The second university cycle of studies offers a diversified training programme in Germanic Languages and Literature and is more focused on the speciality courses (major language/minor language, linguistic/literary orientation), also accompanied by practical applications . The programme is completed by civilisation studies . The student will also choose a certain number of option s. This programme includes the presentation of a thesis , a written piece of work at the end of the course, where the student demonstrates his capacities to carry out scientific research and present the results.

This programme is accessible to students who have passed the first cycle of studies ("candidature") in Germanic Languages and Literature or who hold a diploma judged as being equivalent.

The holders of a certificate ("agrégation") in teacher-training in the subject for the upper secondary school classes, and diploma holders in translation for the languages concerned, may have access to this programme, subject to a single year of Ist university cycle studies ("candidature"), the programme of which should be determined by the relevant faculty. The graduates in Interpreting or Translating, have direct access to the "licence" programme, subject to the addition of 150 hours maximum of complementary subjects to the regular cursus. Admission applications should be addressed to the academic supervisor of the programme, accompanied by the list of courses followed and the results obtained.

The conditions and regular applications for admission are detailed in the "General Information" section of the Web page :
http://www.ucl.ac.be/etudes/libres/acces.html
.

The second cycle of studies ("licence") covers two years.

During this time, the students follow general courses and courses for their orientation (major language and minor language) and options . They are also required to write a thesis in relation to a scientific question linked to the group of subjects chosen for the exam.

In the context of the student European mobility programme ( ERASMUS, SOCRATES, LINGUA ), the students from the second study cycle who so desire, may apply for a grant to enable them to follow a semester of studies in a British, Dutch, German, Finnish, Swiss, Danish or Spanish university. The MERCATOR programme also enables students to follow a study programme in the United States or in Canada. The period spent abroad will be recognised as a complete academic period for the awarding of the graduate diploma in Germanic Languages and literature delivered by UCL. The students on the exchange programmes will hand in their second year programme before leaving, at the end of the first year. In addition, the students of the first year have the possibility to spend one semester, or an academic year, at KUL - Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. For the second year students, the exchange will take place during the first semester. The students may also follow isolated lectures from the cursus featuring on the "licence" programme of the KUL (with a maximum of three courses per student per academic year) or on the programme of the complementary diplomas (with a maximum of two courses per student per academic year).

The figures in brackets in the text indicate the credits.

Before the 20th October of each of the two years, the student will submit a programme project to the Department Council, to the value of 48 credits in the first year and 120 credits for the whole of the two years (including 22 credits for the thesis). Any student whose programme is not in conformity with the requirements or who does not hand in the project within the fixed deadline, risks having his exam registration refused.

To be divided up as follows :

or another course in philosophy or analysis of philosophical authors, on the level of the "licence" programme.

or

Choice of a principal language which featured in the "candidature" exam (German, English or Dutch) : two compulsory courses from each heading (totalling 300 hours ).

or

or

or

or

or

or

or

or

To be selected from :

Choice of a secondary language that the student took as an exam in the first study cycle ("candidature") - (German, English or Dutch-, totalling 180 hours :

• 8 credits from the "Mastery of the language group";
• 8 credits from the "Civilisation" group;
• 8 credits, according to choice, from the following groups : "Linguistics", "Literature", "Special Questions".

Interactive communication course, 30 hours, intermediate or advanced level.

N.B. : The two courses on interactive communication in the major and minor languages are compulsory. The two courses represent a total of 4 credits. The third course in interactive communication, cannot be taken as an option.

The student must take the exam in the first year. If he does not feel ready, he may postpone the exam to the second year.

Courses, according to choice :

16 ECTS, to be chosen from the University programme; c.f. the list of options destined for all of the Faculty :

Important remark: 4 credits, at least, must be chosen from among the courses under the heading B, below, which do not yet make up part of the student's programme, or from the specialised courses and seminars from the "licence" programme in Germanic languages and literature.

The language mastery courses from the first year of the "candidature" studies in Germanics may also be chosen.

The thesis will be in relation with a scientific question linked to one of the subject matters chosen for the exam. The choice of the subject and the promoter must be approved by the programme supervisor or his delegate for the second cycle programme in Germanic Languages and Literature.