M.A. English Linguistics

• Students acquire extensive advanced skills in linguistics, with a particular focus on the English language, language variation and the varieties of English, and on the diachronic evolution of the English language. Graduates will be able to differentiate and characterise lines of evolution of the English language in various linguistic areas. They learn to define, compare, and evaluate the structural characteristics and usage features of the English language and its varieties, and to analyse and assess texts regarding their structural and stylistic characteristics.
• Students learn to select, compare, and assess relevant contemporary methods appropriately, to apply them and to conduct analyses with them. Graduates can critically evaluate and apply relevant methods and theories.
• Students learn to evaluate current research approaches in English linguistics and to derive their own ideas for research, as well as to reflect on and discuss major linguistic works. Graduates are able to work independently on topics in English Linguistics, to use and critically evaluate and process academic literature, and to write a comprehensive study at a scholarly level.      
• Graduates can independently develop and write academic and interdisciplinary papers by reflecting on theories, models, and methods in current research. They are able to demonstrate that they can apply these methods and theories and that they can render them into target group specific writing in the context of an empirical study. Furthermore, they are able to develop a research concept with critical assessment in a structured written form including discussion and evaluation. They are familiar with the processing of academic results and recognize research desiderata.

Application deadline:

Application for the academic year 2025/26 is closed!

Applications for the academic year 2026/27 will be accepted between April 15 and June 1, 2026 (deadline).

Application process:

Applications for 2026/27 will be accepted online on our application portal Campusportal between April 15 and June 1, 2026.

As of 2025, applications by email will no longer be accepted.

Application documents:

• CV (including name, date of birth, postal address, email address, the exact titles + grades of your qualifications, and the full name of your university)
• a cover letter in English (approximately 2 pages) outlining your motivation for applying for an M.A. program as well as the relevance of this program for your professional and academic plans/goals
• APS-certificate (for applicants from China, Vietnam, India)
• copy of your passport (only for international applicants)
• English-language certificate (level C1 or higher or equiv.). This equals an overall IELTS band score of at least 7.0 or a TOEFL iBT score of at least 95 points.
• University degree certificate: university degree with at least six semesters of standard period of study (full-time study) in English Linguistics or related subject combinations with an average grade of at least 2.50; foreign degrees will be converted according to the modified Bavarian formula
• transcript of academic records, citing your attended courses and documenting your hitherto achieved credit points (at least 150 credit points ECTS) and your average grade
• secondary school-leaving certificate (high-school or equiv.)
• a sample of your own academic work (10-20 pages), written in English

Please note:

• Our M.A. programs are English-language programs. German-language proficiency is not required for the application, although it is advisable to have basic German language skills to organize your studies and life in Regensburg.
• All M.A. students in the English Linguistics program must acquire German language skills at level A1 (or equivalent) according to the Common European Framework of References for Languages (CEFR) during their first year of studies.
• All documents must be in either English or German. Simple copies of certificates and certified translations are sufficient for the application. However, all original documents must be shown at the Registrar's Office for enrolment.
• Recommendation letters are not required.
• There will be no entrance exams or interviews.

Further information:

• International students: Please consult our International Office for information on accomodation, insurance, finances etc. (Information about scholarships and grants can be found here.)
• For questions regarding your application, please write to Application.MasterDEAS​(at)​ur.de.

• Applicants are required to hold an above-average first academic degree earned in a program with components relevant/related to English Linguistics - a university degree with at least six semesters of standard period of study (full-time study), for example a B.A. or equivalent or higher.
• Applicants must demonstrate their aptitude for the English Linguistics M.A. program. See APPLICATION above for a list of all documents required for application.
• Applicants neet to possess an excellent command of the English language at level C1 or higher (er equivalent) according to the Common European Framework of References for Languages (CEFR).

• 4 semesters / 120 credit points (including M.A. thesis)
• 10 modules (including M.A. thesis + practical component)
• interdisciplinary and/or international component through the option of an internship
• degree: Master of Arts (M.A.)
• start: every winter term (October)

The program consists of ten modules (120 credit points in total) which should be completed within four semesters. Thus, courses worth around 30 credit points (CP) should be selected each semester.

The practical component (external link, opens in a new window) (module 9) can be completed either within the semester break or during the lecture period. Your fourth semester should be dedicated to your master's thesis.

