International possibilities for the English Language and Literature, Master Programme

Broaden Your Academic Horizons

Exchange studies at master’s level provide an opportunity to deepen your disciplinary expertise within a new academic environment and to cultivate international perspectives on your field. By spending a semester at one of Linnaeus University’s partner institutions, you gain fresh insights, valuable research connections, and experiences that enhance your professional and academic profile.

An international exchange can extend well beyond formal studies. Many master’s students choose to undertake an internship, fieldwork, or part of their dissertation abroad. Such experiences enable you to apply theoretical knowledge in practice, gather material in new contexts, and develop networks that may prove valuable for future research or professional pathways.

Even on campus, there are opportunities to engage with international perspectives,  for instance, by participating in the Buddy Programme and supporting incoming international students.

Study visit to the University of Edinburgh

During the third term, you have an opportunity to join a study visit to the Unviersity of Edinburgh. The visit cannot be combined with regular exchange studies, instead, you select suitable elective courses for 30 hp within Sweden. Including the course 4EN014, Intermedial Themes, 7.5 credits at Linnaeus University.

Take the opportunity to visit one of the world’s oldest Departments of English at the University of Edinburgh, in Scotland’s culturally and historically vibrant capital. The university consistently ranks among the global top ten in the humanities.

The Centre for Intermedial and Multimodal Studies at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Linnaeus University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Intermedial Research Strand at the University of Edinburgh. As part of this agreement, students in the English Language and Literature, Master Programme (MELL) can visit the University of Edinburgh during parts of term 3 in the programme. The participation will focus on intermedial issues and topics.

Application to participate in the Edinburgh study visit

• During the second term (spring) you write a letter of intent. The letter should include why you want visit the Intermediate Strand at Edinburgh, what kind of intermedial questions you want to explore, and why this visit is beneficial for your future studies. 
  
  
• Make sure you include the elective course 4EN014, Intermedial Themes, 7.5 credits at Linnaeus University within your course selection for the autumn, term 3.
  
  
• The letter of intent skall be sent to your current Programme Coordinator, and deadline to send these letters is April 15.

Exchange studies and when to apply for a full term abroad

You apply in the middle of the autumn semester, the academic year before you plan to go abroad. This means that you apply in autumn if you wish to go on exchange the following autumn or the spring after that. In early spring there is also a second application round for the remaining places from the first round.

Planning your exchange

When an exchange fits into your programme depends on how your studies are structured, so always start by reading your programme syllabus. There you can see during which semester exchange studies can be included and what you are expected to study during that period.

As a student of the English Language and Literature Master Programme, you can go on exchange during semester 3.

The courses you take abroad will replace that semester in your programme.

Semester 3 is then replaced in your degree plan by:
 Exchange Studies, undergraduate or graduate level, 30 hp (level depends on your selection of partner and courses)

This is also what should appear in your Learning Agreement under Table B if you are nominated to a partner university. The Learning Agreement is a document in which you and your programme director agree in advance on which courses you will study during your exchange.

It is possible to bring in up to 30 hp from undergraduate level into a master degree which is a possible within the English Language and Literature Master programme syllabus, you can therefore select to go on exchange either for undergraduate or graduate level.

Steps towards your exchange

1. Explore your options

   See which partner universities are suitable for your programme in the list of available exchange places. A general overview is always available, but specific information such as number of places and subject areas is only visible when the application period is open.
   
   
2. Prepare your application

   When the application period opens, it’s a good time to start exploring your options. Each university in the list includes a comment where you can find information about which subject areas are available through the collaboration. It’s a good idea to note the universities that interest you most and write down which subjects or courses you would like to take there. This makes it easier when you fill out your application.
   
   
3. After nomination
   
If you are nominated, you will plan your courses together with your programme director and international coordinator in a Learning Agreement. This should be completed either before you go abroad or, in some cases, before you submit your application to the host university. You will receive more detailed instructions after nomination.
   
