Slavia Litteraria Europaea MA

The following admission requirements must be met for enrolment at Leipzig University (as the home university):

• A university degree qualifying you for a profession in Slavic Studies, East Slavic Studies, West Slavic Studies, South Slavic Studies, teaching Polish, Russian or Czech at secondary schools, Eastern European Studies or a comparable humanities degree programme with Slavic Studies content (at least 30 ECTS/LP)
• Knowledge of English (first foreign language) at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference (ALL students)

Note: To begin studying at Leipzig University, knowledge of German at level C1 (level 2/DSH-2) is required.

An aptitude test is required for this degree programme. Please refer to the institute's website for further information.

An aptitude test is required for this degree programme. Please refer to the institute's website for further information. The faculty will check whether you meet the above requirements and issue a decision. This decision serves as proof that you meet the relevant admission requirements.

The main focus of the Slavia Litteraria Europaea (SLE) master's programme is to introduce students to the cultural and literary history of the Slavs since their migration to Europe at the end of the Antiquity period and the beginning of the Middle Ages, as well as to the pan-European cultural history based on ancient Greek and Roman antiquity and the adoption of Christianity from the Middle East. This cultural history begins centuries before the Slavic migrations and continues through non-Slavic migrations into the Middle Ages. The programme focuses on how the Slavs participated in constructing the European cultural space, which was partly defined before their arrival, and how they were perceived by other cultures present in this space. Particular attention is paid to processes of cultural appropriation and rejection. From a disciplinary perspective, this involves a cultural studies approach, demonstrated philologically in the M.A. Slavia Litteraria Europaea through the overarching literary history of the Slavs.
The core courses of the degree programme focus on the following topics: Comparative Slavic literary history in the European context from the Middle Ages to the present day, and comparative and cultural studies theories with a Slavic focus.

The degree programme, which ends with a double degree, is run by Leipzig University (UL) in cooperation with the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB). You will spend the first two semesters at your home university, after which you will transfer to the other university for the third semester. For the fourth semester, you can choose to either stay at the partner university or return to your home university.

First and second semester at UL (home university)
You will be taught the core literary and cultural studies skills of the Slavia Litteraria Europaea master's programme (SLE) in the following compulsory modules:

• Introduction to the concept of SLE and an overview of the position of Slavic literatures in Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries (module ‘Slavia Litteraria Europaea in a cultural-historical context’, 1st semester)
• Historical foundation of the concept of SLE and an overview of the position of Slavic literatures in Europe in the Middle Ages and the early modern period (module 'Older Slavic Literatures as European Literatures', second semester)
• First theoretical expansion of the SLE concept based on cultural translation theory (module ‘Cultural Translation Processes in Europe’, second semester)

The structure of the degree programme at the ULB is different because the module system is only partially available. The content is comparable to that of the Leipzig modules.

Third semester at ULB (for UL students)

• Second theoretical extension of the SLE concept, based on contemporary literary theories of a cultural studies nature (module: 'Slavia Litteraria Europaea and Contemporary Literary Theory from a Global Perspective')
• Third theoretical extension with regard to political science, history, and the cultural-historical use of film studies (module 'Aspects of the History of Central and Eastern Europe').

Third semester at UL (for ULB students)

Module counterparts in Brussels:

• ‘Slavia Litteraria Europaea and Contemporary Literary Theory from a Global Perspective’
• 'European History of the Jews/European Jewish History'

The supplementary practical language content is offered alongside the core modules in semesters one to three at both Leipzig University and the Université Libre de Bruxelles.

Fourth semester at UL or ULB

• Writing the M.A. thesis
• Optional joint online Master's colloquium for all students, if required

First and fourth semester

• Optional face-to-face meetings for all newly enrolled students or thesis writers, held alternately at ULB and UL

• International Master of Arts programme with study at two universities and double degree
• German-Belgian degree programme with Slavic content
• Slavic studies in a pan-European perspective

Graduates of the degree programme can work in cultural mediation, in European cultural institutions and foundations as well as in the media sector as experts on East Central Europe. The degree programme explicitly qualifies students for intercultural work in a pan-European context.

• Compulsory stay abroad at the other university in the third semester
• Optional stay at the other university in the fourth semester

• Course start: Winter semester
• Admission restriction (NCU): no
• Application period: 2 May–15 September
• Application portal: AlmaWeb

Please ensure that you read and take note of the further information provided on the pages “Online application” and “Applying for a master’s programme”.

International students can find information about application periods and how to apply on the page “International”.

As the programme will launch in the winter semester of 2025/26, it is not possible to apply for a higher semester.

An aptitude test is required for the first semester of this degree programme. Please refer to the institute's website for information on the registration procedure for the aptitude test and the applicable deadlines. Applications for the degree programme must be submitted separately from the registration for the aptitude test.