Chinese as an additional subject for teaching secondary education (Gymnasium) can be studied as an additional subject alongside two main subjects. The standard duration of study in the degree program is nine semesters. The degree program is split into the three areas language training, subject knowledge and teaching the subject.

You do not require any particular skills before starting to study, as all Chinese language courses are aimed at beginners. However, you should be interested in foreign cultures and enjoy learning languages.

There are a lot of reasons for choosing to study Chinese in Erlangen!

Excellent language courses: The courses are held in small groups led by qualified native speakers. Their teaching skills guarantee that students master Chinese characters, pronunciation and grammar.

Modern facilities: The Chair of Chinese Studies is housed in its own building together with Japanese Studies, and even has a garden. The classrooms are fitted out with the latest technology, including whiteboards. The Chinese Studies library is located in the same building and offers study places for students. The Chinese Studies library is the largest subject library at FAU and one of the largest Chinese studies libraries in Germany.

Good supervision: The lecturers provide dedicated supervision, they are always open to students’ concerns and requests. If you ever have any problems, you can contact our very active student association (FSI) at any time.

Wide range of courses on offer: A wide range of subjects in research and teaching, offered in collaboration with other disciplines at FAU as well as with national and international cooperation partners, give students a balanced and reflected view of Chinese language and culture, which is crucial in today’s current climate.

Optional extras: The institute offers a range of optional events in addition to obligatory teaching. There are summer parties, barbecues, a Chinese theater group and regular excursions to Europe and China.

Stay abroad: During their studies, students can spend one or two semesters in China or Taiwan, and we recommend that they do. Our lecturers can help you to plan your stay abroad and apply for scholarships.

Completing the degree program qualifies you to teach Chinese in secondary schools (at Gymnasium). Chinese is offered as a subject for the Abitur at nine secondary schools (Gymnasium) in Bavaria. A number of other schools also offer the option of taking Chinese as an elective subject. This leads to a growing demand for professional teachers of Chinese in secondary education. In spite of that, there is still a major lack of opportunities for teaching degree students to train in teaching Chinese at secondary school.