Study Ancient Languages in Germany

The field of ancient languages links language with history, culture, and religion. In your studies, you will learn about ancient languages that are no longer spoken and analyse their structure, vocabulary, and grammar rules. You will also acquire literary, cultural, philosophical, and historical knowledge that will enable you to compare different texts with the present and gain an understanding of their significance for today’s society and its development.

The study area of ancient languages includes:

• Greek studies, with a focus on the language and literature of ancient Greece,
• Celtic studies, which deals with the languages, literatures, and cultures of Celtic-speaking countries and regions from antiquity to the present, and
• Latin studies, which is all about the Latin language and literature.

The field of ancient languages could be a good fit for you if you enjoy working with texts and are interested in history and languages. A talent for language learning is of great advantage.

Courses of study in this field can have very different names, e.g. Classical Philology or Ancient World/Antiquity Studies. Depending on where you want to place your focus, you should vary your search terms. Also, pay close attention to the specialties of the individual higher education institutions. They may differ, for example, in which epochs are covered in your course of study.

In Germany, ancient languages are only taught at universities, and not at universities of applied sciences. The standard period of study for a Bachelor’s degree is usually six semesters, for a Master’s degree, it normally is four.

Depending on the degree programme and university, you can study ancient languages as a major or minor subject. This decision can also have an impact on the admission requirements, so you should always read up on them carefully. You are also welcome to contact the universities for individual degree programmes directly here via My GUIDE if you are still lacking information for your application.

Formally, you need a general higher education entrance qualification or equivalent for a Bachelor’s degree. In addition, you must often already have knowledge of Latin; depending on the degree programme, you might also have to provide proof of proficiency in Greek. In addition, another modern foreign language is usually required. In some cases – this depends on the university or the individual degree programme – you can also acquire certain language certificates during the first semesters.

For Master’s programmes, you must already have a degree in a thematically relevant Bachelor’s programme or have acquired a minimum number of credits in certain modules. Here, too, you should research the most up-to-date information on the websites of the universities.

Ancient languages are not a mass subject, so there are often no further admission restrictions apart from the formal and language requirements. The comparatively lower student numbers also make for a good ratio of teachers to learners.

Degree programmes in the field of ancient languages are mainly offered at public universities in Germany – which is very good for you, as there are usually no tuition fees! There are very few exceptions to this rule, but you should be able to find a degree programme that fits your budget. A course of study is not completely free of charge, because you have to pay the so-called semester contribution at every university. This amounts to between 100 and 400 euros per semester and is therefore really cheap in international comparison. Sometimes your semester contribution covers a ticket for local public transport or you can purchase a discounted ticket. Depending on where you study, this may be valid for the city, the region or even for all of Germany. Ask your higher education institution whether such an offer is currently available.

What other costs you will have to pay depends on the city in which you want to study. Big cities and cities that are popular with students often have higher rents and you have to expend some time to find a flat. Smaller cities are often cheaper. Be sure to check the website of your local student union as student halls of residence are usually your cheapest option. As soon as you have decided on where you want to study, you should start looking, as halls of residence can fill up quickly. Here, you can find information on local halls of residence and the respective application process for most cities.

The rest of your costs will depend on your lifestyle. To finance your studies in Germany, you should also find out about scholarships. There are many different scholarship programmes and excellent grades are not the only deciding factor. You can learn more about scholarships here and find suitable programmes directly on My GUIDE.

After graduation, you may find work in education, cultural institutions, libraries, translation services, or research. If you want to pursue a career in science, it is strongly recommended that you complete a doctoral programme. If you combine this degree with a teaching degree, you can also work as a teacher.

If you decide against research and teaching, you should definitely do a non-university internship during your studies. This will help you to develop your personal profile and make it easier for you to establish your career later on.