The admission requirement for the Master's degree program is a professionally qualifying German or equivalent foreign degree in literature, humanities or cultural studies.

For the chosen focus language, students must provide proof of proficiency in at least one of the following languages at level C1.1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) or an equivalent level of proficiency: French, Italian, Spanish or Portuguese.

Applicants who have obtained their degree at a foreign university or equivalent institution must provide proof of German language skills at level C1 CEFR. If no corresponding certificates or attestations in accordance with the regulations for the German language examination for university admission for foreign applicants at Freie Universität Berlin are available, the German language examination for university admission (DSH) can be taken as an alternative.

The consecutive, research-oriented Master's programme in Romance Literatures opens up a comparative perspective on the literatures of the Romance-speaking world and provides students with sound competences in literary history, literary theory, and research methods. The programme centres on current research questions, key periods in the history of Romance literatures, and independent scholarly engagement with literary and cultural phenomena from both European and global perspectives. A further focus is Digital Humanities: digital methods and research questions are systematically linked to the study of Romance literatures and embedded in a practice-oriented, research-focused context.

A distinctive feature of the programme is its multilingualism: French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese can be flexibly combined with one another or with Catalan, Galician, and Latin. In this way, the programme combines comprehensive training in Romance Studies with a cross-linguistic perspective.

The Institute of Romance Philology at Freie Universität Berlin is one of the largest of its kind in the German-speaking world. Lecturers at the institute are active in special research areas, research groups and clusters of excellence and bring the corresponding interdisciplinary perspectives to their teaching. International academics regularly visit the institute for research stays or guest lectures. Language courses are taught by native speakers; students also have access to the self-study center, which offers a wide range of multimedia resources for autonomous learning. The French Center, the Italian Center and the Latin American Institute at Freie Universität Berlin focus on specific countries and regions. The Berlin cultural institutes of the Romance-speaking countries complement the studies at Freie Universität Berlin with attractive programs.

The Philological Library has an outstanding collection of relevant primary and secondary literature. The library system at Freie Universität complements this broad range of services and offers students unique working conditions.

Numerous ERASMUS and other cooperation agreements enable students on the Master's degree course in Romance Literary Studies to spend semesters abroad at leading universities in partner countries. The recognition of academic achievements abroad is supported by the Institute.

The Master's degree program in Romance Literary Studies consists of three complementary areas of study.

1. The literary studies program (65 CP plus Master's thesis) comprises five thematic modules: “Literary Theory: Aesthetics - Poetics - Rhetoric”, “Romance and Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies”, “Literature - Culture - Media” as well as two modules, each with a focus on older and newer literature: “Older Literature in a European Context” and “Newer Literature in a Global Context”. Each module consists of at least two courses that are closely coordinated. The courses take up the latest developments in the subject - this includes addressing and reflecting on aspects of gender and diversity - and always situate texts from the individual philologies in the overall Romance context. A further module, “Perspectives on Research”, prepares students for writing their Master's thesis.

2. The study area Language Practice (20 CP) comprises a total of four practical language modules. One module is allocated to the main language (French, Italian, Portuguese or Spanish), three further modules to a second Romance language (French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Galician or Catalan), which can also be studied as part of the degree program without prior knowledge. Instead of learning or deepening the knowledge of a second Romance language, students can also take Latin courses that prepare them for the state Latinum examination.

3. The affine area comprises 10 credit points, which students can complete in freely selectable modules to develop or deepen individual interests, work focuses and competence profiles. Possible options include modules from other humanities subjects, additional language courses or courses taken as part of a semester abroad.

The Master's thesis should demonstrate that students are able to independently work on and present a research task using scientific methods. Upon successful completion of the study program, the degree of Master of Arts (M.A.) is awarded.

Modules of the degree program

Specialized study of literature (65 LP)

• Module: Literary Theory: Aesthetics - Poetics - Rhetoric (10 CP)
• Module: Older Literature in a European Context (15 CP)
• Module: Modern Literature in a Global Context (15 CP)
• Module: Romance and Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies (10 CP)
• Module: Literature - Culture - Media (10 CP)
• Module: Perspectives on Research (5 CP)

Language acquisition (20 CP)

Language specialization

One of the following modules worth 5 CP must be selected and completed for the 'Language specialization' area:

• Module: French Master's module (5 CP),
• Module: Italian Master's module (5 CP),
• Module: Portuguese Master's module (5 CP) or
• Module: Spanish Master's module (5 CP)

Further Romance language or Latin

Consecutive modules totaling 15 ECTS credits in one language must be selected and completed for the 'Additional Romance Language or Latin' area.

• French
• Italian
• Spanish
• Portuguese
• Catalan
• Galician
• Latin

Affinity area (10 CP)

In the affinity area, students must select and complete courses amounting to 10 CP. The modules and courses for this can be selected from the courses offered by Freie Universität and other universities in Germany and abroad.

Graduates acquire advanced academic knowledge as well as additional professional qualifications.

The programme maintains close links with Berlin-based cultural and research institutions outside the university as well as with international partner universities, offering numerous opportunities to connect research and practice. It prepares students both for an academic career and for professional activities beyond research-oriented contexts, for example in the cultural and educational sectors, journalism, press and public relations, project management, European and non-European cultural exchange, and related fields in Germany and abroad.