University of Cologne

Applicants must have completed an undergraduate's degree totaling or being equal to 180 ECTS in one of the following areas:

• North American Studies
• English Studies
• American Studies
• History
• Geography
• Philosophy
• Political Science
• Law
• Sociology
• Theology
• Economics
• Translation
• Intercultural Communication

Moreover, applicants must have excellent English skills on C1 level of the CEFR and skills in a modern European language on B1 level of the CEFR. C1 level in English must be proven upon immatriculation. B1 level in another modern European language must be proven by the time the master thesis is started, i.e. it can be reached while completing the North American Studies program. German does not count as the second modern European language if the student's native language is German.

The checking of the students’ fulfilment of the language requirements is the responsibility of the examination office [Prüfungsamt] of the Faculty of Humanities [Philosophische Fakultät]. The English Seminar I does not provide legally binding information on what language certificates are accepted by the examination office.

All applicants who completed a first academic degree course within Germany must apply via KLIPS 2.0. More information on the application process can be found here.

All applicants who completed a first academic degree course outside of Germany must apply via uni assist. More information for international applicants can be found here. Moreover, the International Office provides useful information and services for international applicants.

Students can be begin their major during the winter semester or the summer semester. It is a single-major program. The standard period of study is four semesters over the course of which students acquire 120 credit points [Leistungspunkte; LP]. These credit points are awarded upon completing entire modules, not upon completing individual courses.

The major consists of four advanced modules [Aufbaumodule], one specialization module [Schwerpunktmodul], and one module pertaining to the master thesis. With the exception of the master thesis module [Masterarbeitsmodul], these modules consist of different courses, and an exam. In AMs 1 and 2, students write a term paper as their module exam; in AM 3, students undergo an oral exam; in AM 4, students undergo a combination exam [Kombinatorische Prüfung] for which they prepare a written handout and present it during an oral exam; and in SM 1, students write a report on their internship. The exams of AMs 1, 2, 3 and 4 factor into students’ overall grade; the exam of SM 1 does not.

Suggested_Study_Plan_NAS.pdf

In order to successfully complete a course, students have to provide a type of course requirement determined by the lecturer (for instance, essays, oral presentations, portfolios etc.). The deadline for the course requirement is set at the discretion of the lecturer. The specific course requirements are usually announced in the first class of the semester.

Advanced module 1 Literary and Cultural Studies: Written exam in form of a term paper consisting of 20 to 25 pages (60,000 to 70,000 characters, including blank spaces and footnotes). The module exam factors 25% into the overall grade. The term paper has to be written in conjunction with one of the module’s courses. The exam date, i.e. the deadline for the term paper submission is March 15 in the winter semester or September 15 in the summer semester. Students must register for the exam via KLIPS. Exam registration starts 12 weeks prior to the exam date mentioned in KLIPS and ends 6 weeks prior to this exam date. Exam de-registration ends two weeks prior to the exam date. Further information on the module exam in AM 1 can be found below under 'Exams in Advanced Module 1' or here (German version). Please make sure to use the cover sheet of the English Seminar in your submission.

Advanced module 2 History and Society: Written exam in form of a term paper consisting of 20 to 25 pages (60,000 to 70,000 characters, including blank spaces and footnotes). The module exam factors 25% into the overall grade. The term paper has to be written in conjunction with one of the module’s courses. The exam date, i.e. the deadline for the term paper submission is March 15 in the winter semester or September 15 in the summer semester. Students must register for the exam via KLIPS. Exam registration starts 12 weeks prior to the exam date mentioned in KLIPS and ends 6 weeks prior to this exam date. Exam de-registration ends two weeks prior to the exam date.

Advanced module 3 Postcolonial Studies: Oral exam lasting 45 minutes. Students prepare two topics in conjunction with one of the module’s courses. The module exam factors 25% into the overall grade. Students must register for the exam via KLIPS. Exam registration starts 12 weeks prior to the exam date mentioned in KLIPS and ends 6 weeks prior to this exam date in KLIPS. Exam de-registration ends two weeks prior to the exam date mentioned in KLIPS. Please note that the exam date mentioned in KLIPS is a technical dummy - the exact exam date for your oral exam must be arranged with Bärbel Eltschig if you take the exam with Prof. Berressem or JProf. Rauscher. Exam topics must be arranged with your examiner.

Advanced module 4 Research: Combination exam in form of a ten-minute presentation, followed by a 20-minute discussion on it; the basis of the presentation is a 2-page handout [Thesenpapier]. The module exam factors 25% into the overall grade. The 2-page handout and presentation have to be prepared in conjunction with the final one of the module’s colloquia. Students must register for the exam via KLIPS. Exam registration starts 12 weeks prior to the exam date mentioned in KLIPS and ends 6 weeks prior to this exam date in KLIPS. Exam de-registration ends two weeks prior to the exam date. Please note that the exam date mentioned in KLIPS is a technical dummy - the exact date for your oral exam must be arranged with Bärbel Eltschig if you take the exam with Prof. Berressem or JProf. Rauscher.

The exams must be taken in conjunction with a specific course from the respective module. This is possible for three semesters, the semester in which the class was taken counts as the first semester. If the course was taken more than three semesters ago, students cannot be examined about its topic anymore.

