What is it about?

Are you interested in language, literature and communication? Then a degree in German Literature is just right for you. Here you will study the German language, its structures and its development in depth. You will analyze literature from different eras, deal with media and texts and learn to understand language in all its facets.

In German Literature, literary texts as well as some non-fiction texts from the 8th century to the present day are studied in a cultural-historical context. The subject is divided into three central areas:

• modern German literature: this deals with works from the 16th century to the present day.
  
• older German literary studies (medieval studies): this deals with texts from around 750 to the 16th century.
  
• linguistics: it examines the German language in terms of its historical development, structure and function.
  

Different focal points are set here: philology is dedicated to textual criticism, editing and interpretation. Literary history examines historical developments and the interaction of German literature with other literatures. Literary theory reflects on methods of interpreting and recording literature. Medieval studies also includes the theory and practice of translation from high and late medieval German.

In recent years, German Literature has increasingly expanded to include cultural studies, as it increasingly incorporates other media and cultures. As a result, the program offers a broad academic basis and a wide range of possible applications.

Program structure

During your studies, you have various subjects, which consist of one or more modules. A module deals with a specific topic and consists of one or more courses. In the module handbook for your degree program, you will find a description of the modules and their subject assignment as well as a study plan. This gives you an orientation as to which courses you should attend in which semester in order to complete your studies within the standard period of study. It takes into account a balanced distribution of courses over the individual semesters. It also ensures that you are first taught the important basics before moving on to more advanced topics. Your individual course of study may differ from this.

The degree program consists of a major in German Literature with compulsory and compulsory electives and a minor.

In the compulsory area, you will learn the following:

• fundamentals: you will learn the basic concepts and methods of modern German literature and be able to classify literary texts according to epoch and genre. You will also gain basic knowledge of literary history from the 8th to the 15th century and study Middle High German texts. You will also be taught basic methods of linguistics and language history.
  
• Modern German Literary History: you will deepen your knowledge of literary methods and literary genres from the early modern period to the present day and learn to analyze texts in their historical context. You will also be introduced to the critical handling of research literature and train your presentation and argumentation skills.
  
• Medieval Studies: you will learn to read and understand Middle High German texts with confidence. You will deal with their historical context and European references and be introduced to the methods of historical literary and cultural studies.
  
• Literature, Culture, Language, Media (LKSM): you will analyze literary-historical contexts and deal with the interpretation of special features of German literature. You will also deal with systematic questions of literary and cultural studies and analyze cultural products in their historical and media context.
  
• interdisciplinary qualifications: you choose courses from the House of Competence, Forum Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft or the Sprachenzentrum. The focus is on courses on academic writing and learning in humanities and cultural studies disciplines as well as topics from the areas of "People & Society", "Nature & Technology", "Politics & Globalization" and "Business & Law".
  

In the compulsory elective area, you choose two specialization modules from the fields of Modern German Literary History, Medieval Studies and Literature, Language, Media.

You will also choose a minor subject. You can choose from the following:

• Sociology: you will analyze social structures and developments and deal with social theories and institutions.
  
• History: you will gain in-depth insights into historical contexts and examine epochs and processes of cultural change.
  
• Philosophy: you will deal with fundamental questions of existence, ethics and epistemology.
  
• Education: you deal with education, upbringing and learning in social contexts.
  
• History or Art: you will analyze works of art and deal with different epochs and cultural influences on the visual arts.
  
• Media Culture: Theory and Practice (MKTP): you will learn about the theory and practice of media studies, including media history, media theory and media analysis.
  
• Technology Assessment: you will learn how to analyze the social and ecological impact of new technologies. The minor deals with historical and modern concepts of technology assessment, social science and philosophical approaches as well as methods for consulting in this area.
  

