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Master’s · Languages, Literature & Writing

North American Studies M.A.

Leibniz University Hannover · Hannover · Official programme page

20 facts from 7 official pages · last checked 14 November 2026

Reviewed by Dennis Maaß, admission and immigration expert
Published 8 November 2026 · Last reviewed 8 November 2026

Key facts

Length, deadlines and costs

Language
English
Source
“Language of Instruction English Language Requirements English C1”

www.uni-hannover.de/en/studium/studienangebot/info/studiengang/detail/north-american-studies/ · checked 14 November 2026

Taught entirely in English; only English C1 is required for the application. The programme was formerly called "Advanced Anglophone Studies".

Study mode
On campus
Source
“International Stay abroad possible, but not obligatory.”

www.uni-hannover.de/en/studium/studienangebot/info/studiengang/detail/north-american-studies/ · checked 14 November 2026

LUH flags its two distance-learning master's programmes as "Fernstudium" in the course type and charges additional fees for them; this programme is neither, and the page presents a stay abroad as the exception, so teaching takes place at the university in Hannover. No LUH page uses the words "on campus".

Length
4 semesters
Source
“Standard Course Duration 4 semestes”

www.uni-hannover.de/en/studium/studienangebot/info/studiengang/detail/north-american-studies/ · checked 14 November 2026

The programme page spells it "4 semestes"; the admission regulations confirm a four-semester master's programme.

Credits
Not stated by the university
2 pages checked, 14 Nov 2026

Neither the programme page nor the admission regulations state the number of credit points.

Intakes
Winter, Summer
Source
“Course Start Winter semester, Summer semester”
“(1) Students may begin the master's degree programme North American Studies in the winter or summer semester; however, they may begin in the summer semester only if there are still places remaining from the admission procedure for the previous winter semester.” page

www.uni-hannover.de/en/studium/studienangebot/info/studiengang/detail/north-american-studies/ · checked 14 November 2026

A summer start is only possible if places are left over from the winter procedure, so winter is the reliable intake.

Non-EU deadline
30 Nov 2026 (summer 2027)Early deadline for applicants from non-EU countries; the application window opened on 15 October 2026.31 May 2027 (winter 2027)Early deadline for applicants from non-EU countries; the application window opens on 15 April 2027.
Source
“First-year students from Germany and the EU 1 June - 15 July of the year for the winter semester 1 December - 15 January of the year for the summer semester First-year students from non-EU countries ( VPD from uni-assist is required ) 15 April - 31 May of the year for the winter semester 15 October - 30 November of the previous year for the summer semester”

www.uni-hannover.de/en/studium/studienangebot/info/studiengang/detail/north-american-studies/ · checked 14 November 2026

Applicants from non-EU countries have an earlier deadline than everyone else: six weeks before the regular one. The uni-assist VPD must be applied for at least eight weeks before that, so a winter 2027/28 application means starting at uni-assist by the beginning of April 2027 at the latest (and the APS certificate, for Indian applicants, before that). The summer intake only happens if winter places are left.

Non-EU tuition
None
Source
“Although tuition fees are no longer charged in Lower Saxony, it goes without saying that costs are incurred at university, such as the semester fee, accommodation and living costs, and costs for learning materials.”
“Long-term tuition fees of €500 are due as soon as students exceed the standard period of study plus six "tolerance semesters".” page

www.uni-hannover.de/en/studium/finanzierung-foerderung/studienfinanzierung · checked 14 November 2026

No tuition fee, whatever the nationality; students pay the semester fee of 453.16 EUR (winter semester 2026/27). Long-term study fees of 500 EUR per semester start only after the study credit is used up - for master's students whose bachelor's degree was earned abroad, at a private or at a non-state-funded institution that is usually after 8 semesters.

Application fee
€75 one-off uni-assist handling fee for the first VPD application in a semester; 30 EUR for each further application in the same semester.
Source
“Pay the processing fee (€75 for the first application, €30 for each additional application in the same semester).”

www.uni-hannover.de/en/studium/vor-dem-studium/bewerbung-zulassung/voraussetzungen-zum-studium/vorpruefungsdokumentation · checked 14 November 2026

LUH itself charges nothing for the application in its own portal, but applicants from non-EU countries cannot apply without the uni-assist VPD, so the uni-assist fee is unavoidable. One VPD can be used for several master's applications in the same semester.

