Linguistics
Linguistics (M.A.)
Do you already have a bachelor’s degree in linguistics or do you have a strong interest in linguistic analysis and interpretation? Then the Master’s degree programme in Linguistics offers the perfect opportunity to deepen and expand your knowledge.
- Degree
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Duration of studies in semester
- 4
- Start of degree program
- Summer semester, Winter semester
- Study location
- Erlangen
- Number of students
- 1-50
- Subject group
- Language and Cultural Studies
- Special ways to study
- Part-time degree program
- Teaching language
- completely in German
- Admission Requirements
- Qualification assessment
What is the degree program about?
The master’s degree program is aimed at students who are interested in languages, the function and change of language systems and how people deal with language. The main subjects are German, English and the Romance languages, with perspectives on other languages as well. The students have the opportunity to focus more on the area of applied and descriptive linguistics or on the area of historical linguistics and variational linguistics, depending on their own interests.
The main topics of the degree program are grammar and grammar theory, language change and language variation, multilingualism research and language acquisition as well as lexicography. Dealing with empirical methods in linguistics also plays a major role, e.g. in corpus linguistics.
On the basis of these topics, the degree program imparts in-depth knowledge of language and of languages, of their structure and history. The students deal intensively with the methods of analyzing and describing language. The degree program teaches you to critically analyze linguistic statements and theoretical-methodological concepts and to critically question theory- and corpus-based research. Due to the close connection between research and teaching, there are also offers to participate in ongoing research projects and to try out possibilities for your own scientific specialization.
A special feature of the Linguistics master’s degree program is the close connection between research and teaching.
- In the lecture series in the first semester, students get to know the key research areas of linguistics at FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg, in an interdisciplinary manner that goes beyond the core subjects of English, German and Romance studies.
- In the research-related module in the 2nd/3rd During the semester, the students attend lectures by foreign and international guest scientists and discuss their research with them. This is done in collaboration with two research institutes at FAU:
- Interdisciplinary Center for Dialects and Language Variation: the IZ for Dialects and Language Variation is dedicated to researching linguistic variation and language contact in various linguistically oriented subjects and offers lectures, research colloquia and conferences. http://www.dialektforschung.phil.fau.de
- Interdisciplinary center for lexicography, valence and collocation research: the IZ for lexicography, valence and collocation research based at FAU networks and coordinates research from various subjects represented at FAU, which deals with the use of words in larger linguistic units and the description of this word use have. The IZ offers guest lectures, conferences and workshops on these topics. http://www.lexi.uni-erlangen.de
- In the 2nd or 3rd semester there is also the opportunity to work on a linguistic research project as part of the project module.
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The Linguistics Master’s degree program can be studied without a special focus, with a focus on “Applied and Descriptive Linguistics” or with a focus on “Historical Linguistics and Variational Linguistics”. This focus results from the selection of appropriate modules in the elective area.
1st semester
Overview of the Linguistics master’s degree program through a lecture series “Linguistics – Languages – Language” supported by all participating subjects, plus cross-language events from the three core subjects German, English and Romance Studies
2nd and 3rd semester
Research-related module from the participating interdisciplinary centers – the Interdisciplinary Center for Lexicography, Valence and Collocation Research and the Interdisciplinary Center for Dialects and Language Variation. During this phase, students can work on research projects, complete internships and/or improve their foreign language skills. In addition, they choose from a spectrum of thematically different compulsory elective modules. One focus is on the topic of methods and empirical work in linguistics.
4th semester
Master’s thesis and accompanying master’s colloquium
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Systematic language training is not part of the Linguistics master’s degree program. However, language courses can be selected as part of the compulsory elective area, and not limited to English or Romance languages, but from the entire range of courses offered by the Language Center at FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg.
Do I have to cover all three subjects, i.e. English, German and Romance linguistics, equally as part of the master’s degree program?
Answer: No. In the first semester, two of the three modules English, German and Romance must be chosen. There are no more requirements for this in the further course of the study.
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- Admission requirements (first semester)
- Qualification assessment
- Application deadline winter semester
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15.07.
- Application deadline summer semester
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15.01.
- Content-related admission requirements
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This master’s degree program can be taken up by bachelor’s graduates of a bachelor’s degree in linguistics or linguistics. Bachelor’s degrees in German Studies or a foreign language philology (e.g. English, Romance Studies or another foreign language philology) are recognized as related or equivalent if they have a linguistic, philological and/or practical language component of at least 60 ECTS points, of which at least 30 ECTS -Points must come from the field of linguistics. In principle, a master’s degree based on a teaching degree is also possible. Further information on the admission requirements can be found under the relevant point.
- The prerequisite for admission to the master’s degree program is a first professional university degree that must be subject-specific or related to the master’s degree program in linguistics.
- A grade of at least “good” (2.5) is sufficient for the overall grade of the previous university degree; with an overall grade of 2.51 to 3.00, the applicants complete an individual admissions interview.
- Proof of 140 ECTS points is sufficient for an application in the current final semester of the BA course.
Applicants who do not have a German degree or the German higher education entrance qualification also need proof of a certificate of German language skills at level DSH-2 (or equivalent).
Language skills
- German language skills for international applicants
- DSH 2 or equivalent
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.