Application & Admission

Admission Requirements

To apply for the Master program North American Studies you have to meet the following requirements:

• undergraduate degree in American or English studies (a significant percentage of the undergraduate degree must include content related to American studies). To present proof of a significant focus on literature and culture classes, preferably with America-related content, applicants need to provide a transcript of records.
• a final grade of ‘gut’ (good – at least 2.5) or better; applicants with a final grade between 2.5 and 3.5 must pass an interview.
• proof of English language proficiency level C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (see this orientation guide for further information. Our university’s Language Center also offers courses to obtain proof of C1 proficiency: https://sz.fau.eu/easp/easp-exams-tests/easp-cefr-level-proof/)
• proof of German language proficiency at CEFR A1 level (info on German language courses and examinations at FAU).

Application & Deadline

General application opens February 15 and ends July 15. Qualified applicants will be admitted on a rolling basis to the subsequent winter term. We therefore encourage early applications.

Applicants with a final grade between 2.5 and 3.5 can apply for an interview. If grades which are submitted subsequently improve the average grade (2.5 or better), the interview is not necessary. We will notify you as soon as possible whether your application was successful or not, or whether you will need to attend an interview.

You can apply online for the program here. Please do not forget to include the following documents with your application:

• secondary education certificate;
• university degree certificate with transcript of records proving a significant focus on literary and/or cultural studies, preferably with America-related content.
• proof of English at level C1 (IELTS 7, TOEFL 95) and, if applicable, German at A1 (German language skills need to be documented within the first year of study at the latest).
• applicants must submit a 1,000-1,500 word essay as a writing sample. For applications for the winter term 2025/26 the essay questions are available here.

Further information on the application process can be found here.

Please address any questions about the online application process to zuv-masterbuero@fau.de and any question on the program to ma-north-american-studies@fau.de.