Places
Restricted (limited places)
Source
“Admission Restricted admission”
“(2) Selection shall occur according to a ranking list which shall be established based on the final or average mark as per section 3 paragraph 2 letter a).” page

www.uni-hannover.de/en/studium/studienangebot/info/studiengang/detail/north-american-studies/ · checked 14 November 2026

Places are limited; applicants who meet the requirements are ranked by their final or average mark, with lots for ties.

Places for non-EU applicants
Not stated by the university
2 pages checked, 14 Nov 2026

The admission regulations set no quota or separate ranking for applicants from non-EU countries. LUH states a 5% non-EU quota only in the section of its central page that explains the selection procedure for restricted-admission bachelor's programmes (NC), which it says applies to applicants from Germany and the EU only.

Admission

What you need to apply

3-year bachelor’s
Case by case
Source
“either a bachelor's degree or an equivalent degree in a suitable previous degree programme at a German university or at a university in a Bologna signatory country or an equivalent degree in a suitable previous degree programme at a different university abroad”

www.uni-hannover.de/fileadmin/luh/studium/ordnungen/zugang/englische_uebersetzungen/zo_m_EN_north_american_studies.pdf · checked 14 November 2026

The regulations set no minimum number of semesters or credit points for the first degree: a bachelor's degree from a university in a Bologna signatory country counts, and for a degree from any other foreign university the selection committee decides on equivalence against the ZAB/anabin assessments. A three-year 180-credit bachelor's degree is the case the regulations are written around - applicants who have not finished yet are provisionally eligible with 150 credit points, described as 83.33% of a 180-credit programme - but nothing guarantees that a specific Indian, Nigerian or Pakistani three-year degree is accepted; the subject credits in the appendix must also be met, and up to 30 credit points (or at most four modules) can be imposed as conditions after enrolment.

Subject background
A bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in English studies, American studies or English/American studies, with advanced knowledge of literature and cultural studies in the field; if the transcript does not show the relevant courses, an official course description or syllabus must be supplied. Conditions of 10 credit points can be imposed, to be completed within two semesters.
Source
“Previous degree programmes in the subjects of English studies, American studies or English/American studies are considered suitable. Applicants must have advanced knowledge in literature and cultural stud- ies in the field.”
“An undergraduate degree in a related field of study, such as English Studies as subject in the Interdisciplinary Bachelor's Degree Programme (Bachelor of Arts)” page

www.uni-hannover.de/fileadmin/luh/studium/ordnungen/zugang/englische_uebersetzungen/zo_m_EN_north_american_studies.pdf · checked 14 November 2026

Minimum grade
Not stated by the university
2 pages checked, 14 Nov 2026

No minimum grade; the final or average mark only sets the position on the ranking list.

How your grade is converted
Foreign grades are converted into the German grading system by uni-assist in the Vorprüfungsdokumentation (VPD); LUH's selection then uses that converted grade. LUH publishes no conversion table or formula of its own.
Source
“For applicants from non-EU countries , grades will be converted by uni-assist and listed in the VPD.”
“In addition, your grades are converted into the German grading system.” page

www.uni-hannover.de/en/studium/vor-dem-studium/bewerbung-zulassung/voraussetzungen-zum-studium/zulassungsarten · checked 14 November 2026

Applicants from Germany and the EU have their grades converted by LUH's own admissions team instead. The converted grade is what the ranking list is built on.

English
Level C1. IELTS 7 · TOEFL iBT 95 · TOEFL band 5 · Home Edition accepted · PTE 76. Cambridge: C1 Advanced (previously CAE). telc English B2/C1 University, UNIcert III and the Leibniz Language Centre's Pathway to Master's are also accepted. TOEFL, IELTS, PTE and Pathway to Master's certificates are valid for two years; telc, Cambridge and UNIcert certificates have no expiry date.
Source
“Test of English as a Foreign Language ( TOEFL® , iBT or Home Edition ) with a result of 5.0 or 5.5 (previously at least 95 points) International English Language Testing System ( IELTS Academic, paper-based, digital or online) with a result of at least 7.0 C1 Advanced (previously CAE ) Pearson Test of English ( PTE Academic, paper-based or digital) with a result of at least 76 points telc English B2⋅C1 University UNIcert ® III Pathway to Master's (LLC)”
“(3) Furthermore, proof of English language proficiency (level C1 CEFG) is required for eligibility to apply for the master's degree programme North American Studies.” page

www.uni-hannover.de/en/studium/vor-dem-studium/bewerbung-zulassung/voraussetzungen-zum-studium/sprachnachweise · checked 14 November 2026

