Masters Entrance Exams in English Studies in Morocco

Available master programs for English department students and their entrance conditions

Embarking on a Master’s degree in English or Applied Linguistics in Morocco involves navigating a range of entrance exams that test both your linguistic prowess and your familiarity with the specific academic domain of your chosen program.

Written Exams: Showcasing Your Linguistic and Analytical Skills

The written entrance exams are your first opportunity to demonstrate your command of the English language and your analytical capabilities. Typically, these exams might prompt you to write essays discussing or elaborating on given quotes, which test your ability to organize and articulate your thoughts coherently. Despite sometimes seeming tangentially related to the core subjects of the MA program, these essay questions are crucial for showcasing your critical thinking and writing skills. It’s highly beneficial to review past exam papers to get a sense of the essay topics and familiarize yourself with the exam format.

Oral Exams: A Flexible Interpersonal Challenge

Oral exams in these programs are less structured, giving you some leverage in steering the conversation based on your responses. The panel often asks about your academic background, including books you’ve read, your undergraduate research, and journals you are familiar with. This part of the exam assesses not only your knowledge but also your ability to communicate effectively without undue hesitation—a key skill for any postgraduate student.

Preparing for Success

Preparation for these exams cannot be overstated. Engaging with a broad range of literature, including research papers and educational journal articles, particularly those focusing on higher education in Morocco and applied linguistics, will equip you with the necessary knowledge and perspectives needed to excel both in written and oral exams.

MA programs in Morocco

In Rabat, there is only one master program on theoretical and applied linguistics. In Fes, there are four different master programs on culture, translation, media, applied language studies and research in higher education and gender studies. In Marrakech, there are two master programs: One on translation and one on linguistics. In Agadir, there are different master programs on applied linguistics and culture. In Meknes, there is a master program on applied linguistics which started in 2021. In Beni Mellal, there are three master programs on literary encounters, applied linguistics and gender studies. In Tetouan, there is a master program on the history of ideas for culture and literature streams. In Oujda, there is a master program on applied linguistics. In Casablanca, there is a master program in Ain Chock on applied linguistics and English Language Teaching. Some universities like Mohammed V University in Rabat has paid enrollment options for employees to continue their postgraduate studies. If you are keen on continuing your higher education after getting your BA, be ready to relocate to another city. The following tables show the available masters up till 2018-2019.

New master program reform starts in 2024/2025 in the PACTE ESRI reform. This introduces power skills, digital skills and foreign languages through distance education platforms like Moodle and Rosetta Stone. National and international mobility in addition to participation in voluntary work are counted towards the complete of 120 credits to get the master degree which lasts typically for two years. All master programs in Morocco are free of cost, except some of them that differentiate employed from unemployed students. The former have to pay different fees depending on the program. Fully online Master programs are currently not available for English department students in Morocco. Noteworthy is that Higher Schools of Education and Training known as ENS and ESEF offer master programs in English in some cities, like Meknes.