Literature and humanities
The Master’s degree in Literature & humanities from ²ÝÁñÂÛ̳ offers training in high-level research in the field of the humanities.
This degree program – a collaborative effort by the literature and humanities and social science departments and research laboratories at the École Normale Supérieure-PSL (the program’s administrative home*) and the École Nationale des Chartes-PSL – offers leading-edge training in research in literature and the humanities, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary dialogue and an international perspective.
*Students in the Master’s program will be enrolled at ENS - PSL, and most of the courses are taught there.
Academic tracks
Refer to the specific tab to learn about the program in detail.
Students can choose from among 5 academic tracks in Years 1 and 2 of the Master’s program:
1) Literature: Theory and History
2) Multidisciplinary track in Arts
3) The Ancient World: Archeology and History
4) The Ancient World: Languages, Texts and Images
5) Political geography / research
Who should apply?
Students who hold a Bachelor’s degree (or the equivalent) in literature or the humanities (art history, film, musicology, performing arts, history, geography, archeology, modern languages, etc.)
Opportunities
Depending on the student’s chosen track:
• Higher education and research.
• Careers in cultural programs, the civil service, diplomacy and international relations
Laboratories
- Archeology and Philology of East and West (AOROC): UMR 8546 – CNRS/ENS-PSL/EPHE-PSL
- Institute of Early Modern and Modern History (IHMC): UMR 8066 – CNRS/ENS-PSL/Univ. Panthéon Sorbonne
- Institute of Texts and Modern Manuscripts (ITEM): UMR 8132 – CNRS/ENS-PSL
- Languages, Texts, Data Processing, Cognition (Lattice): UMR 8094 – CNRS/ENS-PSL/Univ. Sorbonne Nouvelle
- Republic of Knowledge – philosophy, literature, science: USR 3608 – CNRS/ENS-PSL/Collège de France
- Theory and History of Modern Arts and Literature (THALIM): UMR 7172 – CNRS/Univ. Sorbonne Nouvelle/ENS-PSL
Teaching location
The training is given in the heart of Paris on the campuses of the participating PSL schools. The students may also conduct a portion of their studies abroad, taking advantage of PSL’s various international agreements and partner schools.
The Humanities Master’s degree program is administered by the École Normale Supérieure-PSL. Students enrolled in the program will be registered at ENS-PSL.
- An unprecedented collaboration among some of France’s most prestigious institutions in the fields of literature and the humanities.
- Exceptionally close ties to laboratories boasting an international reputation.
- Interdisciplinary training, thanks to the ability to move among different academic tracks.
- An international environment created by students, researchers and guest academics.
- An unequaled campus life in the very heart of Paris, benefiting from the opportunities offered by PSL to meet students from several schools and move among a variety of campuses.
Parcours proposés - Voir pages dédiées
- Littératures : théorie, histoire
Objectif : Initier et former à la recherche dans le domaine des études littéraires par une approche à la fois théorique et historique du fait littéraire, selon une chronologie étendue, du Moyen Age à l’extrême-contemporain. S’appuyant sur l’histoire comparée des littératures dites « nationales » de langue française, anglaise, allemande, espagnole, italienne, russe ou arabe, la formation privilégie le dialogue avec la philosophie, l’histoire, les arts et les sciences sociales, dans le contexte international et interdisciplinaire des « transferts culturels ».
- Parcours pluridisciplinaire Arts
Objectif : proposer une formation qui associe histoire de l’art, études théâtrales, musicologie et études cinématographiques. Il envisage la recherche dans la pluralité de ses dimensions (ateliers, stages, réflexion et rédaction théoriques) et s’adresse en priorité aux étudiants dont les projets de recherche se situent à l’articulation d’au moins deux disciplines artistiques.
- Mondes Anciens : Archéologie, histoire
Objectif : initier à la recherche dans le champ de l’archéologie et de l’histoire de l’Antiquité sous leurs différents aspects par une approche associant l’exploitation des sources matérielles et l’analyse des sources textuelles. Ce parcours, à dominante archéologique et historique, vise aussi à offrir une ouverture aux outils et aux méthodes de la philologie des langues et des cultures de l’Antiquité.