   
4. After returning home
   
When you return, you will apply to have your courses from the exchange recognised at Linnaeus University. You then specify what is written in your Learning Agreement (Table B), which will be listed alongside the courses you studied abroad.

Suitable partner universities

There are opportunities for exchange studies with universities across the world – in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Oceania. Our collaborations may be at a general university level, known as University Wide, open to all students, or within specific subject areas intended for particular groups of students.

As a student at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, you can choose between several types of agreements. You can apply to University Wide agreements, to the faculty’s own agreements within the area of Arts and Humanities, or to agreements within specific subjects, as long as the university offers courses suitable for your exchange period.

More information about each collaboration and university is available in the placement list when applications are open, and in the comments for each institution. Below are examples of partner universities where students from the programme have previously studied abroad, or where the range of courses often suits the programme. In addition to these, there are many more options. Available partners may vary each year, so always check the current placement list when the application is open.

Examples of partner universities

• University of Liège, Belgium
• Aarhus University, Danmark
• University of Helsinki, Finland
• Tampere Universit, Finland
• Bath Spa University, Storbritannien
• University of Greenwich, Storbritannien
• Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Tyskland
• Universität Mannheim, Tyskland
• University of Limerick, Irland
• Università degli Studi Roma Tre, Italien
• North-West University, Sydafrika
• San Francisco State University, USA
• University of Minnesota Duluth, USA

Internship abroad

For the programme internship, you have the opportunity to carry it out abroad if it is approved by your course coordinator. You are responsible for finding your own placement but can receive advice and support from your programme director during the process.

For the internship to be covered by Linnaeus University’s collective insurance for students abroad, a learning agreement for traineeships must be signed between Linnaeus University and the host organisation. If your internship lasts for at least two months, you may also apply for an Erasmus+ Traineeship Grant through Linnaeus University. The agreement is signed by the course coordinator, the international coordinator, and the receiving organisation.

Internship after graduation

After completing your studies, you can apply for an Erasmus+ Traineeship Grant to fund an internship within the EU. It is important that you have not yet graduated, as the internship will then be registered as part of your degree. You are responsible for finding your own placement, and depending on previous Erasmus+ mobility periods, you may be eligible for up to 12 months of funding. Applications are made during your final semester.

Conducting fieldwork abroad for your degree project

You have the opportunity to conduct fieldwork abroad as part of your dissertation or degree project. Fieldwork involves collecting data or carrying out investigations on site, for example through interviews, observations, or collaborations with an organisation. It gives you the chance to gather material in a new cultural context, discover different perspectives on your subject, and gain experiences that can deepen your academic work.

To carry out fieldwork abroad, you need prior approval from your dissertation supervisor. If you are interested, it is advisable to discuss your plans with your programme director well in advance. An agreement between Linnaeus University and the receiving organisation is also required for the university’s insurance (Student UT) to apply during your stay abroad. Contact your faculty’s international coordinator for assistance with this.

There are scholarships available to support fieldwork abroad. Through Minor Field Studies (MFS), you can apply for a travel grant for field studies in low- and middle-income countries, while the Erasmus+ Traineeship Grant can provide funding for data collection or fieldwork in a European country.

International experience at home

You can also gain international experience during your regular studies. Through the Buddy Programme run by Linnaeus Union, you can become a mentor for incoming international and exchange students and help them settle into student life at Linnaeus University. It’s a fun way to meet new cultures and build international connections.

Contact

If you would like to learn more about your options or need help planning your exchange studies or internship abroad, we are happy to assist you.

International Office

The International Office helps with practical matters such as how to apply, how nominations work, and what you need to arrange before your exchange.

Faculty of Arts and Humanities International Coordinator

The faculty’s international coordinator assists with the academic aspects, for example, finding suitable universities for your subject area, advising on course selection, who approves your courses, and how they can be credited towards your degree upon return.

Together we ensure that you receive support throughout the entire process, from planning to return.