You can find all courses in the online course catalogue (SPUR). Please note that, in several modules, you will be able to choose among a number of courses offered in the respective subject area each semester, i.e., there will be different seminars on the topics listed below.

Further general information that might help you get started with your studies is provided here.

Previous internships

A list of some previous internships by students of the M.A. English Linguistics can be downloaded here (opens in a new window). (This PDF is not accessible).

A collection of internship reports by previous interns is available at the Secretary's Office (PT 3.2.66). 

No internship placement

We have no internship board but you may find the following links useful when looking for an internship position:

• The Bavarian State Ministry of Education, Science and the Arts and the Bavarian Industry Association run a joint website („Study & Work International – Aus Bayern in die Welt“) with internship ads for students of all Bavarian universities.
• Information by the International Office about funding opportunities for internships in Europe with ERASMUS+ and outside of Europe with PROMOS. (in German)
• Links to search engines and placement agencies worldwide
  Please note: The information on this site is supplied without liability.

Leave of absence ('Urlaubssemester')

You do not have to take a leave of absence but often students choose to do so because it means that the semester when they are studying abroad or doing an internship, for example, will not be counted towards their total time of study.

To take a leave of absence, students are required to submit a form at the Registrar's Office, and, in case of an internship, some sort of proof such as a copy of the employment contract.

Taking a leave of absence for an internship is only possible if the duration of the internship stretches over at least half of the lecture period. You need to apply before the internship starts and, in addition, by December 15 at the latest for the winter semester / by June 15 at the latest for the summer semester.

It will not be possible to write any exams or seminar papers or register for anything in FlexNow during your leave of absence.

Please see §20 and §21 of the examination regulations (MPO) for detailed information on writing and registering your M.A. thesis.

Registration

• Talk to your chosen supervisor (approximately around the end of your 3rd semester) --> for your thesis, you need two supervisors (first and second supervisor). Supervisors in English Linguistics can be: Prof. Dr. Jakob Leimgruber, Dr. Thorsten Brato, Dr. Kerstin Richter.
• Register your M.A. thesis at the Prüfungsamt (not in FlexNow), by filling in the form "Antrag auf Zulassung zur Masterarbeit ELG" (approximately around the beginning of your 4th semester).
• Prerequisites for registering your M.A. thesis are:
  • the completion of modules ELG-M 1, ELG-M 2, ELG-M 3, and ELG-M 4
  • at least 24 credit points from modules ELG-M 5, ELG-M 6, ELG-M 7, and ELG-M8
• The thesis can be registered at any time during the semester; there are no specific registration dates for each semester.
• Once your thesis is registered, you have four months to write it.
• Please note: Students have to be enrolled the entire time it takes for them to write and hand in the thesis.

Formalities

• Time for writing your thesis: 4 months
• Length: 60-80 pages / 22,500-30,000 words
• Submit 4 copies: 3 printed copies, 1 digital copy (pdf)

• To get your M.A. certificate, you need to have completed all modules, including your M.A. thesis (meaning that all grades must be entered in FlexNow). Then you can fill in the "Antrag auf Ausstellung des Abschlusszeugnisses"  (under "Zeugnisantrag") and take it to the Prüfungsamt. Once it is ready, you can either pick up your certificate in person or have it sent to a postal address of your choice.
• The M.A. certificate is issued in German and in English.
• To get your Diploma Supplement, please contact Mr. Matthias Baderschneider.
• Final grade: 
  ELG-M 1 (research proposal) 10%
  ELG-M 4 (term paper)            10%
  ELG-M 6 (term paper)            15%
  ELG-M 8 (term paper)            15%
  M.A. thesis                            50%
• You can look at the written assessment of your M.A. thesis within one month after having received your M.A. grade (but not afterwards) (MPO §30).

Please use the following two links to get to the examination regulations (called Prüfungsordnung in German) and detailed module descriptions (called Modulkatalog in German):

• examination regulations: Prüfungsordnung (in German)
• module catalog M.A. English Linguistics (valid for study begin in or after winter semester 2025/26; in German)

English versions

You can find English versions of the examination regulations and the module descriptions for all the M.A.s here:

• Examination regulation (translation updated on 25th November 2025)
• Module description valid for study begin in or after winter semester 2025/26 (translation updated on 25th November 2025)

Please note that these translations are for informational purposes only and not legally binding!