| The most important facts at a glance: | |
|---|---|
| Degree: | |
| Standard period of studies: | 4 semesters |
| Start: | Winter and summer semester |
| Admission restrictions: | Open admission |
| Application: | You find information on the application procedure for international students here. |
| Applicants with foreign certificates: | Language of instruction: German Required language certificate: DSH-2 |
| Deadlines: | Winter semester: April 1 - September 1 Summer semester: October 1 - March 1 |
| Required Bachelor's degree: | Linguistics (B.A.) |
| Homepage: | Linguistics: General | Typology | Japanese |
| Faculty: | Faculty 05: Philosophy and Philology |
| Accreditation: | The accreditation of study programmes for Bachelor and Master Degrees constitutes as a precondition for the granting of state approval. |
Subject Matter
Like the name already suggests, linguistics deals with language. During this master’s program, you will not only be researching characteristics of specific languages or language families, but also learning about the possibilities and cognitive motivations of linguistic structures. These two perspectives are both equally important in the linguistic field and are mutually dependent.
The Linguistics MA is a research-oriented consecutive master’s program that integrates the aforementioned perspectives into one program.
Subjects:
| General subjects | Subjects that deal with specific languages, language families and linguistic areas |
|---|---|
|
|
Master entrance requirements
Choice of a focus area is required when enrolling in the degree program. The admission requirements vary according to the focus areas. If the bachelor's degree has not yet been completed by the time of application, the applicant must provide proof of two third of the required subject-specific credit points by the end of the application deadline:
Focus on: General and Comparative Linguistics
First university degree: Admission requires the completion of a Bachelor's degree program with a minimum standard period of study of six semesters at a university in Germany or abroad with a portion of the program consisting of at least 36 credit points in Linguistics or an equivalent diploma with equivalent subject-related study and examination qualifications. If the Bachelor's diploma is not yet available, a minimum of 24 credit points in Linguistics must be verified before the application deadline. Admission is granted on the condition that a Bachelor's diploma is submitted within the first semester of the Master's degree program which fully demonstrates the required 36 credit points.
Students must have very good passive knowledge of English to read extensive specialist texts fluently and understand specialist lectures and courses in this language.
Focus on: English Linguistics
First university degree: Admission requires the completion of a Bachelor's degree program (including B.Ed.) with a minimum standard period of study of six semesters at a university in Germany or abroad with a portion of the program consisting of at least 36 credit points in Linguistics or English Language/English Linguistics or an equivalent diploma with equivalent subject-related study and examination qualifications. If the Bachelor's diploma is not yet available, the applicant must prove a minimum of 24 credit points in Linguistics or English Language/English Linguistics before the application deadline. Admission is granted on the condition that a Bachelor's diploma is submitted within the first semester of the Master's degree program which fully demonstrates the required 36 credit points.
Students must have very good active and passive knowledge of English to produce written course work and written and oral examination qualifications in English. As a rule, the language for teaching and examinations is English. In some parts of the course, German may also be used for teaching and examinations. Proof of language proficiency can be demonstrated in one of the following ways. The test results may not be older than two years at the time of the application deadline:
- Passing the "Practical Language Admission Test" of the Department of English and Linguistics at JGU (examination of language competence at Level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). The test may be repeated at the beginning of the next two semesters. A failure to pass the test the third time results in final failure. If the Admission Test can no longer be taken as a repeat effort, the student can no longer continue their study in the same Master's degree program. Failing the Practical Language Admission Test will be counted as a failed attempt if subjects are changed within the English Department.
- "Certificate in Advanced English" (offered by: Cambridge ESOL; with a minimum grade of: C)
- "Certificate of Proficiency in English" (offered by: Cambridge ESOL; with a minimum grade of: C)
- "Test of English as a Foreign Language" (TOEFL; offered by: Educational Testing Service) with a minimum score of 85 out of 120 points (the Internet-based TOEFL [iBT]) or 567 out of 677 points (the written version of the TOEFL [IPT]).
Focus on: Slavic Linguistics
First university degree: Admission requires the completion of a Bachelor's degree program (including B.Ed.) with a minimum standard period of study of six semesters at a university in Germany or abroad or a similar degree. At least 36 credit points must be in Linguistics or Slavic Linguistics. The applicant must provide proof of equivalent subject-related study and examination qualifications for degree programs that do not have credit points. If the Bachelor's diploma is not yet available, a minimum of 24 credit points in Linguistics or Slavic Linguistics must be verified before the application deadline. Admission is granted on the condition that a Bachelor's diploma is submitted within the first semester of the Master's degree program which fully demonstrates the required 36 credit points.
Students must have good active and passive knowledge of either two Slavic languages or a Slavic and a Baltic language both corresponding to a minimum level of B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The proof may be:
- proven native speaker knowledge of the language
- a final degree with a minimum of 36 credit points in Slavic Linguistics (the subject may also be listed under terms such as "Slavic Philology"). The applicant must provide proof of equivalent subject-related study and examination qualifications for degree programs that do not have credit points
- by an appropriate language certificate.
