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.

Prerequisites for the subject of History

For the Bachelor of Arts in History, proficiency in English as well as in a Slavic or Romance language is required.

• English proficiency will be verified in an English-language source text exercise within the introductory module.
• Proficiency in an additional language (Romance, Slavic, Baltic, Finno-Ugric languages, Arabic or Modern Greek) will be confirmed by means of a language exam that must be taken and passed by the end of the third semester.
• Students can also provide proof of proficiency in Latin in the form of the “Latinum” qualification or Ancient Greek in the form of the “Graecum” qualification (or their equivalents) in place of a Romance or Slavic language. In this case, however, a modern Romance or Slavic language must be acquired during the program of study and confirmed by passing the language exam.

One of the most important requirements to ensure your success in the History degree program is an interest in taking a scholarly approach to history, meaning that you enjoy conducting theory-based and methodically controlled research into the past. In the History program of study, an emphasis is placed first and foremost on working with texts in the form of primary sources and academic literature. An interest in working with language is essential. You should also enjoy carefully reading and analyzing complex texts. In addition, you should enjoy formulating your own texts, value precise language, and be proficient in analytical thinking and reasoning.

The Dijon program always consists of two subjects (an academic major and a minor), which you can combine to suit your interests or career goals. One of your two subjects must be French (either as your major or your minor). You will obtain your Licence in your academic major. Further information can be found at 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.

Content of the History program of study

• Introduction to the fundamentals, theories, and methods of historical studies
• Modules covering various eras, including ancient history, the Middle Ages, and modern history
• Advanced module dealing with one specific era
• Field trip module
• Specialization module
• Studium generale module
• Final module with bachelor’s thesis and examination

Specializations

Right from the beginning, you can choose from a wide range of topics within each module – in the Middle Ages module, you might choose the topics plague, city, rulership, or Charlemagne, while in the contemporary history module, you could select the Revolution of 1848, the labor movement in Imperial Germany, the resistance to National Socialism, or the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany. Starting from the 5th academic semester, it is possible to select an area of specialization pertaining to one specific era.

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

Within the specialization/practical module (which you will take no later than your 4th academic semester), you will be required to complete an internship of at least four weeks in France or a French-speaking country.

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.

Thanks to your double degree, you will have no problems entering the international job market. In France, you will have access to the concours to work in public services, or you can work in one of the professional fields listed below both in France and in Germany.

A degree in history opens up a wide range of potential career options, many of which you can explore while you are still studying. As a student of the History degree program, you will directly acquire the following professionally relevant skills:

• Independent and efficient familiarization with complex subject matters
• Questioning and review of acquired knowledge
• Preparation of information for presentation to various target audiences
• Planning, organization, and implementation of projects
• Acquisition of cultural skills and the ability to act decisively
• Presentation techniques

Typical relevant professional fields

As a historian, you can also work in areas outside the standard professional fields of museum, archival and academic work – for example, in publishing journalism, media, and charitable foundations.

Other professional fields

The knowledge and skills you acquire during your studies can also prove useful in the following professions, even if the connection is not immediately apparent:

• Politics (as an elected legislator, consultant, office director, mayor, etc.)
• Administration (ministerial official, diplomat, etc.)
• Business (HR, PR work, marketing, corporate consulting, sales, etc.)

As a historian, you are trained to read texts analytically and to scrutinize their content and contexts.Your degree in history will thus provide you with the ideal tools for future career opportunities in our information society.

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.