German as a second language/foreign language, M.A.
The application-oriented course provides in-depth scientific knowledge and practical skills for a career in the field of German as a second language or German as a foreign language. It builds on a first degree of at least six semesters and can be completed as a full-time course (four semesters) or part-time course (six semesters).
Students acquire 120 ECTS points in 11 modules. In the first year of study, empirical research projects in the context of DaZ/DaF and multilingualism are focused on, and current studies are addressed.
As part of various international collaborations (e.g. with Colombia, Russia, Norway, Jordan), there is the opportunity to complete internships and stays abroad at partner universities. Scholarships for internships are regularly advertised. (See also information from the International Office of the PH Freiburg)
Programme facts
| Degree | Master of Arts (M.A.) |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 semesters, 120 ECTS |
| Language of instruction | German |
| Study mode | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Start | Winter semester |
| Application | Via uni-assist, winter semester until 15.07 |
| Admission | Admission restriction (NC): a competition of school grades |
| Tuition fee | €1,500 per semester for international students |
| Semester contribution | €186 per semester |
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 →About the programme
German as a second language – DaZ in the context of migration and integration
Germany is one of the countries with the highest immigration rates, which means that integration processes in particular should be approached in a target group-oriented and language-sensitive manner. The need for concepts and measures to deal with cultural and linguistic diversity is therefore increasing: well-qualified language and cultural mediators and trained teachers are needed. Among other things, they should have access to the culture and society of the migrants' countries of origin and also be capable of conceptual work as well as coordination and management tasks. Possible activities in the area of DaZ include:
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- Teaching at schools, in integration courses and in qualification measures for young people and adults (e.g. as part of BAMF literacy courses, professional language courses, etc.)
- Client-oriented moderation and consulting activities for transcultural communication
- Design and advice on tasks of transcultural communication and integration
- Training and further education for specialists in coordination and management tasks
- Creation of media and materials
- Language diagnostics, design and implementation of tests and examinations
- Activities at publishers and/or foundations
German as a foreign language – DaF
German has consolidated its position as a foreign language in many regions of the world, especially as a second and additional foreign language. The need is increasingly geared to the specific interests of the learners. In many countries there is therefore a need, particularly in the following fields of activity:
- Language teaching and cultural mediation at universities for students of all subjects
- Teaching assistants and editors abroad (e.g. DAAD, foundations)
- German as a technical language, e.g. law, economics, humanities, social sciences, medicine, engineering
- German as a professional language
- Teaching German as a foreign language and in German-language specialist teaching at schools abroad (local staff, program teachers)
- Coordination and advice on teaching activities
- Project work in cultural mediation institutions
- Creation of media and materials
- Creation and implementation of tests
- Publicatory activities
What you study
The concept of the Master's degree program in German as a Second Language/German as a Foreign Language pursues two basic goals:Science & empiricism on the one hand and Practical orientation & professional relevance on the other.
The full curriculum and the programme's parameters are part of programme selection: we compare them with your profile.
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Networking of theory and practice
The MA DaZ/DaF offers a close network of theory and practice, which also extends to interdisciplinary study elements. This is evident, for example, in the integration of teaching and professional internships with seminars (Module 7 and Module 9) as well as in practice-oriented examinations such as "Project presentation with colloquium" (Module 6).
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Empirical research
The course is designed in such a way that skills in academic work and research are systematically developed. To this end, the specialist parts of the course include discussions of current research topics and studies (Module 8). Current empirical research is present throughout the Master DaZ/DaF, with modules 1, 2, 8 and 11 placing a particular focus on empirical research and current studies. Students also complete their studies with an empirical master's thesis (module 11).
From the very beginning, scientific working techniques and research designs are therefore taught (e.g. in the seminars "Areas of work and methods in DaZ/DaF" or "Empirical research methods and designs").
Worldward with the binational Master's degree program DaF
In addition to the national MA DaZ/DaF, the PH Freiburg also offers the opportunity to study a binational MA DaF (German as a foreign language) with a double degree in cooperation with the Universidad de Antioquia in Medellín/Colombia.
Cost of study
| Tuition fee of the federal state (Baden-Württemberg), international students | €1,500 |
|---|---|
| Semester contribution | €186 |
Requirements and application
| Previous education | The course requires an undergraduate degree (180 ECTS points or a standard period of study of at least six semesters). |
|---|---|
| Application | Via uni-assist, winter semester until 15.07 |
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.
- 2Documents and translationsCertified translations of the certificate and transcript, an APS if required. 3–4 weeks.
- 3Application via uni-assist until 15.07uni-assist checks documents for 4–6 weeks — send them well before the deadline.
- 4Admission, 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.
Questions about this programme
How much does the programme cost?
When do I need to apply?
Don't postpone the application
The deadline is 15.07.2027 (274 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.