Some of the specialist literature is written in English. Therefore, you should be proficient enough in English to read and understand these texts.

If you have an interest in critical discussion about film and media in all of their forms and possess a curiosity for global and non-commercial films and film culture, then the Film Studies master’s degree program is right for you! You should also be able to critically question your own film and media use and enjoy delving into debates. 

You must have earned a bachelor’s degree in the integrated area of Culture, Theater or Film studies in Mainz with Film Studies as either a major or a minor. Alternatively, you can present a university degree in a subject area related to film, art or media studies with at least 30 credit points achieved in the area of film, television, and new media, or a similar degree completed at a university in Germany or abroad.

If you have not yet received your bachelor’s degree certificate by the application deadline, but have earned at least 135 credits in your bachelor’s program, you must apply by the set deadline with a transcript (certified copy issued by your university) of all coursework and exams completed to date, including your average grade to date.

Applicants who have not obtained a university entrance qualification at a German-speaking institution or a degree in a German-speaking course must provide proof of sufficient German language skills. These must correspond to the level DSH-2 of the “German Language Proficiency Examination for Admission to Higher Education for Foreign Applicants” and must be proven by the time of enrollment at JGU.

Good to know: The legally binding basis for selection, admission and enrollment is the text of the entrance requirements as specified in Section 2 of the currently valid examination regulations and, where applicable, in the appendix.

You can find the examination regulations for the degree program here.

In the first semester, you will work together with students of Media Dramaturgy on contemporary theoretical topics and familiarize yourself with various forms of audiovisual presentation. You will also consider the question of what technological and societal shifts impact the aesthetics and the circulation of films, videos, or series. 

1st semester

• Theoretical questions about audiovisual presentation
• Forms of audiovisual presentation
• Aesthetics of films, videos, series, etc.
• Historiographical perspectives on film and media history

2nd semester:

• Fundamentals of film studies in terms of practical application (potential specializations include writing research or cultural project proposals, archival research, curatorial or festival work)
• Critical writing
• Career internship

3rd semester:

• Consolidation of the research area of aesthetics of moving images (film, video, digital media)
• Expansion of methodological knowledge
• Current theoretical models in film studies
• Required elective module: interdisciplinary insight into the realms of Human Geography, Cultural Anthropology, Art History, Media Cultural Studies, Media Management or Theater Studies

The master’s degree is generally completed in the 4th academic semester, when you will submit your final thesis and have your oral examination.  

Stays abroad

Would you like to live abroad for half a year or a whole year? Do you want to get to know another language and culture? Would you like to get a different perspective on your particular degree program? A stay abroad provides you with the perfect opportunity to achieve this and is possible with every degree program – either self-organized or by taking advantage of one of the popular exchange programs. This is made possible by various partnerships with foreign universities.

For information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. An overview of cooperating universities that would suit your degree program can be found on our Student Exchange Platform.

Internships

In the Film Studies master’s degree program, you are required to complete a semester-long career internship (360 hours) at a film, television, art, and/or media culture institution (e.g., television editorial department, film festival, archive, museum). You can complete the internship at any time. Most students complete their internship during the 2nd semester. 

Voluntary internships are another good opportunity to obtain more in-depth insight into a professional field.

An internship allows you to discover whether everyday life in a particular occupation suits your career expectations and interests. You can gain qualifications for a professional field and acquire important professional and personal skills to start a career. An internship helps you both shape your career path, and mold the remainder of your course sequence – in particular by selecting specializations that suit your practical experience.

You can find further information and relevant internships on the Career Service website.

The Film Studies master’s degree program qualifies you to conduct research in the realm of film and prepares you for work at a wide range of cultural institutions: 

• Film, television, radio, content platforms (editorial work, programming, format development, or film distribution) 
• Archives, cinemas, museums (curating, archiving, communicating)
• Specialist publishing firms or journalistic institutions (press and public relations, film review, copyediting)
• Festivals (program selection/organization)
• Research and teaching
• Film and media communication 

In addition to the typical professional fields, there are also numerous other areas that could interest graduates of Film Studies: 

• Advertising
• Work with foundations
• Filmmaking organizations
• Cultural promotion and politics, education 

Not sure what to do after graduation? Don’t worry!

A university degree generally does not prepare you for a single profession but qualifies you for a wide range of career paths – for example, in research, in a typical profession related to your field of study, or in one of many other academic fields.

This is why career orientation is also part of your studies. Gaining practical experience is key, and you can do so through internships, working student positions, part-time jobs or voluntary work, for example.

JGU’s Career Service will support you throughout the entire process with information, advice, workshops and numerous events – from career orientation and working on your profile and skills to finding your dream job and successfully applying for it.