The Master’s degree program in German Language and Literature at FAU can be taken either as a part-time or as a full-time program. Further provisions regarding the modules are set forth in the degree program and examination regulations. A detailed overview of the structure of the degree program is available on the degree program’s website.

Generally, students have a high degree of freedom of choice which allows them to make the most of the full range of available courses (primarily Master’s seminars and tutorials). Students can choose to specialize in one of the specializations (linguistics, medieval German studies or modern German literature) from the first semester onwards. It is also possible to study the entire spectrum of German language and literature. 20 ECTS credits may be taken in the form of reading modules (self study) rather than seminars. Modules accounting for 10 to 30 ECTS credits may be selected from the range of subjects offered at the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology (extra-disciplinary modules). This allows students to specialize in an additional subject, with the option of graduating in two subjects.

During the project module, students complete an academic placement as part of an internal university research project or a career-oriented placement at an extramural institution or a company (total of 200 hours), allowing them to gain their first practical experience of using their skills in German in a vocational setting.

The key research priorities of German Language and Literature in Erlangen are also reflected in the curriculum of the Master’s degree program.

These focal areas include

• In the area of linguistics: Grammar, lexicography, historical linguistics with the emphasis on Early New High German, variational linguistics and corpus linguistics.
  • In the area of medieval German studies: Old High German, digital philology and digital editions as well as cultural historical and comparative approaches in medieval German literature.
  • In the area of modern German literature: Contemporary literature and culture, literature and culture of the early modern period and comparative literary studies.

Over and above the standard lectures and seminars, numerous guest lectures from scholars of German from Germany and abroad give insights into current research. In addition, key authors from the current literary scene give participants an insight into their work and answer students’ and lecturers’ questions during the literary event known as the “Poetik-Kolleg”.

You qualify for this degree program if you have completed a Bachelor’s degree in German Language and Literature or a teaching degree in German. In addition, graduates of degree programs in other subjects from the humanities or cultural sciences may be accepted after a selection interview if the curriculum of their degree included at least 70 ECTS credits for studying literature or linguistics.

If you are interested in the Master’s degree program and are unsure whether your degree qualifies you for admission, please contact the study advisor responsible for the Master’s degree program.

The Master’s degree program opens up career prospects in academic research (doctoral degree, collaboration in research projects) and organization (project management, PR work), and also qualifies graduates for careers in media, publishing, libraries, culture, consulting and continued education.

The module structure allows students to study one semester abroad. Achievements gained during this time are counted as extra-disciplinary modules worth 30 ECTS credits, meaning it is also possible for students to study another subject abroad.