French Literature and Linguistics

Deadline for submitting applications: August 1 - November 30

Who the programme is intended for: The programme is intended for all graduates of Bachelor’s studies, knowledge of the language at the C1 level according to CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) is expected.

Subject matter of the entrance examination: oral examination. The applicant will have a discussion in French about their Bachelor’s or minor thesis. The thesis can be sent in electronic form - if it is already finished - to the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures to pdytrt@phil.muni.cz. The oral examination takes about 20 minutes.

Waiver of the entrance examination: The entrance examination can be waived for students who have completed a Bachelor’s degree field/programme French Language and Literature at the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University with the mark A-B. The entrance examination may also be waived for applicants whose overall result of the Bachelor's State Examination in programme of French Language and Literature at the MU Faculty of Arts was assessed as “passed with excellent results”. Applicants can ask for a waiver for the entrance examination via the e-application form, section "Application for waiver of the entrance examination".

Website Department of Romance Languages and Literatures.

General information on the course of the admission procedure to the follow-up Master’s degree programmes at FA MU can be found here. Documents for the current admission procedure are kept in Materials for Applicants.

Pass/fail line of the entrance examination: 50 points (out of 100).

The Master in French Philology degree programme (MA) is designed for students who wish to deepen their knowledge in French Culture, Literature and Linguistics. The MA programme provides classes on a wide range of topics, all taught in French, providing all necessary competences for professions in journalistic, social or cultural sectors as well as academically oriented careers. In relation to this option, students are strongly encouraged to follow their own research interests, in order to prepare the preliminary research for a future Ph.D. in a post-graduate programme.

The programme is to be completed in four semesters. All courses are designed for a presence-learning format only.

There are two possible orientations : Literature and Linguistics

(1) French and Francophone Literature: based on modules in the domain of French and Francophone literature and culture. This enables students to major in French and/or Francophone literature.

(2) French Linguistics: based on courses from the Linguistic topics panel. This enables students to major in Theoretical and Applied Linguistics (translation, teaching French as foreign language, etc.).

The student can chose one of those two orientations. S/he writes a dissertation (40 credits), and fulfils 50 elective credits according to the chosen specialization. In addition to these 90 credits, students have to complete the courses from the common base (30 credits) of the Master Programme in French Philology. Indeed, the common base made of 6 compulsory courses includes 3 courses in the area of literary studies (Literature I, II and III), and 3 in the area of linguistics (Linguistics I, II, and III), in the belief that it is necessary to have at least a basic knowledge of the field not chosen. This common base represents 30 credits (6 x 5 credits) of the entire "completus" programme (25%). These 6 courses alone form altogether the "minor" programme.

The Master's programme conveys knowledge of descriptive and analytical theories and methods both in French/Francophone literature and French linguistics. Students are also expected to acquire the skills needed for independent and interdisciplinary scientific work.

After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• Knowledge of descriptive and analytical theories and methods
• Skills for independent and interdisciplinary scientific work
• Spirit of initiative, originality, and personal development

The Master’s programme provides all required competences for professions in journalistic, social or cultural sectors as well as academically oriented careers. Students in French Literature and Linguistics can be outstanding teachers too.

Would you like to travel and spend a semester or more in France?

An Erasmus stay in France is possible and recommended (but not mandatory) : in that purpose, our department has already set up two very successful double-degree partnerships with Paris-Est and Rennes 2.

The purpose of the Master's thesis is to acquire an in-depth knowledge of a specific topic (in literature or linguistics). Students should demonstrate the ability to work critically with specialized texts, process the concepts and theories discovered there, and find relevant answers to the given question. Spirit of initiative, originality, and personal approach are especially expected and highlighted.

Do you plan to become an academic?

After completion of the Master‘s programme, it is of course possible to enrol in the Doctoral studies. The candidates must fulfil the admission requirements : curriculum, letter of interest and interview.