Programme structure
The two year course of study consists of a total of 120 ECTS credits.
- Compulsory courses (20 credits)
- Elective courses (40 credits)
- Master’s thesis (60 credits)
Course of study
| 4. semester |
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| 3. semester | |||
| 2. semester | ENG4112 – Methods in English Language Research / study abroad | Elective course / study abroad | Elective course / study abroad |
| 1. semester | ENG4111 – Corpora in English Language Research | Elective course | Elective course |
| 10 ECTS credits | 10 ECTS credits | 10 ECTS credits | |
Compulsory courses
In your second semester you will take ENG4112 – Methods in English Language Research. This course includes writing a thesis proposal for your master’s thesis.
If you choose to study abroad this semester, you must still make sure to hand in a thesis proposal.
You will be assigned a supervisor based on your thesis proposal.
Elective courses
Your electives must include at least one course in language history and one course in modern language.
There is an exception: if you have passed a course in language history at bachelor's level, you do not need to take one as part of your masters. Likewise for modern language: if you have passed an advanced course in modern language at bachelor's level (beyond the introductory courses at 1000 level), you do not need to take one as part of your masters.
You choose two to four courses (20–40 credits) from the following list:
- ENG4102 – Phraseology in English
- ENG4103 – Historical English Syntax
- ENG4106 – Contrastive analysis: Syntax, lexis, discourse
- ENG4116 – Second Language Acquisition
- ENG4117 – Analysing advanced learner English
- ENG4118 – Pragmatics: Meaning, Communication and Cognition in English Language
- ENG4169 – English legal language: Interpretation and meaning
- EUS4100 – Second and third language acquisition and learner corpora
You may select up to two courses (20 credits) from the following list:
- ENG4152 – Varieties of English Texts
- ENG4156 – History of the English Language
- ENG4157 – Semantics and Pragmatics
- ENG4163 – World Englishes
- ENG4165 – Old English: Language and History
- ENG4166 – Middle English, introduction
- ENG4167 – Linguistics and literature in English
This list includes courses where bachelor and master students are taught together. If you have previously taken a 2000 level course, the 4000 variant of that course will not give you additional credits due to overlap.
Non-linguistics courses – such as civilization/literature from English-speaking areas – can also be chosen if they are relevant to the master's thesis. Contact your study advisor.
Please note that the department does not offer every course each semester. Information on the teaching of individual courses may be found in the course descriptions.
Master’s thesis
During the two last semesters you write your thesis.
The master’s thesis in English language will normally comprise 80–100 pages. No matter the nature of the thesis, substantial bibliographic competence is required. The empirical material can be gathered from printed texts, electronic corpora, oral recordings and – particularly for older English – from manuscripts. The theoretical and methodological basis for the thesis is secured through the methods courses, as well as the elective courses at 4000 level.
All teaching is conducted in English, and the thesis must be written in English.
Part time studies
The description and course combinations assume a normal study progression of 60 credits per year. It is possible to apply for part-time studies, and then you must plan your progression based on when courses are offered. Application form and guidelines for part time studies (in Norwegian).
Information on the teaching of specific courses is found on their individual pages.
Diploma and degree
The diploma is issued when you have completed the courses that meet the requirements for a degree. Read more about diplomas.