Students must have very good passive knowledge of English to read extensive specialist texts fluently and understand specialist lectures and courses in this language.
Focus on: Northern European and Baltic Languages
First university degree: Admission is conditional upon completion of a Bachelor's degree program with a minimum standard period of study of six semesters at a university in Germany or abroad with a portion of the program consisting of at least 36 credit points in Linguistics or Scandinavian Studies, Baltic Studies or Fenno-Baltic Studies and/or Fenno-Ugric Studies or an equivalent diploma with equivalent subject-related study and examination qualifications. If the Bachelor's diploma is not yet available, a minimum of 24 credit points in Linguistics or Scandinavian Studies, Baltic Studies or Fenno-Baltic Studies and/or Fenno-Ugric Studies must be verified before the application deadline. Admission is granted on the condition that a Bachelor's diploma is submitted within the first semester of the Master's degree program which fully demonstrates the required 36 credit points.
Students must have basic active and passive knowledge of at least one Nordic (i.e. Scandinavian or Fenno-Baltic) language or one Baltic language corresponding to a minimum level of A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The proof may be
- proven native speaker knowledge of the language
- by an appropriate language certificate
- a final degree with a minimum of 36 credit points in Scandinavian Studies, Baltic Studies, Fenno-Baltic Studies or an equivalent final degree with equivalent subject-related study and examination qualifications. The applicant must provide proof of equivalent subject-related study and examination qualifications for degree programs that do not have credit points.
Students must have very good passive knowledge of English to read extensive specialist texts fluently and understand specialist lectures and courses in this language.
Focus on: German Linguistics
First university degree: Admission requires the completion of a Bachelor's degree program (including B.Ed.) with a minimum standard period of study of six semesters at a university in Germany or abroad with a portion of the program consisting of at least 36 credit points in Linguistics or German Linguistics or an equivalent diploma with equivalent subject-related study and examination qualifications. If the Bachelor's diploma is not yet available, a minimum of 24 credit points in Linguistics or German Linguistics must be verified before the application deadline. Admission is granted on the condition that a Bachelor's diploma is submitted within the first semester of the Master's degree program which fully demonstrates the required 36 credit points.
Students must have very good passive knowledge of English to read extensive specialist texts fluently and understand specialist lectures and courses in this language.
Proof of participation in an introductory language history course. If proof is not available before the application deadline, it may be provided later until the end of the first semester of the Master's degree program. The German Department will make sure that an appropriate course can be attended during the first semester of the Master's program.
Focus on: Turkish Studies
First university degree: Admission requires the completion of a Bachelor's degree program with a minimum standard period of study of six semesters at a university in Germany or abroad or a similar degree. Proof of at least one of the following: A minimum of 36 credit points in Linguistics or Turkish Linguistics/Turkish Philology or equivalent subject-related study and examination qualifications if the degree program was not based on credit points. If the Bachelor's diploma is not yet available, a minimum of 24 credit points in Linguistics or Turkish Linguistics/Turkish Philology mus be verified before the application deadline. Admission is granted on the condition that a Bachelor's diploma is submitted within the first semester of the Master's degree program which fully demonstrates the required 36 credit points.
Students must have good active and passive knowledge of Turkish or another Turkic language corresponding to a minimum level of B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The proof may be:
- proven native speaker knowledge of the language
- a final degree with a minimum of 36 credit points in Turkish Studies; equivalent subject-related study and examination qualifications is required for degree programs not based on credit points.
- by an appropriate language certificate.
Students must have very good passive knowledge of English to read extensive specialist texts fluently and understand specialist lectures and courses in this language.
Focus on: French Linguistics
First university degree: Admission requires the completion of a Bachelor's degree program (including B.Ed.) with a minimum standard period of study of six semesters at a university in Germany or abroad with a portion of the program consisting of at least 36 credit points in Linguistics or French Linguistics/French Philology or an equivalent diploma with equivalent subject-related study and examination qualifications. If the Bachelor's diploma is not yet available, a minimum of 24 credit points in Linguistics or French Linguistics/French Philology must be verified before the application deadline. Admission is granted on the condition that a Bachelor's diploma is submitted within the first semester of the Master's degree program which fully demonstrates the required 36 credit points.
Students must have good active and passive knowledge of French corresponding to a minimum level of B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Proof may be a relevant Bachelor's degree in French Philology or French Linguistics or proven native speaker knowledge of French corresponding to Level B2 or via the language certification test "Diplôme d'Études en Langue Française" (DELF B2).
Students must have very good passive knowledge of English to read extensive specialist texts fluently and understand specialist lectures and courses in this language
For all focus areas, proof of proficiency in the German language to the level of the "German Language Proficiency Examination for Admission to Higher Education for Foreign Applicants (DSH)" is required for foreign applicants from non-German-speaking countries.
Information
The International Office offers counselling for international students about the application process and general information.
The Academic Advisory Office offers specific information on the subject (List available in German only).
The Student representatives give information from a student perspective (List available in German only).