You should have an interest in

• the linguistic structures of German and other (Germanic) languages,
• the role of language and its use in social discourse (e.g., populist rhetoric),
• language change and its underlying causes,
• language variation,
• analytical and reflective thinking skills.

Additionally, it is important to have

• a passion for research and a commitment to rigorous academic work,
• a willingness to engage with complex texts,
• an openness to multilingual educational and professional spaces.

• Proof of a bachelor’s degree with at least 72 credit points in German Studies, General and Comparative Linguistics, or a degree from a closely related field.
• Proof of knowledge in German Studies or General and Comparative Linguistics totaling at least 40 credit points. If you have fewer than 72 credit points in the relevant fields, you may still be admitted to the master’s program on the condition that you complete the required credit points by the end of your first year.

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.

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.

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 more information in the examination regulations (in German).

In the first year of the master’s program, you will study content from the following four areas:

• Language system and language use
• Language acquisition, language change and language comparison
• Theory and empirical research
• Research and practice

In the second year, required elective courses will allow you to focus on either two areas (within the master’s subject) or three areas (master’s subject plus specialization).

You will also have the option to choose a research specialization, enabling you to engage more deeply with the aforementioned topics and further develop your research interests.

Additionally, you can select which Germanic language (within the master’s subject) or languages (master’s subject plus specialization) you wish to learn or improve.

An approximate percentage breakdown of the course content (depending on your specialization) is as follows:
Language systems and language use 22%
Language acquisition, language change and language comparison 27%
Theory and empirical research 23%
Research and practice 28%

Stays abroad

Would you like to live abroad for a semester or a year? Do you want to learn another language and get to know a new culture? Or gain a different perspective on your particular subject? 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 cooperation agreements and partnerships with foreign universities.

For more information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. Visit our student exchange platform for an overview of cooperating universities in your field.

This program of study does not require you to spend time abroad, but you nevertheless have the opportunity to do so.

Internships

You are required to complete an internship of your choice, lasting a minimum of four weeks, that is related to your degree program. It is recommended that you undertake this internship during your second 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.

As a graduate in German linguistics you will

• understand the mechanisms of language change and the factors influencing it.
• have a nuanced understanding of linguistic norms and their adaptability.
• be equipped to analyze, structure, and process linguistically formulated content and problems from various disciplines, developing effective solution strategies.

You will also possess the ability to

• verify the authenticity of information.
• critically analyze, reflect upon, receive, and produce both spoken and written language.
• read and comprehend academic texts with a critical and questioning approach.
• formulate relevant research questions and hypotheses in the field of linguistics.
• evaluate hypotheses and address research questions based on self-developed research designs.

These competencies will prepare you for a wide range of professional fields where language plays a central role, whether in the production, reception, analysis, critique, or processing of linguistic expressions or information conveyed through language.

Typical career opportunities for linguists include:

• Academia and research
• Publishing (e.g., editing)
• Corporate communication
• Public relations
• Journalism (e.g., print media, radio, television, digital media)
• Language teaching (German as a foreign or second language) and adult education
• Language teaching for children and adults requiring support to develop their language skills
• Language consulting and proofreading
• Language technology (e.g., development of translation systems, context technology, dictation systems, search engines, etc.)

Graduates may also find opportunities in libraries, archives, public administration, human resources, marketing, forensic linguistics (at the Federal or State Criminal Police Office), or as authors.

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.