Master in Worlds of English

Master in Worlds of English is one of 4 English-taught Languages & Linguistics programmes at master’s level in the register, offered by 2 institutions. 4 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland; this programme lists EUR 1,453 a year. 4 are at a public university, where EU, EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters.

The Master's programme in Worlds of English at the University of Klagenfurt is a four-semester, 120 ECTS degree taught entirely in English. It leads to a Master of Arts (MA). You choose one specialisation: Linguistics or Literature and Culture Studies. The programme builds practical language skills and research methods, and it looks at the cultures, societies and politics of the English-speaking world.

What you study

The curriculum has required subjects in Research Foundations (18 ECTS) and a specialisation of 48 ECTS in either Linguistics or Literature and Culture Studies. You also take 12 ECTS of open electives, write a master's thesis (30 ECTS) and sit an overall examination (12 ECTS).

In the first semester the courses are Research Colloquium, Advanced Language Awareness: Master's Level, Focus on Gender and Diversity in Literature, Linguistics, or Culture Studies, and Introduction to Thesis Writing and Research Methodologies. You also take 12 ECTS of guided electives from your chosen specialisation. The second semester has 20 ECTS of guided electives and 10 ECTS of open electives.

The programme teaches you to understand subtle texts and produce situation-adequate written and spoken English. You learn theory formation, analytical thinking and how to argue in a subject-specific way. In the Literature and Culture Studies track you work with literary texts, cultural artefacts and films, and you learn to situate, analyse and critique them. The Linguistics track gives you insight into the function, performance and structure of language, including regional and historical conditions. Both tracks deal with current cultural, social and political problems of anglophone cultures.

How the programme is organised

You study over four semesters. The recommended course of study spreads 30 ECTS across each of the first two semesters. The programme page lists course types as KS, PK and SE, all with compulsory attendance. Some lecture courses run on a cyclical basis, but the corresponding examinations can be taken year-round on specific dates.

Klagenfurt keeps seminar groups small and supervision close. The campus is in Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, a city of about 100,000 people in Carinthia. The university has around 250 partner universities for a semester abroad, including King's College London and the University of Mississippi in Oxford. You can also add the Build! Entrepreneurship Certificate, take other languages, or pick up IT skills through elective subjects.

Who it suits

This master's is for you if you have a bachelor's degree in Worlds of English or an equivalent degree and you want to go deeper into English linguistics or into literary and cultural studies. It suits people who like close reading, argument and cultural analysis, and who want to keep their career options broad. The programme prepares you for a career in research, but also for work in economics, politics, the arts and the cultural sphere. Intercultural skills are part of the package, so it is a good fit if you are aiming for an international career.

Admission, language and next steps

There is no special admission procedure. You need a bachelor's degree in Worlds of English or a degree of equivalent academic value from another post-secondary institution, and you must prove English at level C1 if English is not your first language. The teaching language is English. Applications go directly to the University of Klagenfurt, not through a central portal. The programme page gives the admission periods: for the winter semester 2026/27, 6 July to 31 October 2026; for the summer semester 2027, 8 January to 31 March 2027. Non-EU and non-EEA citizens must have their complete application received by 30 June for the winter semester or by 30 November for the summer semester.

At a public university, EU/EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters. Other students pay a fee per semester. The university's student guidance service answers questions by phone, e-mail, WhatsApp or in person. After the master's you can continue to the Doctorate in Philosophy.

The master's programme in Worlds of English consolidates and enhances the skills gained in the bachelor's programme and enables the students to become experts in English language and Anglophone literatures and cultures. Depending on the specialisation they choose the students will enhance their prior knowledge especially in linguistics, literature and cultural studies. Graduates of this programme will not only have the subject-specific skills that can serve as a basis for an academic career but also the cultural, methodological and factual knowledge for an occupation in economics, politics, arts and culture.

There is no central application portal in Austria: you apply to the institution, here University of Klagenfurt. A public university sets the admission requirements and dates for this level, so read them on the programme page. Entrance examination, as the register states it: No. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, the student residence permit and housing.