In the first year of your German studies, you will lay the foundations in the compulsory subjects and familiarize yourself with the central methods and content. In the second year, you will deepen your knowledge of the compulsory subjects. In the third year, you will choose two specialization subjects from the compulsory elective area and work intensively on the topics that particularly interest you. You also start your minor subject with the basics and deepen it as you progress. Here, too, you have the opportunity to choose electives later on in your studies. In addition, there are some interdisciplinary qualifications (key qualifications) that you can choose from a large number of options.

Internship

The bachelor's degree program in German Literature requires a professional internship of at least 6 weeks, which is usually completed between the end of the second and before the beginning of the fifth semester during one of the lecture-free periods. You are responsible for finding an internship. Possible internship positions can be found in cultural offices, museums, archives, memorial sites, libraries, foundations, publishing houses or in relevant departments of the commercial sector. The internship also involves writing a report.

Stays abroad

KIT offers a wide range of options for stays abroad, from individual courses to a year abroad. Especially if you are interested in a longer stay abroad, it is advisable to contact the International Students Office early on.

Bachelor's thesis

At the end of your bachelor's degree, you will complete your bachelor's thesis, an academic paper that allows you to apply and deepen the knowledge and skills you have acquired. The maximum completion time is six months.

Additional information

In addition to the module handbook, our booklet about the study program is a useful source of information. It also covers topics such as application procedure, starting your studies and career prospects.

With a bachelor's degree in German Literature, you can either continue your M.A. studies in German Literature at KIT or in a comparable degree program at another university.

You can aspire to work in the following professional fields / industries: cultural sector, communication, media (print, radio, video, publishing houses, e.g. editing fiction and non-fiction), archives, libraries, museums, jobs in editorial offices as well as the teaching profession. It is generally possible to transfer to the German Studies / German for Secondary School Teaching program. It is generally very helpful to complete additional internships during your studies in order to establish connections with potential employers.

With a good master's degree in German Literature and academic ambitions, it may be interesting to pursue a doctorate and a subsequent career at a university or research institution.

Characteristic features of German Literature B.A. at KIT

• research-oriented teaching
  

• excellent supervision
  

• student mentoring program at the start of studies
  

What KIT has to offer

• central campus close to the city forest and right next to the city center
  
• orientation week before the start of lectures
  
• 24-hour library offering single and group working places
  
• wide range of inexpensive catering options (dining hall, cafeteria, Koeri and Pizzawerk)
  
• numerous interdisciplinary offers for personal and professional development, e.g. Lernlabor, Schreiblabor and Perspektivenlabor
  
• study abroad, e.g. via Erasmus
  
• excellent university sports facilities with a large selection of sports
  
• comprehensive cultural offerings with university orchestras, choirs and theater groups
  
• extensive support for career entry and self-employment
  
• Lernraum app
  
• internationally oriented degree programs and diverse exchange programs
  
• modern laboratories and practical teaching methods
  
• diverse student initiatives, clubs and opportunities to actively participate in campus life
  
• stay in touch after graduation via the alumni network

Higher education entrance qualification (HZB)

Germans and persons of equal status to Germans (i.e. EU/EEA nationals and non-EU/EEA nationals with a German higher education entrance qualification) are entitled to study at KIT if they have one of the following qualifications:

1. General higher education entrance qualification (Abitur)
2. (relevant) subject-restricted higher education entrance qualification (not Fachhochschulreife)
3. Delta examination of the University of Mannheim (for holders of a Fachhochschulreife)
4. recognized advanced vocational training (e.g. master craftsperson) or vocational training, professional experience and aptitude test for those with professional qualifications

For further options, see §58 of the "Landeshochschulgesetz" (State Higher Education Act).

Please note: German nationals with a foreign school-leaving qualification must have the relevant "Regierungspräsidium" (regional authority) certify that their qualification is equivalent to the German Abitur.

For non-EU/EEA nationals with a foreign school-leaving certificate (hereinafter also referred to simply as non-EU/EEA nationals), the school-leaving certificate from some countries is recognized as a direct university entrance qualification in Germany. In many cases, however, in addition to the school-leaving certificate, a university entrance examination and/or a successful year of study in the home country and/or the "Feststellungsprüfung" must be proven with valid documents in order to be allowed to study a bachelor's degree in Germany. You can find the country-specific regulations in the DAAD admissions database or on the Anabin website (in German only) of the "Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen" (Central Office for Foreign Education). Further information is available from the International Students Office.

