German studies
German studies (B.A.)
Are you interested in German language, literature and culture and would like to gain more in-depth knowledge? Then the Bachelor’s degree program in German Language and Literature is just right for you! During the degree program in German Language and Literature you take an intensive look at the German language, at its history, its literary and cultural contexts, and its role in society.
- Degree
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
- Duration of studies in semester
- 6
- Start of degree program
- Winter semester
- Study location
- Erlangen
- Number of students
- 50-150
- Subject group
- Language and Cultural Studies
- Special ways to study
- 2-subject Bachelor, Double degree program, Part-time degree program
- Teaching language
- completely in German
- Admission Requirements
- No Admissions Restrictions
- Keywords
- German, Culture, Linguistics, Literature, Language, Language Change, Linguistics
What is the degree program about?
Do you enjoy reading? Are you interested in the German language? You don’t fancy overcrowded lectures and anonymous studies? If this sounds like you, then you have already met some important criteria for studying German Language and Literature at FAU. All the better if you are not afraid of abstract thinking and are interested in theoretical and methodological questions. During your studies of German Language and Literature, you will learn how to write and work with academic texts and will have plenty of opportunity to practice.
In modern German literature you will study German-language works from the time of Martin Luther up to the present day, investigating poetry and prose, as well as non-fiction texts such as travel writing, reports and diaries. You will explore texts from both historical and systematic perspectives, paying just as much attention to cultural contexts as to questions of genre, aspects of media distribution or connections between German literature and literature from other nationalities.
In the history of medieval German literature (medieval studies) you will learn how to approach texts from the Middle Ages (around 800 to 1500 CE). Unlike what you may be familiar with from popular contexts such as fantasy literature or medieval festivals, during the degree program the focus is on taking a reflective academic and historical approach to the literature of this period which may appear rather foreign to us at first glance (but only at the first glance). Based on German epics such as the Nibelungenlied, we discuss various aspects such as the historical development of gender roles, explore the nature of narrative texts or consider how texts were passed on. You will acquire a knowledge of Middle High German during your course.
Linguistics is concerned with the structure and use of language. Language is explored in respect of its properties as something material, set down in writing or speech, which can be analyzed in terms of its components, units, and functions. Language is also the means of communication chosen by human beings. Taking this into consideration, during your studies you will explore the specifics of spoken compared to written communications, look at language varieties such as dialects and colloquial languages, and investigate how languages change over time.
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Unlike the subject German at school, the study of German Language and Literature consists of three separate components: Modern German literature, Medieval German literature, and linguistics. At school, the main focus in literature lessons is on interpreting texts. You therefore might be surprised to learn that the degree program also includes a detailed examination of the German language and an exploration of the historical context behind texts. In all three areas an academic investigation of language and texts is the main focus. Creative writing is not a standard part of the degree program, although it has been offered as an optional seminar in the past.
Against this backdrop, the program focuses particularly on writing academic texts and working with various types of primary and secondary texts. Literary studies are not restricted to purely text interpretation, it is just as important to be able to understand, classify and evaluate research opinions and research findings. Linguistics goes one step further and also involves analyzing language data. During your studies, you will also be expected to read theoretical texts that may come from other disciplines (for instance philosophy). -
- A proficient command of German with respect to speaking, writing and comprehension skills
- Ability to work independently
- A love of reading
- Enthusiasm for interpreting and discussing texts
- An interest in reading and writing academic texts
- Curiosity about historical changes in language, literary forms and cultural contexts
- Enthusiasm for presenting and discussing your own ideas about texts and linguistic phenomena
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- Variety of possible subject combinations at FAU: you can choose from a total of 27 different subject combinations with German Language and Literature as a Bachelor’s degree.
- Close to texts and their authors: The opportunity to meet authors from the current literary scene during the literary event known as the “Poetik-Kolleg”.
- Close to research: Regular opportunities to listen to guest lectures by international scholars
- Get off to a flying start with mentoring from the first semester onwards.
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After studying German Language and Literature, possible careers include…
- In publishing
- In journalism
- In academia, for instance at a university or research institution
- In libraries
- In the media sector (e.g. PR work etc.)
- In the cultural sector (e.g. museum, theater)
- In education sector (e.g. adult education, German as a foreign language)
- In consulting (e.g. media consulting, business consulting)
- Freelance work as an author
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- Option to complete a double degree for a two-subject Bachelor’s degree in German Language and Literature/Hispanic Studies or Hispanic Studies/German Language and Literature.
Partner university: Universidad de Sevilla, Spain
Point of contact: Prof. Dr. Neumeyer - Option to complete a double degree for a two-subject Bachelor’s degree in German Language and Literature/Italian Studies or Italian Studies/German Language and Literature.
Partner university: Università per Stranieri di Siena, Italy
Point of contact: Prof. Dr. Rivoletti
- Option to complete a double degree for a two-subject Bachelor’s degree in German Language and Literature/Hispanic Studies or Hispanic Studies/German Language and Literature.
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Degree program combinations
- Archaeological Sciences
- Art History
- Book Studies
- Business and Economics
- Chinese Studies
- Computational Linguistics
- Cultural History of Christianity
- Digital Humanities and Social Sciences
- Education
- English and American Studies
- French Studies
- Geography: Cultural Geography as a two subject Bachelor's degree program
- Greek Philology
- Hispanic Studies
- History
- Indo-European and Indo-Iranian Studies
- Islamic Religious Studies
- Italian Romance Studies
- Japanese Studies
- Latin Philology
- Medieval Latin and Neo-Latin
- Oriental Studies
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Scandinavian Studies (BA)
- Sociology
- Theater and Media Studies
Das Lehrangebot dieser Kombination ist so aufeinander abgestimmt, dass die Fächer in der Regel überschneidungsfrei miteinander kombiniert werden können.
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- Admission requirements (first semester)
- No Admissions Restrictions
- Application deadline winter semester
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30.09.
Language skills
- German language skills for international applicants
- DSH 2 or equivalent
- General language skills
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Im Bachelorstudium Germanistik sind gesicherte Lateinkenntnisse („Latinum“) nachzuweisen. Sollten diese zu Beginn des Studiums nicht vorliegen, so können sie über entsprechende Kurse an der FAU studienbegleitend nachgeholt werden.
- Gesicherte Lateinkenntnisse (etwa durch den Lateinkurs I und II an der FAU) bis zum Einstieg ins 5. Semester
Außerdem muss ein Nachweis über ausreichende Kenntnisse in zwei Fremdsprachen, darunter Englisch, bis zum Ende des 4. Semesters im Vollzeitstudium (bzw. bis zum Ende des 8. Semesters im Teilzeitstudium) beim Prüfungsamt (bspw. durch Vorlage des Abiturzeugnisses) erbracht werden.
- Details and notes
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The application deadline for the winter semester for international applicants is July 15th.
In addition to the general qualification for university entrance (Abitur), there are other access options for studying at FAU.
Do you need help or more information?
Our Student Advice and Career Service (IBZ) is the central point of contact for all questions about studying and starting a degree programme. Our Student Service Centres and subject advisors support you in planning your studies.