Literary Studies (specialisation)

Entry requirements

1. A completed Bachelor's degree in Literary Studies or related area
   You can be admitted to this specialisation if you have a Bachelor’s degree in Literary Studies or a related area such as in Greek and Latin languages and cultures, Dutch, Romance languages (Spanish or French), English, Spanish, French, German, Arabic, American Studies or any other language. Your average grade during the second and third years of your BA studies has to have been at least a 7.5 and your Bachelor’s thesis had to have received a grade of at least 8.0.
2. Proficiency in English
   In order to take part in this programme, you need to have fluency in both written and spoken English. Non-native speakers of English* need one of the following:
   • A TOEFL score of ≥600 (paper based) or ≥100 (internet based)
   • A IELTS score of ≥7.0
   • Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) with a mark of C or higher
3. Strong motivation
   You have to be able to demonstrate your motivation for and affinity with international academic research. A selection committee will review evaluate the motivation of each applicant separately.
4. Letter of recommendation
   

   We also ask that your BA thesis supervisor (or other relevant teacher) sends us a letter of recommendation by e-mail.

* Applicants are considered to be a native speaker of English if they are from Australia, Canada (with exception of Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, UK, USA or South Africa.

Months of entry

February, September

Course content

Whether you prefer ancient Greek dramas, medieval Dutch poetry, contemporary American literature, or are more interested in general literary theory, this Master’s is suited to students wishing to contribute to textual research. The Master’s in Literary Studies will teach you how to approach historical and contemporary texts from an international perspective, as well as how to examine the current societal significance of literature. By the end of the programme, you’ll be able to discuss literary texts and scholarly approaches with other scholars at the highest academic level. This programme strongly encourages you to go abroad for at least a semester. Students can use our connections to other universities (IRUN network) and research institutes to find a place that meet their academic interests.

Europe and its worlds

The programme welcomes students with interest in all fields of literary studies, but our own research primarily focuses on Europe and ‘its worlds’, including the ways Europe interacts with and differs from the rest of the world. All of our research is performed in collaboration with scientists from other fields within the Institute for Historical, Literary and Cultural Studies (HLCS).

What will you learn?

• Gain insight into methods and theories in both literary studies and the humanities in general and become familiar with a wide range of literary traditions, critical approaches and theoretical debates.
• Focus on textual scholarship and methods of literary interpretation from different historical periods
• Expand your knowledge in different topics in humanities
• Get experience designing, conducting and presenting your own research projects

Career prospects

Many graduates from this programme choose to pursue a career in academia, but graduates can also find work in a variety of positions:

• Researcher at a cultural or scientific organisation or research centre
• Assistant of a senior researcher
• Teacher at an institution for higher education
• Policy-making official in the fields of culture and science
• Editor in the field of historical or cultural scholarship
• Staff member of a publishing company or text agency, usually with regard to scientific, historical or cultural journals
• Curator of a cultural heritage institution or museum
• Consultant for a political party
• Journalist or critic

This is a specialisation of the Master's in Historical, Literary & Cultural Studies.

To apply for this course, please contact us by e-mail.

Learn more via the Radboud University contact form.

Fees and funding

There are various scholarships available for studying at Radboud University. Some of the opportunities are described below. A full list, including detailed information, can be found on our scholarships and grants page at our website.

Radboud Scholarship Programme

Open to a select number of excellent international students. Instead of the institutional tuition fees, non-EEA students pay the legal tuition fees (€2,209). Visa and residence permit costs, liability insurance and health insurance are also covered.

Orange Tulip Scholarship

Open to students from Brazil, Mexico, Russia, Indonesia, South-Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and China. Instead of the institutional tuition fees, non-EEA students pay the legal tuition fees (€2,209). Visa and residence permit costs, liability insurance and health insurance are also covered.

Radboud Faculty of Arts Study Funds

Students who receive either the Radboud Scholarship or the Orange Tulip Scholarship are eligible for an additional grant to assist with study costs. The grant consists of 2,500 euros paid in 10 instalments throughout the year.

Fulbright-Radboud Scholarships

Open to excellent American students. The grant will be paid in 12 monthly instalments of 1,050 euros. International travel and the cost of the residence permit will be covered, and an extra allowance of €1150 will be paid on arrival.

Sino-Dutch Bilateral Exchange Scholarship

Open to excellent students from China. Consists of a contribution of € 16,113 towards the total costs of one year of study or research in the Netherlands.

DIKTI-Neso Scholarships

Aimed at lecturers at higher education institutions in Indonesia who wish to pursue a PhD or Master's at a university in the Netherlands. A DIKTI scholarship includes allowances for living expenses, insurance, travel costs, tuition fees and more.

Indonesian Education Scholarship (LPDP)

Open to excellent Indonesian students under the age of 35. Involves a full scholarship.

Holland Scholarship Programme

Open to excellent students from Canada, America, India and Turkey. Scholarship consists of 5,000 euros payed at the start of study.

Dutch Student Finance

EU/EEA students and Swiss students under 30 years of age are eligible if they are working at least 56 hours per month in the Netherlands, or have been living in the Netherlands for five years or more. Dutch student finance consists of four components: a basic grant, a supplementary grant (depending on the parental income), a student travel product, and a loan.