Applicants with a non-EU/EEA nationality
1 March 2023, 23:59 CET (register in Studielink before 27 February, see step 3)

Applicants with a Dutch or other EU/EEA nationality
15 May 2023, 23:59 CET (register in Studielink before 13 May, see step 3)

Please note: if you are an applicant with an EU/EEA nationality and wish to apply for housing, you must submit your application by 1 March.

If you are interested in a scholarship, you need to apply for both the Master's programme and the scholarship before 15 January. Learn more at:

The Master's programme in English Literature and Culture is open for application to students with a Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in the humanities or social sciences with a minimum of 30 ECTS (equivalent to a full-time semester of academic studies) taken in a literary subject (English Literature, Comparative Literature, European Literature, Classics, Cultural Studies with a literary emphasis, etc.).

You are expected to have an awareness of basic theoretical notions that are used in the analysis of texts (e.g. concepts such as ‘metaphor’, ‘narrator’, ‘metre’, etc.).

Student profile

As a student in the Master’s programme in English Literature and Culture you will be expected to have the following knowledge, insight and skills:

• You have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and have taken academic courses equivalent to at least one full-time semester of academic studies (30 EC or the equivalent) in a humanities subject or similar field that requires students to produce written interpretations of texts;
• You are able to conduct research independently, engage with critical debates in the secondary literature, and have completed a thesis or comparable interpretatitve essay or research project;
• You are familiar with a broad range of literary works written in English;
• You are interested in deepening your understanding of both literature written in English and the critical approaches one might take towards it.

Pre-Master’s

If you do not meet the entry requirements above, for example if you have a relevant degree from a Dutch University of Applied Sciences (hbo) or an equivalent thereof, you can eliminate your deficiencies by completing the pre-Master’s programme Literary Studies. 

English language requirements

New Master's students should be able to speak, read, write and understand English at an advanced academic level. Please check carefully whether you already meet the English language requirements or whether you need to arrange to take an official English language test. See the English language requirements on the Graduate School of Humanities website.

All students applying will need to start their application by submitting an enrolment request in Studielink, the Dutch online system for students applying for a degree programme at a Dutch university.

Applicants for English Literature and Culture need to submit an enrolment request in Studielink for the Master's in Literary Studies. Please note: even if you believe your prior education does not grant direct access and you think you need to take the pre-Master's programme to compensate for deficiencies, you must start your application by submitting an enrolment request for the Master’s Literary Studies.

It is extremely important that you register in Studielink at least 48 hours before the application deadline (see above). This is to ensure that you receive your login information (UvAnetID) in time to fill in your UvA application in MyInfo (see next step).

After enrolling in Studielink, you will automatically receive an email with a link to your MyInfo UvA application form. To log in to MyInfo you need your UvAnetID. Please fill out the application form, upload the required documents and submit your MyInfo application form before the application deadline.

Application fee

All applicants holding a nationality outside the EU/EEA are required to pay an application fee of €100 per Studielink enrolment before submitting your MyInfo application form. You will find payment instructions on your application form.

Application documents

Make sure you are well prepared before you start your application, and you have all necessary documents ready. You are asked to upload the following documents:

• curriculum vitae;
• proof of language proficiency (if required, see language requirements);
• transcript of records, up-to-date and issued by your home institution (if you are already a student at the UvA, a screenshot from SIS is sufficient);
• diploma (if already obtained)* or list of courses yet to complete;
• translation of your diploma and transcript of records (if they are not in English, Dutch, German or French).

This programme does not require additional programme-specific documents.

*Please note: If you have not yet obtained your diploma but are in possession of all other application documents, you may proceed with your application - as long as you obtain your Bachelor's degree before 1 September. If you have a non-Dutch prior education, please bear in mind that you must submit your certified documents before 1 May (non-EEA students) or 1 August (EEA students).