• An interest in the communication between languages and cultures
• Excellent knowledge and usage of your own native language and your chosen foreign language(s)
• Enjoyment in working with languages and the desire to make a difference
• A readiness to critically examine and change your perspective
• An interest in linguistic structures as well as the technology used in language processing and mediation (language/translation technology and machine translation)

• You must provide proof of a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent degree from a university.
• For students with German as their primary language: Active and passive language proficiency in their primary language and in one or two chosen working language(s) at least at a C1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) or a comparable level, allowing you to read specialist literature and take part in courses in the chosen working language(s). You must confirm that you possess the required level of language proficiency when applying through the online application portal. Proof does not need to be provided.
• For students with German as their first or sole working language: Applicants who did not earn their university entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung, HZB) at a German institution or complete a German-language degree program must provide proof of German proficiency at the C1 level or higher.
• You will choose one or two working languages from the languages available. A working language is any language other than your primary language.
• The program of study with the specialization in Conference Interpreting can only be started in the winter semester.
• If your primary language is one other than German, you will take German as your first working language. Depending on your specific educational path, your primary language may be a language other than your native language.

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).

The degree program offers you a great deal of freedom.

Which language(s) do you want to focus on?

At the start of the program of study, you decide whether you want to focus on one or two foreign languages. You can choose from the 13 languages offered to create your own unique combination: Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Modern Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish.

What topics does the program of study cover?

No matter what language you choose, the program of study will cover the following topics:

• Linguistics
• Cultural studies
• Translation studies
• Translation/interpreting practice (primarily corresponding to your language pair)
• Specialization (one of the four options listed below)
• Customizable modules (e.g., for a stay abroad or an internship)

Which specializations are there?

• Specialized interpreting – community interpreting, medicine, and law
• Specialized translation, language management, and artificial intelligence
• Conference interpreting
• Translation – literature, media, culture

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 going abroad over the course of this degree program. Stays abroad are coordinated with the help of the International Office. Good to know: Stays abroad can be counted as required elective modules (even without providing proof of individual academic achievements).

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.

Internships are also strongly recommended, as they can facilitate your later entry into professional life. Your internships can also be counted as a required elective module if they are completed in a field related to the program of study for at least 8 weeks full-time.

The faculty aids you in your search for suitable internships. In general, we recommend completing internships toward the end of the program of study.

In the master’s degree program, you are taught a wide array of content relevant to your future profession. You will have consolidated your foreign language skills and internalized comprehensive knowledge about your languages of study and the corresponding cultures. You will be a skilled translator or interpreter. In addition, you will be be able to competently use new translation technologies.

Typical subject-related professional fields include:

• Language/translation technology (as an advisor for software providers or in language/translation services)
• Translation of specialist literature (e.g., economy/finance, medicine, technology, legal documents)
• Terminology (maintenance of multilingual subject-specific term bases in language services at companies or government authorities)
• Interpreting at international conferences

Further specializations open up other professional fields relating to languages, such as the following:

• Technical editing (creating technical texts alongside technical experts)
• Foreign language teaching (especially in adult education)
• Translating or customizing advertisements for international markets
• Online editing in an international context

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.