English Language and Literature, Master Programme
120 creditsThis is a two-year programme at the second level with English as its main field of study. You can choose to specialise in linguistics or literature, or a combination of these.
Several of the courses in the programme combine linguistics and literature. The aim is for you to develop knowledge of relevant, modern linguistic and literary theories and methods, primarily within the fields included in the research centres at the faculty, such as the postcolonial and intermedial research centres, as well as multicultural communication and text mining in Data Intensive Digital Humanities. After the first semester, you can choose courses in either linguistics or literature, or combine both fields. During the third semester, you have the opportunity to study abroad at one on Linnaeus University’s partner universities, or to conduct an internship abroad. If you choose not to go abroad, you will study in Sweden with international students in the programme. You write your Master’s thesis in the fourth semester.
Career
You develop broad and in-depth knowledge in one of the specialisations as well as an interdisciplinary field combining these. The programme provides a solid foundation for doctoral studies and prepares you for work in publishing, culture, education, communication, media and administration.
Degree
Master of Arts (120 credits) with specialization in linguistics, Main field of study: English or Master of Arts (120 credits) with specialization in literary studies, Main field of study: English or Master of Arts (120 credits) with specialization in linguistics and literary studies, Main field of study:English
Programme Coordinators
Application Process
Application process
The application process consists of two steps.
1. First you need to apply to the programme online at www.universityadmissions.se - Deadline 16 January 2023.
2. Secondly, you need to submit a letter of intent - Deadline 1 February 2023.
Letter of intent
Please write a letter of intent that on one A4 page describes your interest in the programme.
The letter will be evaluated in terms of:
- Your previous and intended engagement with the field you are interested in
- Your proficiency in expressing yourself in English
Submit your letter on your pages on www.universityadmissions.se
A presentation about the programme
A challenging but rewarding programme
Esme studied her BA at Linnaeus University, and when she decided to expand her knowledge she applied here again. She appreciates the fact that the teachers are so engaged and that it is possible for students to study a semester abroad.
Read the interview with Esme
- I did my BA in English and gender studies at Linnaeus University and really enjoyed the experience. Although I tended to be more interested in linguistics during my BA studies, I also enjoyed literature. When I decided to continue my studies and apply to a master’s programme, the combination of language and literature courses offered by Linnaeus University caught my interest. Also, as I had studied here previously, I knew that the staff at the English department were engaged, helpful and knowledgeable, so it made sense to continue my studies here at Linnaeus University.
Esme is happy with her choice of programme and appreciates the study environment at Linnaeus University.
- Linnaeus University has a great environment, both the actual campus site and the surrounding area. I have found all staff to be both helpful and friendly and it’s easy to make new friends here. The first semester of the MELL program is common for all students, which means that we study both English linguistics and literature. In the second semester, there is a choice of theme courses to choose between and it’s possible to specialise in either linguistics, literature or a combination of both. Obviously, there is a lot of reading and the pace of the first semester is high, but all the material and subjects we’ve covered have been very stimulating.
She says that the combination of linguistics and literature allows for many interesting applications of knowledge. The students come from different backgrounds and that contributes to interesting discussions.
- I find it highly exciting to be able to use my knowledge and interest in linguistics within areas of literary analysis and study. Students on the MELL programme can also apply to do the third semester of the programme abroad. This is something that I hope to do. The students on the programme come from a range of academic backgrounds and from different countries, which provides for many interesting discussions, both in the classroom and socially.
If you are interested in linguistics, this programme will be suitable for you.
- I think anyone with an interest in linguistics or literature would find this programme both exciting and challenging. The teachers on the MELL programme are all highly knowledgeable within their fields and engage with the students. What is more, we are given the opportunity to take part in research projects and are also encouraged to attend conferences.
Teachers and students have endless passion for their research interests
Arya appreciates the atmosphere that has been created on the programme and the fact that he gets to meet students with different backgrounds on campus. In the future, he would like to work in a creative field.
Read the interview with Arya
- I generally do well in close-knit environments and as Linnaeus University is one of few Swedish universities that can offer a campus lifestyle, choosing Linnaeus University was a no-brainer for me.
Arya appreciates that the teachers are engaged in their students’ work and that there’s a good study environment on campus, but he also says that the programme can be challenging at times.
- I immensely enjoy the relationship that tutors have with their students here at Linnaeus University – friendly, polite, and caring. It further motivates me to see that everyone involved in our programme loves what they do. I would argue that our most valuable asset is the sense of community built around MELL. Teachers and students have endless passion for their research interests and that makes us all put our hearts and souls into everything we’re tasked with. Because of the unique nature of our programme, it can become hard to keep up with the study requirements, but it is a challenge I love overcoming.
Arya likes living on campus and meeting other students with different backgrounds.
- Aesthetically, Växjö is one of the nicest cities I’ve ever visited. It’s quite green in the summer and can get really white in the winter. There are activities for people of all interests, but having the opportunity to mingle with international students is what makes student life at Linnaeus University unique.
After graduation, Arya would like to work with something where he can be creative.
- I’m still exploring my options, but I will most likely end up working in a creative field. I aspire to be a visual storyteller and I feel that MELL has already brought me closer to this goal.
A unique mix of language and literature
A two-year programme at the second level with English as its main field of study. You can choose to specialise in linguistics or literature, or a combination of these.
