Master’s Programme in Literature with a Specialization in Portuguese-language Literature

This specialization gives you a deep knowledge of Portuguese-language literature. In addition, the studies also offer a broader perspective where the Portuguese-language literature is related to literatures of other Romance-languages, such as Italian or Spanish, in a comparative perspective.

• Programme overview

  “Portuguese-language Literature” is one of thirteen specializations within the Master’s Programme in Literature at the Faculty of the Humanities, and it is offered by the Department of Romance Studies and Classics. The programme starts every autumn and comprises four semesters of full-time study, concluding with a 30-credit degree project in the form of a master’s thesis. As a student, you normally take four half-time courses of 7,5 credits per semester, each half of the semester consisting of two parallel courses. During the second and third semester of the programme, you may take a total of four optional courses (30 credits), of which at least two must be in subjects other than Portuguese, and two proficiency courses (15 credits).

  Year 1

  Semester 1

  The first semester of the programme contains three courses taken by all students of the programme, irrespective of their specialization:

  • Introduction to Literary Interpretation, 7,5 credits
  • Scientific Methods and Research Ethics, 7,5 credits
  • Narrative Theory, 7,5 credits

  In addition, you will take the following course 

  • The Emergence of National Literatures in Romance Languages, 7,5 credits 

  Semester 2

  During the second semester of the programme, only two obligatory courses will be given, which gives you the possibility of studying two optional courses:

  • The Emergence of National Literatures in Romance Languages, 7,5 credits
  • Portuguese, History of the Literature in the Portuguese Language, 7,5 credits
  • Optional courses worth a total of 15 credits

  Year 2

  Semester 3

  The third semester contains 15 credits worth of proficiency courses and one seminar-based theory course, which serves as preparation for the master’s thesis. The course English for Academic Research, 7,5 credits, which is taken this semester, may count either as a proficiency course or an optional course (depending on whether you want to fit in one or two proficiency courses in addition to it).

  • Proficiency courses worth a total of 15 credits
  • Optional course, 7,5 credits
  • Seminar Course in Current Theoretical Perspectives, 7,5 credits

  Semester 4

  The programme’s final semester is devoted exclusively to the degree project, which is done within one full-semester course:

  • Portuguese - Master's Course, 30 credits 

  The master’s thesis, your degree project, is the most important and substantial piece of work you will do within the programme. In the thesis, you will delve into the part of the discipline that interests you the most, aiming to make your own personal contribution to the cumulative knowledge of literary studies. At your disposal you have a supervisor, who will give you advice and feedback on your text. Moreover, you will participate in the master’s seminar, where ideas, drafts and chapters are presented and discussed. Finally, your whole thesis is discussed at a seminar where one or two other students perform the task of critical readers. In return, you will be the reader of two other theses.

• How to apply

  Eligibility

  To be admitted to the programme, you need a BA in Portuguese and English 6.

  Read our step-by-step guide on how to apply

• Contact

  Questions about the structure and content of the programme can be answered by the study counsellor in Italian, whom you can contact at studievagledare.portugisiska@su.se.

  The coordinator for the Master’s Programme in Literature is Axel Englund, axel.englund@littvet.su.se.