Specialization module 1 Internship: Written exam in form of an internship report consisting of 10 to 15 pages (40,000 to 45,000 characters, including blank spaces and footnotes). The internship itself has to be at least six weeks long. The module exam does not factor into students’ overall grade. The exam date, i.e. the deadline for the report submission is March 15 in the winter semester or September 15 in the summer semester. Students must register for the exam via KLIPS. Exam registration starts 12 weeks prior to the exam date mentioned in KLIPS and ends 6 weeks prior to this exam date in KLIPS. Exam de-registration ends two weeks prior to the exam date.

Exam: Term Paper in North American Literature and Culture [4569N.MFA01]

The overall grade is composed of the cumulative grade of the module exams (2/3), and the grade of the master thesis (1/3). The exams of AMs 1, 2, 3 and 4 are of equal weight.

Students have to register for module exams in KLIPS. Students have to be registered for exams in KLIPS in order to receive grades; for legal reasons, belated registrations for exams are not possible. In addition to that, students need to contact their lecturers in a timely manner in order to arrange exam topics and dates. In case of students failing a module exam, they can repeat it as often as needed.
 

Exam registration on KLIPS: Exam registration starts 12 weeks prior to the exam date mentioned in KLIPS and ends 6 weeks prior to this exam date in KLIPS. Practical information regarding exam registration on KLIPS can be found here.

Exam de-registration: Exam de-registration ends 2 weeks prior to the exam date mentioned in KLIPS. If students de-register from their exam, they must inform their examiner. Practical information regarding exam de-registration on KLIPS can be found here.

Exam cancellation: If students are unable to take an exam and need to cancel the exam during the 2 week period before the exam after the de-registration period has ended, they have to inform their examiner, at the latest, by the day of the exam. Furthermore, students have to hand in this form and, in case of illness, a doctor’s certificate no later than one week after the scheduled exam date.
 

Grades are registered in KLIPS by the examiners and activated at the earliest by the date of the exam registered in KLIPS. This means that grades for term papers will not appear on students’ transcripts prior to March 15, the exam date in the winter semester or prior to September 15, the exam date in the summer semester. Individual proofs of exam grades cannot be issued. Students are advised to consider this in the planning of their studies.

Further information on the module exam in AM 1 can be found here.

Further information on exams with Prof. Berressem can be found here.

The Universities of Bonn and Cologne have an established cooperation, which gives NAS-students the opportunity to exchange the Postcolonial Studies module (AM 3) in toto with a module from the University of Bonn. The Bonn modules offered are either North American Politics or Economics. The Bonn module must be fully completed in order for it to be recognized for AM 3 in the NAS Master's program in Cologne. Individual classes at the University of Bonn cannot be recognized for AM 3.

If students wish to do the exchange with Bonn, they do not have to register as “kleine Zweithörer” at Bonn University. They have to contact the lecturers of the classes they wish to take. They then participate in the courses, pass the module exam in Bonn, and receive a certificate that they submit to the University of Cologne, so that AM 3 can be marked as completed in the Transcript of Records in Cologne.

To find out what classes are offered to NAS Students at the University of Bonn, see here.

Contact Person for the Politics Module: Holger Janusch (hjanusch(at)uni-bonn.de)

Contact Person for the Economics Module: Sine Kontbay Busun (skontbay(at)uni-bonn.de)

For the registration of the master's thesis, students must show proof of one modern foreign language - other than English - at B1 level of the CEFR. The University of Cologne offers several options for language courses and certificates.

German Courses

The Department German as a Foreign Language offers free German language courses up to B1 level to NAS-students. When registering for the courses, students only have to state their study program as 'North American Studies' to avoid fees.

Other Language Courses

Students at the University of Cologne can take part in one language course (English, French, Italian and Spanish) in cooperation with the language school Berlitz.

Moreover, it is possible for master's students to take part in the language courses that are part of the extracurricular offers [Extracurriculare Angebote] by the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. Which languages are offered can be seen on KLIPS, where students can also register for the classes. Please note that general studies courses [Kurse des Studium Integrale] are not open for master's students.

Certificates

Students at the University of Cologne can attain language certificates free of charge for English and Spanish via the Sprachlabor of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. More information on dates and registration can be found here.

The master thesis is worth 30 credit points. It is proof that students are able to academically treat and reflect a topic relevant to the study program within a fixed timeframe. The thesis’ topic cannot be identical with any exam topic. The thesis has to be completed within 26 weeks and has to be 60 pages long.

The examination office of the Faculty of Humanities is responsible for the administrative handling of master theses. Students need to register their thesis there after consultation with the lecturer supervising their thesis.

For this registration, students must also show proof of one modern foreign language - other than English - at B1 level. See above for more information on language courses at the University of Cologne.

An overview of the program can be found here.

The program flyer (German language version) can be found here.

The module handbook (German language version) can be found here.

Information on services for enrolled international MA students by the International Office,, for instance on funding options, can be found here.

The website of the Historical Institute can be found here.

Subscribe to the NAS Newsletter to stay updated.

You can also join the ILIAS-Group of the NAS Students' Union to get in touch and exchange information with your peers.

For questions and requests, please contact Dr. Björn Sonnenberg-Schrank (bjoern.sonnenberg(at)uni-koeln.de).