Program Overview

Master World Literature Program

The Master World Literature program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of world literature, exploring the concept of world literature and its relevance in a globalized and mediatized world. The program aims to equip students with the necessary skills to critically analyze and understand the complexities of world literature.

Program Structure

The program consists of five modules: Theorie, Literaturen I, Literaturen II, Interdisziplin‰r, and Master-Werkstatt. Each module has a minimum and maximum number of ECTS points that must be earned.

• Modul 1: Theorie: This module provides an overview of literary theory, cultural theory, and media theory, essential for studying and researching world literature.
• Modul 2: Literaturen I: This module deepens skills necessary for independent research activities, which can take place in the form of research papers or projects not directly related to offered courses.
• Modul 3: Literaturen II: This module enables the acquisition of knowledge in individual philologies, with a focus on specific literatures and literary methodology.
• Modul 4: Interdisziplin‰r: This module allows students to engage with theories, methods, and themes from non-literary fields, providing methodological skills for interdisciplinary work.
• Modul 5: Master-Werkstatt: This module accompanies students throughout their Master's studies, providing necessary preparation and supervision for independent projects and written work.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the Master World Literature program, students must have a Bachelor's degree from a recognized university in one of the following fields:

• Arch‰ologie
• Deutsche Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft
• Englische Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft
• Franzˆsische Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft
• Geschichte
• Iberoromanische Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft
• Orientalistik
• Italienische Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft
• Klassische Philologie
• Kunstgeschichte
• Musikwissenschaft
• Nordische Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft
• Philosophie
• Religionswissenschaft
• Slawische Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft
• Sozial- und Kulturanthropologie/Ethnologie
• Theater-, Tanz- und Filmwissenschaft
• Vergleichende Literaturwissenschaft
• Weitere Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaften

Alternatively, students with a Bachelor's degree in a humanities or social sciences field can be admitted if they complete additional coursework of up to 60 ECTS points.

Language Requirements

Good to excellent language skills in English and German, as well as in the respective teaching languages (especially French, Italian) of the chosen courses, are required.

Combination Possibilities

The Master's program in World Literature can be studied as a monofaculty program (120 ECTS) or as a major (90 ECTS) with a minor (30 ECTS). The major can be combined with any minor offered at the University of Bern, except for the same field of study.

Career Prospects

The program prepares students for a variety of careers, including academia, cultural journalism, cultural management, and cultural policy, by providing a solid foundation in critical thinking and analytical skills.

Further Information

For more details on the program, including application procedures and deadlines, please refer to the university's official resources.