More information about the programme
Thematic courses
- English in contrast, 15 credits
- Islands in Literature, 15 credits
- Corpus Methods in Practice, 15 credits
- Literature and migration, 15 credits
- Psycholinguistics and experimental design, 15 credits
- Intermedial ecocriticism, 15 credits
- Linguistic perspectives, 15 credits
- The Self in Travel Writing, 15 credits
FAQ
What are the entry requirements?
You are welcome to apply with a BA, 90 credits in English Linguistics or English Literature, or some other relevant field within language or literature to fulfil the degree requirements. However, since the English language requirements for the English language and literature programme is English 7, you need to provide an additional proof of English proficiency.
If you are not sure if you fulfil the entry requirements for the programme you can contact our admission department: admission@lnu.se
Do I need to have my certificate or diploma translated into English?
You must always submit your certificate or diploma in the official language of the country where you studied. If this language is not Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, English, French or German, you must also provide an official translation of the certificate or diploma. This translation should be in Swedish or English.
University application & admission in Sweden
Can I just send in a certificate or letter from my university certifying my English proficiency?
The English language requirements for the English language and literature programme is English 7, you need to provide an additional proof of English proficiency.
English 7 is a higher level that you therefore need to prove in order to be fully qualified for the programme. You can find more information on how to document your eligibility on the application portal: https://www.universityadmissions.se/en/entry-requirements/english-language-requirements/
Do I need to pay application and tuition fees?
Students with citizenship in countries not within the EU/EEA, or Switzerland, are required to pay application and tuition fees for university studies in Sweden. Some tuition scholarships are available for students who wish to study in Sweden. Please note that all students who are required to pay an application fee must pay that fee, even if they've applied for a scholarships.
Is it possible to not enroll in the programme, but instead study some of the elective courses as separate courses?
Yes it is. If you choose to apply for the program in the future, the credits from these separate courses can then be included in the degree.
Are there any scholarships I can apply for?
There are scholarships that you can apply for that cover 75% of the tuition fee. You can read more about the scholarships here There are also other scholarship opportunities for example at the Swedish Institute.
International possibilities
During the course of the programme, you can choose to study abroad through exchange studies to gain international experience. In that case, you will conduct some of your studies at one of our many partner universities around the world. You can also choose to do your internship abroad. What is more, you can do field work abroad as part of your degree project. This involves collecting material abroad for your degree project, for a period of roughly two months.
Teachers on the programme
- Niklas Salmose Professor
- +46 470-70 82 82
- niklassalmoselnuse
- Jukka Tyrkkö Professor
- +46 470-76 78 52
- jukkatyrkkolnuse
- Mike Classon Frangos Senior lecturer
- +46 470-70 82 96
- mikeclassonfrangoslnuse
- Fredrik Heinat Associate Professor
- +46 470-70 87 10
- +46 72-594 14 90
- fredrikheinatlnuse
- Johan Höglund Professor
- +46 480-44 73 71
- +46 73-036 09 59
- johanhoglundlnuse
- Anne Holm Senior lecturer
- +46 470-76 78 54
- anneholmlnuse
- Charlotte Hommerberg Senior lecturer
- +46 470-70 81 20
- +46 72-594 12 01
- charlottehommerberglnuse
- Magnus Levin Associate Professor
- +46 470-70 89 11
- +46 72-594 15 89
- magnuslevinlnuse
- Ibolya Maricic Senior lecturer
- +46 470-70 89 12
- ibolyamariciclnuse
- Aki Siegel Senior lecturer
- akisiegellnuse
- Per Sivefors Associate Professor
- persiveforslnuse
- Jenny Ström Herold Senior lecturer
- +46 470-76 78 58
- jennystromheroldlnuse
- Daniel Ocic Ihrmark Senior lecturer
- +46 470-76 72 03
- danielosundberglnuse
Guest lecturers
Examples of guest lecturers who have visited the programme: Mieke Bal (Cultural theorist and critic Video artist, Professor of Cultural Theory, University of Amsterdam), Thomas Leitch (Professor of English, University of Delaware), Ernst van Alphen (Professor of Comparative Literature, University of Leiden), Heidi Hart (Arts Researcher and Assistant Professor of Musicology at Utah State University).
Master's theses by students
Linnaeus University Centers
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Linnaeus University Centre for Concurrences in Colonial and Postcolonial Studies The Linnaeus University Centre for Concurrences in Colonial and Postcolonial Studies is a leading centre for Colonial…
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Linnaeus University Centre for Intermedial and Multimodal Studies (IMS) IMS is an interdisciplinary research centre that takes a broad media-oriented perspective on questions of narration, meaning…
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Linnaeus University Centre for Data Intensive Sciences and Applications The DISA research centre at Linnaeus University focuses its efforts on open questions in collection, analysis and utilization of…
Växjö – the student city with a living campus
Just south of Växjö’s city centre you will find Linnaeus University’s campus. In Växjö, many students choose to live on campus.
Here you will have five minutes’ walking distance to friends, restaurants, lecture rooms, gym, grocery store, the University Library, nature trails, and student pubs. If you live in another part of Växjö, you can quickly get to the university by bus or bicycle.
With its 90 000 inhabitants, Växjö is one of the fastest growing cities in Sweden. Here you will find the famous Småland entrepreneurship spirit and a lot of companies, for instance within the IT industry – perfect for when you are looking for an internship position or a job. Växjö is also a picturesque city where you are always close to forests and water.