English at C1 is required of everyone (the regulations misspell CEFR as "CEFG"). The minimum is the CEFR level in the admission regulations; the accepted certificates and scores come from LUH's central list of language certificates (edition 02/2026). TOEFL iBT Home Edition is accepted and the TOEFL minimum is given on both scales (old 0-120 score and the 1-6 band scale of January 2026). The Duolingo English Test appears on no LUH page, so it is not among the accepted certificates, but LUH does not say it is refused either; the central page warns "The information provided here is not exhaustive." TOEFL scores can be sent electronically, for which the web page gives DI code 7122 and the PDF list DI code 7211 - ask the Admissions Office which is current.

German
Not needed when applying
Source
“Language of Instruction English Language Requirements English C1”

www.uni-hannover.de/en/studium/studienangebot/info/studiengang/detail/north-american-studies/ · checked 14 November 2026

The programme page lists English C1 as the only language requirement and the admission regulations ask for no German at any point.

GRE / GMAT / GATE
Not stated by the university
2 pages checked, 14 Nov 2026

No LUH page mentions a GRE, GMAT or GATE requirement for this programme.

Selection
Ranking by the final or average mark, with lots for ties. Applicants with refugee status who cannot produce their documents may take a 30-minute online oral aptitude test in English instead.
Source
“This aptitude test will be conducted as a 30-minute online oral examination on the fundamental knowledge required for the master's degree programme.”

www.uni-hannover.de/fileadmin/luh/studium/ordnungen/zugang/englische_uebersetzungen/zo_m_EN_north_american_studies.pdf · checked 14 November 2026

Applicants who have not graduated yet can be admitted provisionally with 150 credit points, with the full proof due by 15 September (winter) or 15 March (summer).

India, Pakistan, Nigeria

Rules for applicants from India, Pakistan and Nigeria

English test waiver
Not stated by the university
3 pages checked, 14 Nov 2026

The regulations know one exemption only, and it goes by the subject of the first degree, not by its language of instruction: applicants with a degree in English/American studies as per section 2 paragraph 1 need no evidence of English proficiency beyond their certificate of results. An Indian, Nigerian or Pakistani B.A. in English or American studies is therefore exempt, but a degree in another subject that happened to be taught in English is not, and no route by school-leaving certificate or by an English-speaking country is named. Since LUH neither grants a medium-of-instruction waiver nor says such letters are refused, nothing is recorded here; applicants outside English/American studies should plan for one of the accepted test certificates at C1.

Rules that name these countries
  • India: Applicants with Indian school or university transcripts must submit an individual APS certificate with their application, and need it before they can apply for the uni-assist VPD; group APS certificates are not accepted.
    Source
    “Applicants with school or university transcripts from Vietnam, India, and China (excluding Macao and Hong Kong) must submit an individual APS certificate or an APS certificate with their application. This is required in order to apply for the VPD .”

    www.uni-hannover.de/en/studium/vor-dem-studium/bewerbung-zulassung/voraussetzungen-zum-studium/aps-bescheinigung · checked 14 November 2026

    China and Vietnam are named in the same rule. LUH exempts applicants from India who already live in Germany without a visa procedure, who earned their highest relevant university degree outside India, who passed a Studienkolleg assessment test, or who hold a German or EU scholarship. No rule on LUH's pages names Nigeria or Pakistan.

The rules for your country across all universities, and the visa rules on English tests, are on the India, Pakistan and Nigeria pages.

More on this programme

Every value was read on an official page and is stored with a verbatim quote; open “Source” to see it. “Not stated by the university” means none of the pages we checked says, and lists those pages. Rules change: confirm with the university before you apply or pay.