MA in Intercultural Anglophone Studies

Intercultural Anglophone Studies (MAIAS) is an innovative, research-oriented master’s program in English and American Studies. It enables in-depth and theoretically informed study of the literature and cultures of the English-speaking world, and of linguistic phenomena of English in its varieties. A wide range of forms of cultural expression such as literature, film, theatre, music, and popular culture are addressed. This degree program promotes the analysis of complex issues in culture, literature, and language – including inter- and transcultural issues – from various perspectives.

Why study Intercultural Anglophone Studies in Bayreuth?

You will encounter a small, research-oriented Master's program with an excellent staff-student ratio, and exciting topics from which you can freely choose your own area of focus. You can, for instance, focus on British, American, or African literature and cultures and their entanglements, on post-colonial and diaspora studies, on ecocriticism, on language, cognition, and culture, or on the diversity of the English language in its cultural environments and on corpus linguistics. You will benefit from ideal conditions to expand and improve your analytical and methodological skills, and, of course, to conduct independent research.

Student Exchange & Dual Degree Programs

The program offers several innovative dual degree options with leading institutions in their respective countries: Shanghai International Studies University (PR China), Fu Jen Catholic University (Taiwan), the University of Chester (UK), and, for the field of linguistics, with Moscow City Pedagogical University (Rus). There are also opportunities to study for one semester at George Washington University (USA).

The degree program is directed toward advanced scholarly competence in one of two major areas: "literature" or "linguistics." It enables in-depth and theoretically informed study of the literature and cultures of the English-speaking world, and of linguistic phenomena of English in its varieties. A wide range of forms of cultural expression such as literature, film, theater, music, and other forms of popular culture are addressed. From various perspectives, this degree program enables the analysis of complex issues in culture, literature, and language, paying particular attention to inter- and transcultural issues. Students will demonstrate their competence toward the end of their studies in an independent and comprehensive thesis.

Fields of Employment

As the MAIAS program is geared toward advanced competencies and skills, students are well-prepared for careers and positions in the academic world, in business, or the increasingly important forums of cross-cultural exchange. In particular, they find attractive career options in research and teaching, media and journalism, publishing, new media, international cultural institutions, cultural management, intercultural consulting, service, and trade.

Academic Career

The program is designed to enable students to work independently toward research goals, to present their results coherently and effectively, and to critically evaluate scholarly contributions from other authors. After the successful completion of the master’s degree, students have the option to pursue a doctorate, for example, within the International Graduate School of African Studies at the University of Bayreuth.

Doing a doctorate at the University of Bayreuth

The University of Bayreuth Graduate School supervises doctoral students of all subjects who are pursuing a doctorate in a structured program or at one of the University's seven faculties. We facilitate scientific exchange already in the earliest phase of independent research and complement the interdisciplinary education of doctoral students with additional teaching and training opportunities. Our aim is to create the perfect research and learning conditions for them.

Academic Career

The program is designed to enable students to work independently toward research goals, to present their results coherently and effectively, and to critically evaluate scholarly contributions from other authors. After the successful completion of the master’s degree, students have the option to pursue a doctorate, for example, within the International Graduate School of African Studies at the University of Bayreuth.