American Studies, full-time, second cycle

Academic areas: humanities and social sciences

Academic fields: history, political science, sociology, cultural studies, and literature

The leading field: cultural studies

Program

The American Studies Center is an interdisciplinary research and higher-education institution of the University of Warsaw. Its faculty members specialize in various fields of knowledge about the US and Western Hemisphere—culture, literature, arts, film, media, history, economy, politics, history of ideas, society, and law.

The ASC has a full-time liberal arts master's program that lasts two years (or four semesters). Instruction is in English by permanent, adjunct, and visiting faculty. Additionally, students are offered classes in Spanish. Professors from Poland, the United States, and Mexico are among our permanent faculty.

The MA Program in American Studies, with the Western Hemispheric studies component, is unique in the Polish higher education system. The program is meant to help develop research skills (especially through the system of research proseminars) and offers courses on the United States, Latin America, and the region of the Western Hemisphere.

In addition, students have opportunities to develop skills other than those needed for conducting research; they become proficient in the so-called “soft skills” which they need both in academia and outside (e.g., self-presentation, teamwork, intercultural communication, work organization, and effective time management). Students can also apply the knowledge and skills they have gained in practice, in the form of individual or group fieldwork and research or conference trips. Research grants allow our best students to travel abroad for research purposes to other American Studies libraries in Europe or the United States and to conduct empirical research there.

Graduates

Our graduates are awarded MA degrees in American studies. They understand social processes and cultural phenomena in both Americas, as well as the theoretical frameworks helpful in explaining them. They know how to identify, understand, describe, interpret, and explain the causes and the dynamics of cultural and social processes in both Americas. They know how to use various resources for this purpose and how to employ advanced research methods developed in the humanities and social sciences. Their English is at least at B2+ level and – provided they take the Spanish language course - Spanish is at least at A2 level.

Thanks to our program, our graduates have the skills and competences to collect, evaluate, and classify cultural facts and to draw conclusions about them. They know how to work in a team, how to develop a research project, and how to present its results. In short, they know how to carry out work done daily by researchers, entrepreneurs, journalists, teachers of humanities and social sciences, social activists, and specialists working at various public institutions.

Our graduates have the skills and knowledge to continue their studies in doctoral programs in humanities or social science with specialization in American or Western Hemisphere studies.

ASC graduates find employment in business, trade, journalism, media, cultural institutions, higher education, public administration, diplomacy, international organizations, and tourism.

Building

We provide a comfortable environment for our students. Classes are held in a building located at Dobra 55, in Powiśle. The Main Campus of the University of Warsaw, other faculties, and the University Library are located nearby.

The building is adapted to the needs of people with disabilities.

The classrooms are fitted with computer equipment and Internet access. Wireless Internet (EDUROAM network) is available throughout the building.

The ASC Library collection is highly valued by students, researchers, and journalists in American studies. The library holdings include materials on both the United States and Latin America, in both humanities and social sciences.

MA Program Curriculum: https://www.asc.uw.edu.pl/candidates/ma-program/

Admission rules for candidates with Polish diplomas

Two-stage admissions process.

1st stage: Research Statement

In 300-400 words, describe your research plans in the field of American studies. Your research statment must be written in English and include the answers to the following questions:

• What area(s) of research in American studies would you like to explore and why? (Be specific, for instance “Protest culture in the United States,” “American war literature,” “Race and ethnicity in American film”

• Have you already done research in this area? If so, what research problems have you addressed? What sources (name between 3-5) have you drawn on?

• How will your future research expand on your prior knowledge?

• What are some of the research questions you plan to address? (Please remember that the questions should be clearly worded and focused)

• What is the significance of your research? In other words, why is it worth pursuing?

Please note that the Research Statement does not commit you to any specific topic as a future MA project at the ASC. It will be evaluated based on your:

- ability to formulate ideas/research interests in written English;

- ability to identify relevant and interesting research problems;

- relevance of research interests to the American Studies curriculum

A candidate can receive max 50 points for the 1st stage of the process.

Candidates who receive at least 25 points move on to the 2nd stage.

2nd stage: oral exam based on the submitted Research Statement

The candidate will be asked questions related to the Research Statement submitted. The oral exam will be evaluated based on the candidate’s:

- ability to formulate ideas and arguments in spoken English

- familiarity with the basic concepts related to the declared research interests

- aptitude for interdisciplinary American studies

A candidate can receive max 50 points for the 2nd stage of the process.

The minimum number of points in the 2nd stage required to be qualified is 25 points.

Candidates with the highest overall scores (from both stages of the admissions process) will be qualified for the program.

Candidates must receive at least 50 points out of 100 overall to be qualified.

A candidate who does not receive the minimum number of points required at any stage of the selection procedure (at least 25 for the 1st stage, at least 25 for the second stage, at least 50 overall) will receive 0 (zero) points for the entire procedure and will be disqualified.

Admission rules for candidates with foreign diplomas

Candidates are qualified on the same rules as applicable to candidates with Polish diplomas.

Checking candidates' competence to undertake studies conducted in the English language 

Passing the two stages of the admission process (the written Research Interests Statement and the oral exam) in English confirms the candidate’s English language skills necessary to study in this language (in the case of candidates who do not have one of the documents confirming English language skills at least at the B2 level accepted by the University of Warsaw).

Information on documents certifying knowledge of the English language. >> Check! <<

Deadlines

Date of the exam: 16th-17th of July, 2025

Announcement of results: 22nd of July, 2025

Reception of documents: 

• I round: 23rd-25th of July, 2025
• II round (in case of not fulfilling the limit during I round): 28th, 29th of July, 2025
• III round (in case of not fulfilling the limit during II round): 30th-31st of July, 2025
• additional rounds will be announced in case of not fulfilling the limits

Payments

Application fee

Student's ID payment (ELS)

The studies are payable for citizens of Non-UE/EFTA countries (EEA parties) and Switzerland - tuition fees

Required documents

List of required documents submitted by candidates qualified for studies

Additional information 

Find us on the map: American Studies Center