Study German Studies and Contemporary Germanic Languages in Germany

The fields of study listed below deal with the linguistic and philological aspects of the German language or Germanic contemporary languages.

• German as a foreign language
• Frisian
• German studies
• Low German
• Dutch studies
• Nordic philology
• Nordic studies
• Scandinavian studies

During your studies, you will also become familiar with literary and cultural studies approaches and analyse texts from the Middle Ages to the present. No matter which degree programme you choose from the overview above, it will always fall into one the three following categories or focus areas:

• Linguistics: Among other things, you will learn the phonetic and written system of the language and acquire oral competence as well as the ability to produce and understand texts.
• Medieval studies: You will analyse texts from the Middle Ages.
• Contemporary Literature: You will study texts from the 16th century to the present.

Pursuing a degree in German studies and contemporary Germanic languages requires a lot of reading. After all, the entire study programme is based on understanding and communicating texts and language. Therefore, you should find great enjoyment in reading and studying languages.

But there is also room for gaining practical experiences in the field of study of German studies and contemporary Germanic languages: Many degree programmes include a compulsory internship to give students a first insight into their possible future careers. A stay abroad is also often recommended, but this is usually not compulsory.

To study in Germany, you should have a general or subject-specific higher education entrance qualification. With the Fachhochschulreife which makes you eligible to apply only for courses of study at universities of applied sciences, admission to a degree programme in German studies and contemporary Germanic languages might be quite difficult. But if you have a qualification that is usually recognised as equivalent to a German higher education entrance qualification, it should be accepted. If you are unsure about your degree or entrance qualification, you can simply ask your chosen higher education institution.

In addition, some degree programmes are subject to admission restrictions. For example, there may be a numerus clausus (NC), which is a required minimum grade average, and aptitude tests are also possible. Since some degree programmes are interdisciplinary in nature, you sometimes have to prove that you have studied up to two (modern) foreign languages (usually English). Depending on the degree programme and the higher education institution, you can sometimes expect further institution-specific admission procedures. However, don’t worry too much about admission restrictions, there are plenty of degree programmes free of admission requirements.

Studying German studies and contemporary Germanic languages costs much the same as most other degree programmes at public higher education institutions. Most often, you can study tuition-free and will only be required to pay the semester contribution, which, depending on the institution, is usually between 100 and 400 euros per semester. These cover the costs of administration, student services and often the tickets for local public transport for students. 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. Please also note that you will probably have to pay for books and study materials even if you borrow books from the library. However, the amount of these costs depends on the respective modules and is usually quite manageable.

Please note: In most cases, public higher education institutions do not charge tuition fees, but there are exceptions. If you are unsure about this, you should best inquire at your chosen higher education institution.

Other costs you will need to budget for are rent and living expenses. How much they will cost you depends on where you want to study. In large cities, housing is often scarce and expensive, while in smaller cities it is comparatively affordable. Wherever you decide to go, there are numerous options for a more cost-effective everyday life: e.g., with student halls of residence or shared flats, you can significantly lower your rent payment! However, you should start looking, as soon as you have decided on where you want to study, 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.

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 are not limited to a specific profession. You can work in fields like literary and cultural education, media (ad agencies, newspapers, radio, TV or publishing), tourism or public relations and international organisations. General (adult) education and counselling are also possible sectors. Many students – German studies is one of the most popular subjects in Germany – will also work as teachers after graduation. For this, however, you must also obtain a teaching degree.

As a German teacher, you can, for example, work in foreign language departments of companies or in language schools abroad – or you can start your own business as an editor or copywriter.

To make it easier for you to enter professional life, additional qualifications are often helpful. Sometimes a traineeship is necessary to gain a foothold in a particular company. Also, it is likely that you will get a lower salary at the beginning, but you can make up for this with time and work experience. Many institutions also pay salaries similar to those in public pay scales. In those cases, your salary levels are relatively clearly defined.