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.

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.

During your studies, you will first learn the basic facts, methods, and concepts of comparative literature that you will need for your academic work. In a range of seminars, you will explore the internationality of literature by analyzing relationships and references between authors, texts, and literatures in different languages. You will also learn about comparative European literary history in the context of world literature and deal with important international periods (the Enlightenment, the Romantic period, etc.). The question of how literature is conveyed in different media also plays a role in the program of study (e.g., podcasts, television, social media).

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

As part of your program of study, you will complete a mandatory internship of a minimum of six weeks in your major subject. In the Dijon degree program, the internship takes place while you’re studying abroad. Related professional fields include:

• Print or audio(visual) journalism
• Publishing companies
• Cultural institutions
• Theater or literature centers
• Advertising or public relations

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.

In the Comparative Literature/European Literature program of study, you will learn both subject-specific and key interdisciplinary skills to ensure that you are well prepared for your transition to a profession. Key competencies include collaborative and interdisciplinary work, the ability to analyze aesthetic and academic texts and to think connectively, as well as intercultural competence.

Since you will graduate with both a bachelor’s degree and a licence, you will have no problems entering the international job market. In France, you will have access to the concours for public service. Furthermore, you will have the option of pursuing a job in one of the fields below in the German, French, and English-speaking world.

The career prospects after completing the B.A. Comparative Literature / European Literature are diverse. Typical professional fields for graduates include:

• Research institutes and universities
• Publishing industry (e.g., proofreader, literary agent)
• (Cultural) journalism (print, broadcasting, online, TV, radio)
• Dramaturgy (e.g., theater or film)
• Creative writing

There are also promising career prospects in the following areas:

• International cultural institutions (e.g., academies, foundations, training institutions)
• Public relations (e.g., in politics, economics, science)
• Cultural institutions in Germany and abroad (e.g., in media departments).
• Academic institutions (public and private institutes/foundations)
• Academic administration
• Political consulting (cultural and educational policy at state, federal, and European level)
• Archives
• Freelance activities (e.g., in the field of journalism, proofreading, or literary translation)

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.