Applied Cultural Studies and Cultural Semiotics, M.A.
The master's degree program is unique in Germany with its cultural semiotic and practice-oriented orientation. On the one hand, it distinguishes itself through the combination of in-depth studies in the field of cultural studies and cultural semiotics (as a science and methodology), and on the other hand through a professional and practice-oriented study curriculum. In addition, a binational master's degree is offered as part of the Master's program International Applied Cultural Studies and Cultural Semiotics, which is carried out with a double degree in cooperation with the University of Turin. This combination focuses on the analysis and optimization of linguistic, visual, audiovisual and media forms of communication. These include phenomena and structures of globalized cultures and media, of collective memory, of cognitive concepts and of communicative behavior.
Programme facts
| Degree | Master of Arts (M.A.) |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 semesters, 120 ECTS |
| Language of instruction | English, German |
| Required German | C1 |
| Required English | B2 |
| Study mode | Full-Time |
| Start | Winter semester |
| Application | Via uni-assist, winter semester until 01.04 |
| Admission | Admission restriction (NC): a competition of school grades |
| Tuition fee | €0 per semester for international students |
| Semester contribution | €372.80 per semester |
| Campus | Campus I - Am Neuen Palais |
What the tuition fee consists of
Will I get in
The programme has an admission restriction: the average grade of your certificate, converted to the German scale, decides. The cut-off changes every year — last year's value shows the order of magnitude, not a promise.
How the selection works and how strong the competition is — we go through it against your certificate when we select programmes for you.
Programme selection →What you study
The master program "Applied Cultural Science and Cultural Semiotics" deals both theoretically and practically with the various dimensions of human communication. The students acquire in-depth knowledge of culture, media culture and cultural history with a focus on phenomena and structures of globalized cultures and media, of collective memory, cognitive concepts and communicative behavior. By focusing on methods of semiotic analytical and empirical cultural studies, students are able to analytically grasp and reflect on current cultural phenomena as well as cultural dynamics, as well as penetrate the associated sign-based forms of communication with a view to their optimization.
The full curriculum and the programme's parameters are part of programme selection: we compare them with your profile.
Pick programmesCareer
Furthermore, the study course with its practical orientation conveys interdisciplinary and application-oriented competencies that can be used in various occupational fields. These include, in particular, cultural semiotics, cultural and media science knowledge and methods. They are becoming increasingly important not only in the fields of classical cultural studies in research and teaching, journalism and cultural work, but are particularly relevant in marketing, design, adult education, event management and tourism.
Cost of study
| Tuition fee of the federal state (Brandenburg), international students | €0 |
|---|---|
| Semester contribution | €372.80 |
Requirements and application
| Previous education | As a prerequisite for admission to the master program "Applied Cultural Science and Cultural Semiotics", a first professionally qualifying university degree of at least 6 semesters and 180 credit points in the fields of cultural studies, philology, media studies or comparable courses in humanities. |
|---|---|
| Language | German C1, English B2 — confirmed by a certificate when you apply |
| Application | Via uni-assist, winter semester until 01.04 |
The procedure and the set of documents depend on your certificate. We check the university's requirements against your documents and give you a list: what to submit, how to certify and translate it, where and when to apply.
Check the requirementsHow to get into this programme
- 1Check your certificate and its recognitionDirect admission, a year at a university at home, or Studienkolleg first — this decides the whole plan.
- 2German up to C1 and a certificateDSH or TestDaF has to be passed before you apply.
- 3Documents and translationsCertified translations of the certificate and transcript, an APS if required. 3–4 weeks.
- 4Application via uni-assist until 01.04uni-assist checks documents for 4–6 weeks — send them well before the deadline.
- 5Admission, visa, movingPlan 2–3 months for the visa and the blocked account in parallel.
How to apply
You can submit the application yourself or with our help — the university decides on admission in both cases.
Applications go through the university's portal or uni-assist. Typical mistakes:
- ×incorrectly made certified copies and translations
- ×a wrong set of documents
- ×the application submitted the wrong way
- ×errors or gaps in the application form
- ×the application submitted at the wrong time — too early or too late
An incomplete or incorrectly prepared application is excluded from the selection — it can no longer be corrected after the deadline.
StudyInFocus does not represent the university and does not influence the admission decision. We do not sell study places and do not guarantee admission — this is a service for preparing and submitting documents on the applicant's side.
If your level is not enough yet
The two most common stoppers are a language level below the requirement and a certificate without direct admission. Both can be solved, but they take months — plan them now, not after a rejection.
Questions about this programme
How much does the programme cost?
What language level do I need?
When do I need to apply?
Don't postpone the application
The deadline is 01.04.2027 (169 days left). Language, translations and the document check take months, not weeks. In 30 minutes we will build a plan backwards from the deadline and tell you honestly whether you can make it.