• A strong interest in complex linguistic and literary topics
• Great personal initiative
• An open mind and curiosity about complex problems and unexpected challenges
• The willingness to familiarize yourself with material previously unknown to you and to seek answers to new questions
• A keen interest in how language works and the particular characteristics of the Russian language
• An interest in Russian literature and its manifold transnational connections
• An interest in historical research questions and the global interconnections present in today’s world
• The willingness to begin or continue learning a second Slavic language

Entrance requirements

A completed bachelor’s degree with a standard period of study of at least six semesters at a university, in which you must have earned at least 60 credits in courses related to Slavic, Polish or Russian Studies or have an equivalent higher education degree with the same amount of subject-related examinations and coursework.

You must choose one of the three focus areas within the master’s degree program: Philology, Literature and History, or Linguistics. During your bachelor’s degree program, you must have earned at least 20 credits from courses taken in the focus area you choose for your master’s program. Missing credits can be made up for.

Proof of required language proficiency:

The main language of study is Russian. If you are continuing your studies after earning your bachelor’s degree in Slavic/Eastern European Studies with a focus on Russian Studies, you will continue with the second language you have begun to study (Polish, Czech, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian or Lithuanian/Latvian/Finnish). Otherwise, you must provide proof of your Russian language proficiency (B2 level of the CEFR) and of the second language (A2 level of the CEFR). Proof of your level of language proficiency for the second language can be submitted up to the end of the second semester.

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.

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.

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.

Information on the examination regulation.

At the beginning of the program of study, you will choose one of three focus areas:

• Philology
• Literature and History
• Linguistics

Philology essentially corresponds to the traditional understanding of the field. It combines approximately the same proportion of linguistics and literature with a smaller proportion of regional studies.

Literature and History combines literary and regional/cultural aspects with Eastern European history. Here, too, you have options that allow for individualization of your course load.

In the focus areas “Philology” and “Literature and History,” you will also participate in project seminars and regional studies on cultural studies topics related to Russia (e.g., „The Soviet Utopia of the New Man in Text and Film,” „Full of Promise and Terror: Research and Technology in Russian Literature”).

The Linguistics focus area combines Slavic linguistics with general and comparative linguistics, and fundamentals of quantitative methods (statistics). To complement this focus area, you will visit courses in general linguistics or on quantitative data analysis methods.

At the end of your program of study, you will complete your master’s thesis on a research topic of your choice from your focus area.

In addition, you will earn solid passive language skills in a second Slavic language (Polish, Czech, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian or Lithuanian/Latvian/Finnish, from the Northern European and Baltic Languages department).

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.

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.

We strongly recommend spending a semester abroad. Especially in Slavic Studies, personal experience of the linguistic and cultural sphere is very important for developing a real understanding of the language and culture. Ideally, you will complete your semester abroad in the third academic semester.

The Institute of Slavic Studies responded promptly to the Russian war against Ukraine and developed alternatives to stays abroad at Russian universities. Your contacts at the institute can let you know what the current situation is.

The master’s degree program Slavic/Eastern European Studies with a Focus on Russian Studies, along with practical experience, qualifies you for a variety of professional fields, such as:

• Research and academia, science foundations
• Education (training, continuing education, adult education and advising, language and social support for migrants)
• Journalism (press, radio and TV, news agencies, digital media)
• Cultural management (museums, foundations, literature centers, theaters)
• Research and research management
• Book trade and publishing (editing, translating)
• Archives, documentation repositories, (online) editorial work for newspapers and broadcasters
• Public relations, advertisement, marketing
• Administration and governmental agencies
• Economy (especially foreign trade)
• International and non-governmental organizations (cultural exchange, etc.)
• Tourism, international trade fairs, regional partnerships between Germany and Russia
• Foundations in an international and bi-national German-Russian context

Here’s what some of our graduates have gone on to do:

• Linguistic research
• Literary studies research
• Cultural manager for cooperation between German institutions and institutions in Slavic countries
• Consultant for an NGO
• Freelance interpreter and translator
• Digital marketing agent
• Freelance author and editor
• Service delivery manager in project management
• Lecturer for adult education
• Administrative employee
• Federal Statistical Office of Germany employee

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.