German Language and Literature, M.A.
The two focus areas of the German Language and Literature degree program are the study of German-language literature, which is examined in its literary history, cultural history and media dimensions from its beginnings to the present day, and the study of the German language from its early stages as a language up to its modern day form. In Bonn, German Language and Literature is understood as a broad-based discipline that is closely aligned with cultural and media studies, closely cooperating with other disciplines as well.
The German Language and Literature master's degree program offers students a primarily research-oriented education: courses are closely aligned with current research questions and students participate in on-going research projects, gaining insight into forms of academic organization and presentation. The degree program offers a wide range of options as students choose a profile as individual focus for their studies, allowing them to pursue their personal interests and inclinations. Possible profiles are Medieval Studies, Linguistics and Modern German Literature.
Programme facts
| Degree | Master of Arts (M.A.) |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 semesters, 120 ECTS |
| Language of instruction | German |
| Required German | C1 |
| Study mode | Full-Time |
| Start | Summer semester, winter semester |
| Application | Via uni-assist, winter semester until 02.09, summer semester until 31.01 |
| Admission | No admission restriction: every eligible applicant is admitted |
| Tuition fee | €0 per semester for international students |
| Semester contribution | €363.07 per semester |
What the tuition fee consists of
Will I get in
Every applicant who meets the formal requirements is admitted — but places can run out before the deadline, so apply at the start of the window.
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 subject of German studies in Bonn is the diachronic and synchronic linguistics of German, medieval studies related to the language, literature and culture of the German Middle Ages, and modern German literary studies, which includes media studies related to aesthetic communication and fields of work in cultural studies. The individual disciplines are linked in many ways in research and teaching.
The full curriculum and the programme's parameters are part of programme selection: we compare them with your profile.
Pick programmesCareer
Education (adult education, language courses, educational institutes, etc.), book industry (publishing/libraries/translating/editing), culture (cultural institutions, embassies, exhibitions, etc.), media (press, radio, television, on-line media, journalism, public relations), administration (international relations, e.g. diplomatic service, international organizations), academia (research management, teaching/research at universities, research institutions, etc.)
Cost of study
| Tuition fee of the federal state (North Rhine-Westphalia), international students | €0 |
|---|---|
| Semester contribution | €363.07 |
Requirements and application
| Previous education | A bachelor's degree in a related field. |
|---|---|
| Language | German C1 — confirmed by a certificate when you apply |
| Application | Via uni-assist, winter semester until 02.09, summer semester until 31.01 |
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 31.01uni-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 31.01.2027 (109 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.