Admission to Master’s Programme in English Language and Literature
How can I apply?
The applicant applies directly to the Master’s Programme in English Language and Literature. All applicants must meet the academic and language requirements as well pass an entrance examination.
A maximum of five students can be admitted.
Academic requirements
Studies corresponding to basic and intermediate studies in English Language and Literature (60 ECTS) are generally required. However, these studies can partly be completed as so-called bridging studies after admission (see below). The minimum of 25 ECTS in basic and/or intermediate studies in English Language and Literature is required to meet the specific eligibility requirements. I addition, a passed entrance examination is required.
To begin studies toward a master’s degree, additional studies equivalent to the remaining basic and/or intermediate studies (a total of 35 credits) in English language and literature are required. A bachelor’s thesis (10 credits) may be required if one was not included in previous studies.
Eligible applicants are assessed and ranked on the basis of credits completed in the subject applied to.
Please, read also our general information about applying to a master programme (e.g. eligibility for studies and requirements).
Language requirements
Knowledge of English is required, and it is evaluated based on the previous studies in the subject. However, the English Language and Literature programme can consider students with no or little knowledge of Swedish for admission. This option only applies to applicants who have completed their secondary education outside of Finland. Please note that these applicants will have to take compulsory language courses in Swedish during their studies.
Please note that an applicant with a Finnish school education language (Swedish, Finnish or Sami) always gains language eligibility based on this regardless of any other additional studies in other languages. Please see Språkkrav i svenska for more information.
In order to be admitted to the programme, the applicant has to have very good prior knowledge of the English language, e.g. on a level corresponding to CEFR C1 or an average score 7.5 or higher in the IELTS Academic test. An assessment of the applicant’s language proficiency is made based on the application documents as well as the entrance examination.
Entrance examination
The admission requirement for the Master’s Programme in English Language and Literature is a passed entrance examination consisting of a motivation letter and an interview.
Please upload the motivation letter, written according to the instructions below, to your application form on Studyinfo.fi. In addition to the motivation letter, please upload a copy of your bachelor’s thesis, or another longer piece of writing written in English for a course in your bachelor’s studies. Please note that your thesis or other written pieces may be checked for plagiarism.
The interviews are arranged online (on Zoom) on 1-2.6.2026. An invitation will be sent to the email address given on the application form. Only applicants who meet the academic requirements can be invited to the interview.
Instructions for the motivation letter
The letter should be written in English and be no more than 500 words long. You must write the letter yourself, in your own words.
The letter should set out your reasons for applying for the Master’s Programme in English Language and Literature at Åbo Akademi University, and how these studies will relate to your longer-term career plans.
Present your educational background and explain how your previous studies help to make you a suitable candidate for this master’s degree in English. Specifically, explain the balance of English language and literature in your previous studies. How do your previous studies relate to the profile of the subject English Language and Literature at Åbo Akademi University (including the contents of the bachelor’s programme)?