English Studies - Literature and Culture, full-time, second cycle

The programme was designed to fit the requirements of the developing work and academic environment and to provide graduates with solid competences that will make them competitive in the job market. The programme English Studies – Literature and Culture comprises many disciplines. Literature studies and culture studies are related to each other and also to other disciplines, such as history, psychology, sociology, as well as to recently emerging fields of study such as ecocriticism, animal studies or media studies.

At the start, students select their MA seminar from the available offer.

This programme makes it possible for students to broaden their knowledge of the literature, culture and history of the Anglosphere and to get familiar with methodological tools necessary to research literature and culture, both in the traditional understanding as well as in more modern forms of visual and new media culture. The diploma they receive upon graduation explicitly states that they are specialists in literature.

Students also have a chance to get introduced to substantial fundamentals of translation practice, including the translation of literature, and are equipped with soft skills in order to facilitate their successful performance in the job market.

As an additional option, students may take part in our teacher training programme to obtain qualifications needed to teach English at all levels.

All classes are conducted in English.

This programme is full-time, with teaching days from Monday to Friday. The seat of the Institute is the modern building of the Faculty of Modern Languages at 55 Dobra Street, Warsaw.

Admission rules for candidates with Polish diplomas

There are two phases of the qualification procedure: a written examination in the English language at the C1 level and an oral examination in the field of English Studies – Literature and Culture.

Phase I: Written examination in the English language at the C1 level

It is an advanced written exam at the C1 level according to CEFR (i.e. the fifth of six levels, with the second highest degree of difficulty). Duration: 150 minutes.

Components:

• Listening comprehension (25% of the total score)
• Reading comprehension (20% of the total score)
• Use of language structures (55% of the total score)

Requirements:

• Knowledge of English allowing efficient functioning in a social, professional and academic context - the level of lexical-grammatical and phraseological competence required to successfully complete undergraduate studies conducted in English can be used as the reference level.
• In the area of reading and listening, understanding formal and academic discourse with a significant degree of lexical and structural complexity (e.g. lecture, interview, panel discussion, and press, literary and popular-science publication).

Candidates are required to obtain the minimum result of 60% on the C1 English exam. Candidates who pass the C1 English exam move on to the 2nd phase.

The score in the C1 English exam is not counted in the final qualification result. 

The result of the exam is valid for 5 years from the date it was taken. This provision is also applicable to the results of C1 exam received by the graduates of the BA programme in English Studies in the Institute of English Studies of the University of Warsaw. The result of a candidate’s exam must be valid on the day on which the admission results are announced. In order for the Admissions Committee to recognize the result of a previously taken exam, a suitable application must be submitted via the IRK system no later than on the last day of registration of candidates for full-time second-cycle studies.

Candidates who hold one of the certificates listed below are exempt from taking the C1 exam:

• Certificate in Advanced English / Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) / C1 Advanced issued by Cambridge Assessment English (previously Cambridge English Language Assessment and University of Cambridge ESOL examination)
• Certificate of Proficiency in English / Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) / C2 Proficiency issued by Cambridge Assessment English (previously Cambridge English Language Assessment and University of Cambridge ESOL examination)
• C1 Business Higher / Cambridge English: Business Higher (BEC Higher) issued by Cambridge Assessment English (previously Cambridge English Language Assessment and University of Cambridge ESOL examination)
• Certificate on the C1 or C2 level issued by University Council for the Coordination of Foreign Language Teaching and Language Proficiency Certification
• C1 exam conducted by the UW Institute of English Studies
• ECL Language Test level C1 (min. score 80), issued by European Consortium for the Certificate of Attainment in Modern Languages
• Edexcel ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Level 2 issued by Pearson
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic (min. score 64) issued by Pearson
• International English Language Testing System Academic (min. score 7) issued by International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (min. score 94) issued by Educational Testing Service (ETS)

Phase II: Oral examination

The oral examination is designed to test:

• ability to present the candidate’s scholarly interests, including a proposal of the Master's Thesis project;
• basic knowledge in linguistics, including key concepts, themes, theoretical approaches and research methodologies;
• ability to formulate ideas and arguments in spoken English (including language accuracy and language fluency).

The maximum number of points to be scored for the 2nd phase is 50. To pass, the candidate has to score at least 30 points (i.e. 60% of the total score).

Qualification is determined by the place on the ranking list created on the basis of the results of the 2nd phase of the qualification procedure.

Admission procedure for candidates with foreign diplomas

The admissions criteria are the same as for candidates with Polish diplomas.

Foreigners with foreign diploma from outside of EU/EFTA/OECD/unrecognized on the basis of international agreements or through nostrification [more] 

The admissions criteria are the same as for candidates with Polish diplomas.

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

Foreigners with foreign diploma from outside of EU/EFTA/OECD/unrecognized on the basis of international agreements or through nostrification

Information on requirements concerning confirmation of the English language proficiency at a level of at least B2 is available here

Important! C1 level is required

Foreigners (does not apply to citizens of EU/EFTA) with foreign diploma from EU/EFTA/OECD/recognized on the basis of international agreements or through nostrification

Information on requirements concerning confirmation of the English language proficiency at a level of at least B2 is available here

Important! C1 level is required

Deadlines

C1 Level English Exam: 16th of July, 2026

Exam checking Candidates' preparation for second-cycle studies in English philology: 16th, 17th of July, 2026

Announcement of results: 22nd of July, 2026

Reception of documents: 

• I round: 23rd-24th, 27th of July, 2026
• II round (in case of not fulfilling the limit during I round): 28th-29th of July, 2026
• III round (in case of not fulfilling the limit during II round): 30th-31st of July, 2026
• 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: Institute of English Studies