German-language Literature, M.A.
The Master's degree program in German-language literatures focuses on German-language literature in all its breadth - from the early Middle Ages to the present day. Students analyze literary texts in their respective cultural, social and aesthetic contexts, taking current media and cultural studies issues as their starting point. These are supplemented by established literary studies parameters such as questions of genre, literary theory or social and scientific history.
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 | After recognition of the certificate, winter semester until 15.07, summer semester until 15.01 |
| Admission | Admission restriction (NC): a competition of school grades |
| Tuition fee | €0 per semester for international students |
| Semester contribution | €384 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 →What you study
The master's degree program "German-language literatures" is divided into a compulsory area, a profile area and an elective area.
The full curriculum and the programme's parameters are part of programme selection: we compare them with your profile.
Pick programmesCareer
The differentiated profile of the course serves to provide specific qualifications and concrete career preparation in relation to various fields of employment. In addition to a university career, possible careers include jobs in the media, publishing, journalism, in cultural institutions such as museums, theaters, libraries, cultural offices, as well as in communications departments and continuing education institutions in companies.
Cost of study
| Tuition fee of the federal state (Hamburg), international students | €0 |
|---|---|
| Semester contribution | €384 |
Requirements and application
| Previous education | The following special entry requirements apply to the consecutive Master's degree program in German-language literatures: an academic university degree qualifying for a career from a German or recognized foreign university in the subjects of German studies, German language and literature, German philology, German, German as a second/foreign language, modern German literature; or optionally a number of at least 60 credit points in one of the subjects mentioned (or differently designated but equivalent in content), which can be proven by a transcript of records of the bachelor's certificate. |
|---|---|
| Language | German C1 — confirmed by a certificate when you apply |
| Application | After recognition of the certificate, winter semester until 15.07, summer semester until 15.01 |
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 after recognition of the certificate until 15.01Send the documents well before the deadline — an incomplete application cannot be completed after it.
- 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 15.01.2027 (93 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.