- Mondes Anciens : Langues, textes, images
Objectif : initier à la recherche dans le champ de la philologie de l’Antiquité sous ses différents aspects, linguistiques, textuels et iconographiques, par une approche associant l’exploitation des sources documentaires et des outils d’analyse permettant de les situer dans leur contexte de production et de transmission. Ce parcours, à dominante philologique, vise aussi à offrir une ouverture aux outils et aux méthodes de l’archéologie et de l’histoire de l’Antiquité.
- ³Òé´Ç²µ°ù²¹±è³ó¾±±ð politique / recherche
Objectif : Pour comprendre les grands enjeux du monde contemporain et les questions qui se posent aux sociétés, le parcours ³Òé´Ç²µ°ù²¹±è³ó¾±±ð politique forme aux approches politiques en géographie, dans l’interdisciplinarité des sciences sociales spécifique à l’École Normale Supérieure. Il a pour objet la dimension spatiale du politique et des politiques à toutes les échelles géographiques, du mondial au local, et dans l’ensemble de la sphère sociale, des institutions aux individus.
Prerequisites to apply for Master’s Year 1 (M1)
- A Bachelor’s degree (or the equivalent) in the humanities (modern literature, classics, art history, film, musicology, performing arts, history, geography, archeology, modern languages, etc.).
- An excellent command of written and spoken French (C1/C2 level of proficiency).
Selection process
Depending on the student’s chosen track:
- based on an application (Literature: Theory and History; The Ancient World: Archeology and History; The Ancient World: Languages, Texts and Images; Geography)
- based on an application and interview (Arts).
2025 Admissions Timeline
Application : from February 25 to March 24, 2025
MASTER 1: depending on your profile (nationality, etc.), applications must be submitted on the new French platform "" OR on the . Please consult e to learn about the 2025 modalities and according to your profile.
MASTER 2: on the for all applicants, French and international.
Application items
* Detailed résumé
* Cover letter
* A copy of the applicant’s post-secondary academic transcripts
* Copies of degrees earned (baccalaureate, Bachelor’s, etc.). International diplomas must be translated into French
* Official certificate of proficiency in French, as appropriate.
Tuition fees 2024/2025
- Tuition fees : €250 /year (set by ministerial decree)
- Student Life and Campus Fee (CVEC) : €103 /year -
School for registration: École Normale Supérieure-PSL
Degree issued: National Master's degree issued by ²ÝÁñÂÛ̳
Contact
Head of the Master's program: Dominique COMBE
mention-humanites@ens.fr
Stay in touch
Chat with
our students
Find your course
- By degree
- Bachelor's
- Master's
- PhD
- Other
- By discipline
- Anthropology
- Archeology
- Architecture
- Archives – Documentation
- Art History
- Arts
- Astronomie
- Astrophysics
- Banking - Finance - Insurance
- Business Administration - Management
- Chemistry
- Cognitive science
- Communications - Journalism
- Computer Science
- Data Science
- Digital Humanities
- Drama
- Earth sciences
- Ecology
- Economics
- Engineering Science
- Entrepreneurship
- Fashion and design
- Finance
- Geosciences
- ³Òé´Ç²µ°ù²¹±è³ó¾±±ð
- ³Òé´Ç²µ°ù²¹±è³ó¾±±ð politique
- ³Òé´Ç²õ³¦¾±±ð²Ô³¦±ð²õ
- Health - Medecine
- History
- Human Resources
- Languages
- Law
- Life Sciences
- Literature
- Management
- Marketing
- Mathematics
- Mechanics and Materials
- ²Ñé»å±ð³¦¾±²Ô±ð
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Plastic Arts
- Political Science
- Quantum engineering
- Religious sciences
- Sciences du climat
- Social Science
- Sociology
- Space Science
- Sustainable development