Language requirements and certificates

For the bachelor's degree program in German Studies, you need sufficient knowledge of the German language, which corresponds to at least level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Proof of sufficient German language skills

Your higher education entrance qualification (HZB) is sufficient proof of your German language skills,

• if you obtained it at a German-speaking school in Germany or abroad,

• if you are a graduate of a bilingual secondary school in Germany or abroad and have passed a bilingual German examination, such as the AbiBac or the Gemischtsprachiges International Baccalaureat (GIB) or

• if you graduated from a foreign school, but there is another official agreement with the respective country on the recognition of your school-leaving certificate or language certificate as proof of language proficiency for university studies in Germany.

A complete list of foreign school-leaving qualifications and language certificates that are recognized as proof of sufficient German language skills can be found on the website of the Kultusministerkonferenz (Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany).

If you did not obtain your higher education entrance qualification at a German-speaking institution, you must provide a separate language certificate - regardless of your nationality. Only the following are accepted

• the passed „Prüfungsteil Deutsch“ of the Feststellungsprüfung,
• the passed DSH with the overall result DSH-2,
• the passed TestDaF level 4 in all four parts of the exam (reading comprehension, listening comprehension, written expression, oral expression) or
• a comparable, recognized certificate of sufficient German language skills.

To find out which other recognized certificates can be accepted as comparable by KIT, please contact

• as a German or German-equivalent applicant: Studierendenservice
• as an applicant with non-EU citizenship: International Students Office

Please note:
Language certificates are extremely important application documents that can prevent your enrollment if you do not submit them on time. Therefore, check early on in the application process whether you have the necessary language certificates for your degree program and, if necessary, plan to take one of the language tests mentioned above. The deadline by which you must submit language certificates corresponds to the enrollment deadline stated in your admission offer. In justified cases, you can apply for an extension of this deadline. The extension can be granted until the start of the lecture period at the latest.

Additional necessary requirements for enrollment

For Germans and those with German equivalent status, an additional necessary requirement for enrollment is proof of participation in a study orientation test (e.g. www.was-studiere-ich.de) or a study orientation consultation in accordance with §7 of the "Landeshochschulgesetz" (State Higher Education Act), e.g. by the Student Advisory Service (ZSB) of KIT. Non-EU/EEA nationals do not have to provide this proof.

• all year round Information events of the Student Advisory Service (ZSB) on your desired degree programs, application and admission as well as starting your studies
  
• Try out KIT - clarify your interests and support your study decision by taking advantage of the diverse summer offers or participating in taster lectures.
  
• Campus Day: experience the campus live (together with your family) in spring and make your first personal contacts with the departments and their students
  
• Studieninformationtag: visit KIT on the state-wide study information day in November and experience the lecture hall feeling for the first time
  
• topMINT: you don't know yet what you want to study and need to bridge the summer? Take advantage of our orientation semester before you start your studies.
  
• Use our central online portal studienstart.kit.edu with all the important information and services you need to prepare for your studies and your first semester at KIT. Be it preparatory courses, study-related courses or mentoring programs.
  
• Orientation phase before the start of lectures - from students for students to get to know KIT, your fellow students and your student council. You will receive specific information on this when you enrol.
  
• You will be welcomed by KIT with a colorful supporting program at the welcome event for first semester students. You will receive the invitation after your enrollment.
  

Weitere Ansprechpersonen:

• KIT-Fakultät für Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaften
• Institut für Germanistik
• Fachstudienberatung
• Prüfungsausschuss
• Informationen zum Auslandsstudium
• Fachschaft GeistSoz

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• Course catalog current term
• Course catalog current term PDF (English)
• Archive of previous catalogs