCAS Seminar: Cultural Theory for the 21st Century’ (5 EC) and one course within the programmes of one of the National Research Schools (5 EC).

In addition, students take two elective courses:

  • one elective course is an interdisciplinary Research Master course (optional course, 10 EC);

  • one elective course is from one’s area of specilisation. It is a course from one of the other MA programmes in the field of Literary Studies (10 EC);

Second semester

In the second semester students take the course ‘Methodological Concepts in Art and Literature’ (10 EC) and two elective courses:

  • one elective course is an interdisciplinary Research Master course (optional course, 10 EC);

  • one elective course is from one’s area of specilisation. It is a course from one of the other MA programmes in the field of Literary Studies (10 EC);

Third semester

The second year starts with preparation for the thesis in the ‘Thesis Seminar and Colloquium’ course (10 EC). Students take two elective courses (see Semester 1 and 2).

Forth semester

Students complete their Research Master programme by writing a thesis (25 EC) under the supervision of an academic member of staff. They also take a course within the programmes of one of the National Research Schools (5 EC).

Master thesis and requirements for graduation

The Research Master Literary Studies is concluded by a thesis. This is a written report of research which the student carries out under supervision by an academic member of staff but with a high degree of independence. In principle, the thesis must be of sufficient quality to be published in an academic journal in the relevant field. The thesis counts a maximum of 25,000 words including notes, bibliography and appendices.

Requirements for graduation are:

  • Successful completion of all courses: 95 EC

  • Successful completion of MA Thesis: 25 EC

Please note that you are also asked to fulfill certain administrative procedures, as can be found on the website of Literary Studies.