Depending on your desired focus area, it is not required to have completed a bachelor’s degree in linguistics. Even if you are studying one philology or several, you may still be eligible for the master’s degree program.

What is important is that you have a general interest in how languages work:

• What constitutes human language abilities?
• How is it cognitively motivated?
• How have single languages developed within their families and in regard to typological comparisons?
• Which theoretical models are suitable for assessing specific linguistic issues?

To be admitted, students must choose a focus area at the time of enrollment. The admission requirements vary according to the subject-specific focus area.

Focus on general and comparative linguistics:

First higher education degree: Admission requires the completion of a bachelor’s degree from a higher education institution with at least 36 credit points in the field of linguistics, or an equivalent degree with an equivalent amount of subject-specific coursework and examinations.

Focus on English linguistics:

First higher education degree: Admission requires the completion of a bachelor’s degree (including B.Ed.) from a higher education institution with at least 36 credit points in the field of linguistics or English language/English linguistics, or an equivalent degree with an equivalent amount of subject-specific coursework and examinations.

Students must have very good active and passive English language proficiency, allowing them to complete written coursework as well as written and oral examinations in English. Proof of language proficiency

Focus on Slavic linguistics:

First higher education degree: Admission requires the completion of a bachelor’s degree (including B.Ed.) from a higher education institution or an equivalent degree. At least 36 credit points must have been earned in the field of linguistics or Slavic linguistics.

Students must have good active and passive language proficiency at a minimum level of B2 in either two Slavic languages or in one Slavic and one Baltic language. Proof of language proficiency

Focus on Northern European and Baltic languages:

First higher education degree: Admission requires the completion of a bachelor’s degree from a higher education institution with at least 36 credit points in the field of Linguistics or in the field of Scandinavian studies, Baltic studies, Baltic-Finnic studies, or Fenno-Ugrian studies, OR

• an equivalent degree with an equivalent scope of subject-specific coursework and examinations.

Students must have basic active and passive language proficiency in at least one Nordic language (i.e., Scandinavian or Baltic-Finnic) or a Baltic language, at a minimum level of A2. Proof of language proficiency

Focus on German linguistics:

First higher education degree: Admission requires the completion of a bachelor’s degree (including B.Ed.) from a higher education institution with at least 36 credit points in the field of Linguistics or German Linguistics, or an equivalent degree with an equivalent amount of subject-specific coursework and examinations.

In addition: Proof of participation in an introductory course on language history. If the proof has not been submitted by the application deadline, t may be submitted no later than the end of the first semester of the master’s program. The German department ensures that a corresponding course will be available in the first semester of the master’s program.

Focus on Turkic studies:

First higher education degree: For admission to the program, you must have completed a bachelor’s degree program with a standard period of study of at least 6 semesters at a higher education institution. An equivalent degree may also be presented. You must demonstrate completion of at least one of the following related subjects: At least 36 credit points in Linguistics or Turkic Linguistics/Turkic Philology, or, in the case of a degree program without credit points, an equivalent number of subject-specific coursework and examinations.

Active and passive proficiency corresponding to the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) in Turkish or another Turkic language is a requirement. Proof of language proficiency

Focus on Romance linguistics:

First higher education degree: Admission requires the completion of a bachelor’s degree (including B.Ed.) from a higher education institution with at least 36 credit points in the field of linguistics or Romance linguistics, or an equivalent degree with an equivalent amount of subject-specific coursework and examinations.

Students must have good active and passive language proficiency in a Romance language, at a minimum level of B2. Proof of language proficiency

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.

The examination regulations can be found here.

You will select a specialization at the start of your studies, which you will pursue until your master’s thesis (it is possible to change your specialization once). You may select from the following options:

• General and comparative linguistics:
• English linguistics
• Slavic linguistics
• Northern European and Baltic languages
• Linguistics of German
• Turkic studies
• Romance linguistics

Additional overarching content of the degree program:

• Theories of grammar
• Empirical methods, neurolinguistics
• Approaches to linguistic change in terms of cognitive and sociolinguistic motivation – grammaticalization and sociolinguistics / variational linguistics
• Information on linguistic diversity worldwide (language typology)

Further information about the course sequence can be found in the module handbook of the master’s program (in German).

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

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.

Linguists are the ones we turn to when questions requiring a profound understanding of language and its influence arise. As a graduate of the degree program, you will be a valued employee in various fields:

• Projects related to language and digitalization
• Speech therapy (after additional education)
• Education and research
• Adult education centers, language schools
• Publishing
• Advertising agencies

The degree program will also thoroughly prepare you for a scientific career in linguistic research.

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.