Study Modern European Philologies, Miscellaneous in Germany

In contrast to classics or classical philology, modern philology refers to modern languages that are still spoken today. The field of study modern European philologies includes:

• Albanian studies, which deals with the Albanian-speaking region.
• Baltic studies, which covers the Baltic languages Latvian and Lithuanian.
• Finnish studies, Hungarian studies, which examine the languages of Finland, Estonia, and Hungary.
• Caucasian studies, which deals with about 40 languages spoken on the „mountain of languages“ in the Caucasus, including, e.g., Udish or Georgian.
• Modern Greek studies, which deals with the Modern Greek language in the early modern era and the modern era.
• Uralic studies, which deals with the Uralic languages.

You will study the mechanisms, structure, and content of literary texts as well as the syntax, semantics, and pragmatics of the respective languages. In this way, you will acquire literary and linguistic knowledge. You will also explore the history, cultures, and peoples associated with the respective language areas. A comparative, contextualising perspective is also part of the programme and enables you to view your specialisation in the context of the entire European cultural area.

If you plan to study modern European philologies, you should have the requisite cultural and linguistic interest. Learning or developing your language skills is an integral part of many degree programmes: Depending on the focus and specific course of study, prior language skills are expected in some cases, and in others, you can acquire them in language courses during your studies.

Incidentally, at many higher education institutions, you can choose whether you want to study the degree programme as a single subject, as a double subject or as a major and minor. Depending on your choice, you can expand your studies with other subjects or focus more intensely on one particular area.

To be eligible to apply for a degree programme at a German higher education institution, you first need a higher education entrance qualification or an equivalently recognised qualification.

Most of the courses of study in modern European philologies are open-admission programmes. This means that there are usually no further restrictions. Nevertheless, you may have to submit proof of proficiency in the relevant language(s), especially for Master’s programmes. International students also often have to prove their German language skills. Rarely, there may also be restrictions such as a numerus clausus (NC), i.e. a minimum grade requirement, or an online self-assessment exam.

How much money you should budget for your studies depends on many factors. That’s why it’s not easy to give a firm estimate of the costs. However, there are a few points you can consider when calculating your budget:

The costs for the degree programme itself often consist of the semester contribution, expenses for learning materials and possibly excursions or similar. Depending on the higher education institution, the semester contribution is usually between 100 and 400 euros. 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. Expenses for learning materials are usually kept within reasonable limits. You can usually borrow many books from the library for free.

A stay abroad during your studies is usually not compulsory but highly recommended. If you can imagine going abroad, you should plan for additional costs.

By the way: Most often, public higher education institutions are tuition-free. However, please note that there may be exceptions.

Other costs include your rent and living expenses. Depending on where you want to study in Germany, these can vary greatly. In large cities, housing is often scarce and expensive, while in smaller cities it is comparatively affordable. 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.

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.

Since the field of study of modern European philologies is very broad and does not prepare students for one specific professional field, additional qualifications such as internships, stays abroad, certificates or specialisations are all the more important. These additional qualifications will make it easier for you to gain a foothold in your desired job.

After completing your studies, you can pursue a career in cultural management and cultural communication professions, in education, for example in language teaching institutions or adult education, in intercultural communication, in cultural tourism, but also museums, archives or libraries. You can also apply for jobs in publishing houses, editorial offices or radio and television. Positions in management consultancies, development cooperation and scientific research might also be of interest.

Your salary can vary greatly depending on the sector, the size of the company or the location. In cultural institutions, you usually earn a little less than in management consultancy, for example. Overall, however, you can expect, on average, a decent salary.