The entrance requirements for the degree program International M.A. in Sociolinguistics and Multilingualism are:

• A bachelor’s degree in the humanities or social sciences or an equivalent degree. The degree must be recognized as a qualifying degree by all partner universities.
• Your degree must include at least 30 credits earned in linguistic or philological subjects.
• A further requirement for admission to the master’s program is proof of English language proficiency at the B2 level or above.
• A successful qualifying interview at VMU.

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.

PLEASE NOTE: You must apply through VMU for this degree program.

The program of study consists of the following components:

1st semester – Kaunas

• Mediatization of language, culture, and everyday life
• Multilingualism in Europe
• Academic writing (in English)
• Intercultural communication
• Lithuanian language course (for non-native speakers)
• Language course in a Nordic/Baltic language (for Lithuanian native speakers)
• Quantitative and qualitative research methods in sociolinguistics

2nd semester – Mainz

• Current trends in sociolinguistics
• Regional and minority languages
• German language course (for non-native speakers)
• Language course in a Nordic/Baltic language (for German native speakers)
• Writing a research report
• Qualitative data analysis
• Professional project planning

3rd semester – Tartu

• The Estonian language in Europe
• Estonian language course (for non-native speakers)
• Language course in a Nordic/Baltic language (for Estonian native speakers)
• History of Estonia
• Culture of Estonia
• Language contacts in the Baltic Sea region
• Research and reasoning skills
• Swedish language course (for non-native speakers)
• Language course in a Nordic language (for Swedish native speakers)
• Language course in a Baltic language (for Swedish native speakers)
• Language politics and language situation in relation to the Baltic languages

4th semester
Master’s thesis

In the third academic semester, you can choose between a Baltic focus at Stockholm University or an Estonian focus at the University of Tartu.

Stays abroad

In the SoMu program, two stays abroad are obligatory: The program of study commences with the first academic semester at VMU in Kaunas. In the third academic semester, you can choose between a stay at Stockholm University or at the University of Tartu, depending on the specialization you select.

You will spend the fourth academic semester at the university your advisor for your master’s thesis is employed at.

Internships

This program of study does not include a mandatory internship. However, voluntary internships are a great way to gain 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.

Beyond a career in academic research, the SoMu degree course qualifies you for jobs in educational institutions, in the media (encompassing a wide range of professional fields such as political journalism), or in intercultural corporate consulting, among others.

Thanks to your strong proficiency in English and other languages you learn in the program of study, you will have key qualifications that are crucial for careers in transnational and international fields.

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.