Study programme

The Master's programme Literature Today comprises one year (60 EC). A study year is divided into two semesters, running from September until January and from February until June. A semester is divided into two study periods. 

Curriculum

The programme consists of courses, an internship (or Masterlanguage courses) and a thesis. You can choose various tracks.
Check the study schedules:

Semester 1 | Study period 1 and 2

In the first semester, you take three courses per study period:

  • one provides you with theoretical knowledge
  • one trains your practical skills
  • one focuses on literatures in the language of your choice.

Next to the language-specific courses you follow courses taught in both English and Dutch (with some possibility to choose your preference).

Semester 2 | Study period 3 and 4

In the second semester, you can do an internship or follow Masterlanguage courses, if you wish to deepen your language-focus even more. This is also the time to write your thesis. In study period 1 and 2 we organise information sessions to prepare the internship and thesis. 

RevUU

During the course The Art of Criticism, students of Literature Today worked on RevUU, an online magazine focused on promoting intelligent, incisive and inclusive literary criticism, designed and edited by an international group of graduate students from Utrecht University.

Picture: Tim Vermeire

Educational methods

  • lecture
  • seminar
  • practical
  • group work
  • self study
  • internship

Internship

In order to gain work experience and contacts in your future professional field early on, you can do an internship in the second half of the year. The programme has its own internship support team, who can assist you with all of your questions regarding internships. It also has long-established, close contacts with a broad range of different companies and institutions in the field. These include, for example:

Keep in mind that most organisations in the Netherlands use Dutch as their working language. However, you can also do an internship abroad, at a research project at a university or at an international organisation.

Examination methods

  • research papers
  • essays
  • presentations
  • oral exam
  • internship report
  • thesis

Extra opportunities

For students looking for an extra challenge in addition to their Master's, there are several options. Utrecht University offers several honours programmes for students looking for an extra challenge. Honours education is followed on top of your regular Master's programme and goes beyond the regular curriculum. Honours programmes are available at interdisciplinary level and allow you to work on projects that transcend your own discipline.

Read more about the honours programmes