Bachelor English & American Studies

  • ECTS: 180 (135 compulsory modules + 45 Extension Curricula)
  • Minimum duration: 6 semesters
  • Average duration: 9 semesters
  • Language of instruction: English
  • Language requirements: English B2+ (cf. VELT), German C1 (cf. Admission)
  • Subject areas: Language Competence, Linguistics, Literary Studies, Cultural Studies
  • Compulsory courses: 24; 40% lectures, 60% courses with continuous assessment

Entrance Exam

An entrance exam procedure is in place. ALL prospective students have to take part. After the registration deadline for the entrance exam is over, no admission for our BA English and American Studies is possible until the next year.

The application period for the academic year 2024/25 goes from 4 March to 5 June 2024. 
The entrance exam is scheduled to take place either on 28, 29 or 30 August 2024 (will be announced after the end of the registration period)

Please find further information about application and entrance exams here. When selecting "English and American Studies" from the list, you can find more specific information and a reading list.

The bachelor's programme in English and American Studies enables students to engage critically with the English language as well as Anglophone literatures and cultures.

During the 1st semester (Introductory and Orientation Period = STEOP), students are introduced to the academic disciplines of linguistics, literary studies and cultural and media studies. Throughout the BA programme, students will deepen their knowledge of these disciplines and apply them to different topics from the area of English and American Studies. They learn about geographical, social, historical and functional variants of the English language, get to know representative texts from different periods of Anglophone literatures and encounter various aspects of the cultural and social history of English-speaking countries.

In addition, students work on improving their language skills in a number of language competence classes. Over the course of their studies, they become highly proficient in both spoken and written English (CEFR level C2). They also learn about good academic practice and develop their research and critical thinking skills, culminating in the writing of two bachelor's theses (one on linguistics, one on literary or cultural studies) at the end of their studies.

Finally, students also get to acquire basic knowledge of some of the other fields of study offered at the University of Vienna by completing 45 ECTS of Extension Curricula of their own choice at other departments.