Requirements for a Dijon degree program

The most important requirement to succeed in a degree program at the French partner university is sufficient language proficiency in French. Language proficiency can usually be demonstrated by having had at least 5 years of French in school, which was completed with a minimum grade of “sufficient,” or 5 points. Accepted alternatives are a higher education entrance qualification from a French-language school, the French baccalauréat, or the Abi-Bac (simultaneous achievement of the German Abitur (Abi) and the French baccalauréat (Bac)).

The Dijon course of studies is right for you if you are excited about the opportunity to spend half of your time studying in France and getting to know the country, people, and culture better. Additionally, if you enjoy new experiences, are enthusiastic about the French language, and have the courage to show initiative and self-organize, you have everything you need for this course of study.

Requirements for the subject of German

You should be very passionate about reading and enjoy looking at texts from an analytical perspective. As you will be dealing with the language and literature of the Middle Ages during your studies, among other topics, you should also be interested in the history of languages and literature.

However, in this program of study you will be reading not only literature, but also academic texts on the topic of literature or language. A portion of the academic literature is written in English. Therefore, your English skills should be sufficient enough to read and understand these texts. You should also have knowledge of one other modern foreign language or of Latin. A secure grasp of German spelling and grammar is also required.

Program structure and specializations

The degree program in Dijon is completed as a part of the Bachelor’s of Education (teacher education for Gymnasium) degree program. In addition to Education Studies, this degree program always covers two teaching subjects. You can choose your subjects according to your interests and professional goals. One of your subjects must be French (either as your first or second teaching subject). Please note our information on subject combinations . You will obtain your Licence in your first teaching subject. You can receive further information from the Dijon Office at JGU.

As a student in the Dijon program, you will spend half of your studies abroad. You will complete any local examinations under the same conditions as the local students. The other half of your studies will be spent at JGU.

Program structure

In the introductory phase (1st and 2nd semester), you will attend introductory courses in linguistics and literature and learn the fundamentals.

In the advanced phase (3rd and 4th semester), you will gain insights into the systematic and historical foundation of the subject. You will spend semesters 3, 4, and 5 in the partner country.

In the specialization phase (5th and 6th semester), you will have the opportunity to select a specialization for linguistics and literature and choose from a variety of courses. You can set your literary focus on either classic or contemporary German literature and your linguistic focus on either historical or contemporary perspectives. The bachelor’s thesis can be written in any area of specialization, or in literary or language didactics.

Stays abroad

After you have completed the first two semesters in Mainz, you will spend the three following semesters (3rd−5th semesters) at the Université de Bourgogne in Dijon. You will immerse yourself in the language and culture of France and learn how to think in French. Thanks to a variety of funding programs such as Erasmus+ and the Franco-German University, it is possible to receive financial support during your stay abroad.

If you start your degree course in the winter semester, you must study abroad during the third, fourth, and fifth semesters. You can also start your degree program in the summer semester. Due to the structure of the French academic year, your degree will take an additional semester to complete if you start in the summer semester. Your stay abroad would then take place in the fourth, fifth and sixth semesters.

Internships

In the Bachelor of Education program, you will complete three 3-week internships and experience different types of schools firsthand.  In the German-French degree program, you will complete one of these internships in a francophone country.

This practical experience will complement your theoretical training, help you practice your pedagogical skills in the classroom, and give you direction for your future career.

For more information, please visit the website for school internships provided by the state of Rhineland-Palatinate.

Students interested in completing additional voluntary internships – including those in other professional fields – can find more information on the Career Service website.

The Mainz-Dijon teacher education degree prepares you – and is a prerequisite – for teaching in secondary schools in both countries. To work in the teaching profession later on, you must also complete the Master of Education and/or the French master’s degree MEEF (Métiers de l’enseignement, de l’éducation et de la formation) after graduating with a bachelor’s degree. This is followed by a teacher traineeship (Referendariat). The master’s degree and teacher traineeship can be completed within the German-French program, but you may also choose to continue studying exclusively in Germany (or France).

However, you are not restricted solely to classroom teaching after completing the teacher education program. As a graduate of the teacher education degree program, you can also work in a variety of professional fields beyond school. Thanks to your international degree, you will have no problems entering the global job market. Thanks to the program’s focus on both practical and international applicability, you will acquire specific knowledge and skills that will enable you to pursue a career in both academic and non-academic professional fields.

Possible alternative professional fields:

• German-French/European institutions
• Research and academia (e.g., at universities, research institutions or in research projects)
• Education and culture (in association with museums, theaters, adult education, libraries, archives, and foundations of various types)
• Publishing companies
• Media and journalism (e.g., newspapers, television, radio, internet)
• Advertising
• Business (marketing, press and public relations)

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.