Scandinavian Studies/Nordic Philology deals with the literatures, cultures and languages of Scandinavia. It examines literary and cultural phenomena in inter-Scandinavian comparison through current theoretical approaches in historical and systematic perspective.

The basis of the study is an intensive language training in one of the continental Scandinavian languages (Danish, Norwegian, Swedish).

Main areas of research and teaching are:

• Scandinavian literary history,
• contemporary literature,
• Arctic discourses,
• Intermediality (text and image, text and film),
• Theater and performance practice,
• gender studies and theories of the body

• Willingness to read widely and carefully
• General enthusiasm for literature and language
• Strong interest in the languages as well as the literature and culture of the Scandinavian countries
• Desire to learn one or more Scandinavian languages
• Interest in questions of literary and cultural theory
• An inclination to read and write academic texts yourself
• Enjoyment of exchange with other cultures: a longer stay abroad in a Scandinavian country is highly recommended during your studies.

As in the humanities in general, there are many possibilities for starting a career, because there is no clear-cut career field for Scandinavianists. With a bachelor’s degree in Scandinavian Studies, job opportunities include the following:

• Journalism and publishing (e.g., as translator, proofreader, editor)
• Culture (e.g. museums, theaters, libraries)
• Culture and event management
• Tourism sector (e.g. travel management and planning)
• Politics and society (e.g. in cultural institutes, embassies)
• Business (e.g. in companies with close ties to Northern Europe)
• Adult education (e.g. language teaching in Germany and Scandinavia)

In general, you should already make intensive efforts to obtain additional qualifications such as job-related internships during your studies in order to get a more precise idea of the working world and your own career goals. As a rule, internships can also be credited as study achievements.

FAU offers the program of Scandinavian Studies as a BA program as a major or minor subject. It can be supplemented and deepened by the MA program “Literary Studies – intermedial and intercultural”.