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German, Master's, 2 years

Knowledge of German is vital for a small nation like Norway. Both because the German-speaking countries play an important role in modern Europe today, and because Germany is Norway’s second largest trading partner. 
  • TuitionFor non EU/EEA citizens
  • Years2 Years
  • Grade requirementsMinimum C
  • LanguageGerman
  • ECTS120
  • StartAutumn

Main content

With a master’s degree in German you get to experience and explore the German speaking countries from within, through their own language and not through translations.  

Writing a master’s thesis is a research project on a topic you are interested in. Some of our previous master’s projects include: 

  • Automatic translation of tourism websites 
  • Herta Müller's autofictional narratives and democratic criticism of the totalitarian regime in Romania  
  • Literature and films by second-generation immigrants to Germany, e.g. director Fatih Akin 

A master’s degree in German will give you sought-after teaching skills as well as a solid base for working in business or with cultural dissemination focusing on German-speaking Europe. Our alumni also work as journalists, in administration and in trade.  

Excellent skills in language, literature and culture build bridges between countries and companies.

More information below

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Career

The master’s degree in German will qualify you for work in both public and private sector.  

Our graduates work in translation, export industry, public administration and teaching - both abroad and in Norway. 

With the master’s degree in German,  you will make information from German-speaking cultures accessible and interesting for a Norwegian audience. You can also help make communication between Norway and German-speaking countries easier. 

In a broader sense, you will be equipped to handle communication problems, bridge cultural differences and gain an analytical approach to information. 

You can continue in academic research by pursuing a PhD. 

Structure

The programme covers two academic years (four semesters) and starts in the autumn.  

Semester 1 

  • Follow a combination of obligatory and elective courses worth a total of 30 ECTS 
  • Choose your specialisation in literature, culture or linguistics: 
    • The language part of the study extends from German grammar in the broadest sense to contrastive linguistics, verbalism, semantics/lexicology, sociolinguistics, varieties in German (German in Germany, Austria and Switzerland), phraseology, language learning and language didactics. Topics can also be placed in a historical perspective. 
    • The literature section offers literature and cultural science subjects from all the German-speaking countries. The starting point can be historical, with emphasis on epochs of literary history from the baroque to the present day, or it may be concentrated on authorship, genres or literary theory.  

Semester 2 

  • Follow a combination of obligatory and elective courses worth a total of 30 ECTS 
  • Choose the topic for your master’s thesis 

Semesters 3 and 4  

  • Writing your master’s thesis 

The master’s thesis is an independent research project. You choose a topic within your chosen discipline - literature, culture or linguistics. It could be a traditional research topic, but if you have an issue you have a particular interest in, this is usually allowed. You plan and develop your project with help and assistance from your supervisor. 

The programme can include professional didactics (lenke) if you plan on becoming a teacher. 

Full list of courses in this study programme

Student life

The Department of Foreign Languages is situated in the Humanities building in the University’s city centre campus. Here, you will work side by side with master’s students of nine different languages.  

You will get your own desk in our reading rooms, so you will be integrated in a vibrant environment with students and staff members from all over the world.  

The relationship between students and staff is informal, and the atmosphere is friendly.  

Work load 

In a typical week, you will attend up to three lectures and spend the rest of your time on self-directed study, such as reading the curriculum or writing your project proposal. This will vary from semester to semester. 

The study programme requires you to do quite a lot of reading and research, so you must like working independently. However, you will always have your fellow students and your supervisor to talk to when you feel stuck or need input. 

Master’s thesis 

You will spend the second year of the programme writing your thesis (worth 60 ECTS). You will receive individual guidance during the research and writing process. 

The master’s thesis is an individual research project on a subject of your own choice taken from one of the three main disciplines in the programme:  

  • literature 
  • culture 
  • linguistics 

You will write your master’s thesis in German and it must be between 70 and 110 pages.   

If you are interested in having a say in the development of this study programme, you can act as student representative in the programme committee of German studies (lenke), or you can arrange social and academic gatherings as part of the student council for German (lenke). 

What you will learn

The master's degree program in German  

  • provides a thorough insight into key subjects within German linguistics and German-language literature 
  • increases your proficiency in modern German, with a course in practical German and through written and oral assignments 
  • will develop your ability to critically reflect on central theoretical and methodological problems. This is particularly important in the work with the master's thesis 

Full list of learning outcomes  

Study period abroad

You can spend your second semester as an exchange student at one of our partner universities in Germany, Austria or Switzerland 

See list of recommended exchange agreements

How to apply

Follow these links to find the general entry requirements and guidelines on how to apply:

You will also have to meet the programme specific entry requirements.

All applicants with citizenship from outside the EU/EEA must pay tuition fees.