Study Media Studies in Germany

The field of media studies examines the different forms of media and public communication as well as the cultural and social effects of media. During your studies, you will examine the information and communication mechanisms in the media, both in theory and in practice.

Media studies examines media in relation to basic cultural phenomena and analyses media products as well as the processes that characterise our knowledge and information-based society.

In the field of digital media, you will become familiar with the contents and technologies of digital media. You will learn to design and conceptualise digital media and to analyse the medias’ relationship with cultures and history.

The multimedia field of study deals with the channels, media, and end-products of multimedia content.

To study a degree programme in the field of media studies, you should be interested in exploring different media and public communication and their significance for society or culture. Furthermore, critical reflection, analytical and logical thinking, as well as good communication skills, are important factors for successfully completing a degree. Since most of the degree programmes also include subjects such as media design or media art, you will definitely have additional advantages if you have a knack for design and aesthetics.

Formally, you need a general higher education entrance qualification, a subject-specific higher education entrance qualification or a university of applied sciences entrance qualification for media studies. However, interested students without these qualifications can also study at selected higher education institutions with proof of completed vocational education in media. The regulations for this vary depending on the federal state and the higher education institution.

Media studies are very popular among first-year students. For this reason, many higher education institutions have admission restrictions in the form of a numerus clausus, i.e. a minimum grade average. Again, this can vary greatly depending on the higher education institution.

You may also have to meet other admission requirements. For example, the higher education institution to which you are applying may require subject-specific internships, letters of motivation, aptitude tests, certain grades in certain school subjects, and a strong knowledge of English or other foreign languages. It’s best to research this as early as possible!

While the standard period of study for Bachelor’s degree programmes in media studies at universities of applied sciences is usually seven semesters, at universities it is often only six. This is because universities of applied sciences usually integrate a compulsory practical semester into the degree programme. Even if this is not the case at universities, you will also have opportunities there to apply your acquired knowledge in the form of internships. In the Master’s programme, the standard period of study usually is three to four semesters.

In addition, you can specialise in different core subjects at both types of higher education institutions, depending on the course of study. In the field of media studies, you can choose between specialisation modules such as e.g., media aesthetics, media law, media management, media education, media informatics or media policy.

Students at public higher education institutions in Germany do not usually have to pay tuition fees. However, there are exceptions. If your home country is outside the European Union or you want to study a special international degree programme, you may be required to pay fees. You will also have to pay high tuition fees if you decide to study at a private higher education institution.

What you pretty much have to pay at every public higher education institution are the so-called semester contributions. As the name suggests, this flat fee is charged every semester. It helps to cover student services, student representatives and administrative costs. 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. The contribution is often between 100 and 400 euros.

It is difficult to predict how much money you will need each month for living expenses. For one thing, it depends on which city you want to study in. Usually, rents and food costs are more expensive in popular cities than in smaller student towns. In any case, 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. Also, the monthly costs also depend on your own behaviour.

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.

A degree in media studies opens up career paths in a wide range of industries and positions. The roles open to you after graduation depend on the focus of your studies. For example, you could work in media relations for organisations and companies, or work in event management, media, or market research. It is also possible to find a job as a television, radio, or multimedia producer. You can also think about going into media planning, technical project management, media research or online marketing.

As a graduate in media studies, you can expect to earn a starting salary which is below the German average but which can increase significantly with some years of working experience. However, your salary depends strongly on the subject area in which you have specialised and the industry in which you work.