The English Studies programme provides an excellent opportunity for students to acquire a specialist qualification in English Literature, Cultural studies and Linguistics. It is a broadly interdisciplinary programme concerned with both the theoretical and empirical analysis of the role of the English language, culture and literature in modern society. The programme consists of three equally balanced blocks of general and subject-specific courses in linguistics, literature and culture.
The programme is designed to not only develop the students’ subject-specific competencies, but also to provide them with the skills necessary to specialise in other fields.
Studies are closely related to the individualisation and differentiation of the study process, with the development of social skills, principles of study content integration, and the application of relevant modern methods of teaching and learning.
The Victorian Novel and Its Contemporary Transformations
Cultural Studies
Semantics
Optional courses
Theme of Madness in Literature/Theory of Language for Specific Purposes/Media Discourse I, etc.
30.0
5.0
5.0
10.0
10.0
2 semester
Compulsory courses
20th Century English Novel from Modernism to Postpostmodernism
Research Methods
British Cultural Studies
Optionl courses
Psycholinguistics/20th Century Anglo-American Poetry: Authors, Movements and Modes/ Media Genre Typology and Production of Media Texts/Media Discourse II/ Media Studies and Text, etc.
30.0
10.0
5.0
5.0
10.0
3 semester
Compulsory courses
Literature and the Anthropocene
Subjectivity across Languages, Varieties, Discourses and Genres
Effective Scientific Discourse
Optional courses
English Phonology/Current Approaches to Language Testing and Assessment/Political Discourse in the Media, etc.
Be able to analyse, synthesise and critically evaluate the trends in linguistics, culture and literature in the social and research environments.
Be able to solve theoretical and practical issues critically and logically, generate ideas and suggest new solutions to problems, as well as to efficiently communicate and cooperate when working individually or in a team.
Learn to apply digital information technologies in their research (data collection and analysis).
Be able to predict problem-solving strategies and suggest possible solutions.
Develop their independent research skills including@ to study literature, to analyse and synthesise theoretical frameworks, to collect and classify empirical data, and to conduct medium and large-scale research projects.
Be able to compare the trends in literature, language and thought of different cultural epochs and social groups.
Be able to apply their acquired knowledge and skills in a future professional career or in further research activities.
Completed university bachelor’s degree in humanities or social sciences and no less than 15 ECTS credits in Linguistics, Literature and/or Culture Studies course units.
English language proficiency (at a level no lower than C1 following CEFR), certified by one of the international exams: • IELTS: 7+; • TOEFL: 587+ (paper based) or 94+ (iBT internet-based test); • Pearson PTE Academic: 76+; • LanguageCert IESOL: C1; • Duolingo English test: 130+; Or other document certifying the English language proficiency at a level no lower than C1 following CEFR.
Global outlook: 2000+ international students from 90 different countries.
Ranked among the top 500 universities worldwide (QS).
A European Union diploma.
What comes after?
An academic career (research in literature, culture and linguistics, and the teaching of literary and language courses at higher education institutions).
Other diverse areas (editing, translation, lexicography, proofreading and publishing activities, work in literary archives and museums, and work in various other public institutions and organisations), in which the practical application of the acquired knowledge is required.
The qualifications acquired by the graduates of the programme can also be applied in broader areas, including employment in publishing houses specialising in literature for the general public, a career in the media focused on scientific, professional and cultural issues, as well as employment as translators of fictional and scientific texts.
When I reflect on my time at Vilnius University, I can confidently say that it has helped me become a better teacher in many ways. Through the linguistics seminars, I was challenged to explore areas I had not considered in detail before, and the literature and culture seminars provided me with new perspectives, enabling me to take a closer and more critical look at literary texts and cultural phenomena. In my role as a teacher, I have been able to revise my teaching practice using these new values and develop a greater sense of confidence. In particular, I have been able to create more critical assessments and formulate new discussion topics for my students, providing them with fresh and interesting ideas to engage with. I believe that these are the ripples of studying at Vilnius University, and I am grateful for the knowledge and skills that I gained during my time there.
Zehra Yilmaz, English teacher in Turkey, English studies graduate
"I joined the MA in English Studies at VU with the general goal of deepening my knowledge in literature and English, and the specific goal of becoming a better writer. In practical terms, the program gave me what I needed to hone skills complimentary to automation and technology in general, not substitute to it (we can't compete with machines). Thanks to this, I have shaped my path into an area of increasing relevance and opportunity – marketing and communications. Creativity can't be replaced, and as a comprehensive study on how creativity works, this MA helped me adapt my skill set to the job market, and much more."
Santiago Jurkšaitis, Content editor at Panalpina, Prague, Czech Republic
