What you can expect from our master's program

The master's program in German Literature at KIT covers medieval, early modern, modern, and contemporary literature in their cultural and media contexts. Studying in small seminar groups allows you to work closely with the lecturers. The standard period of study is four semesters, and you will earn 120 ECTS credits (CP). 

A special feature of this master's program, which focuses on text and cultural studies, is the environment of our university of science and technology, which results in productive synergies that are a unique selling point of the master's program. The program also benefits from its close cooperation with the programs in History or Art, Liberal Arts and Sciences, European Culture and History of Ideas, and Science - Media - Communication.

In the master's program in German Literature, you will take the compulsory subject Humanities Interdisciplinary and two elective subjects. You can choose from:

Each subject comprises two modules, and each module comprises two courses. You can find out which courses are offered in each subject during the semester in the module handbook.

Program structure

The 120 credits points are distributed as follows:

Internship

The degree program includes a compulsory 8-week internship. You can complete the internship at any private or public institution where there are jobs for graduates of a humanities degree program. You contact suitable institutions yourself, have the internship approved and submit a final report.

Make your studies international

You have various options for integrating a stay abroad into your master's degree course. For example, you can study at a foreign university of your choice for one or two semesters via Erasmus+ or as a freemover. You can also do an internship abroad. In addition, selective mobility is possible via Eucor - The European Campus: KIT students can flexibly attend individual courses in addition to courses at KIT or study full-time for an entire semester or year at an Eucor partner university.

The EPICUR University Alliance also offers low-threshold international experience via a virtual campus, sometimes on site or in blended learning.

Master's thesis

At the end of your studies, you will complete your master's thesis (30 CP), an academic paper that allows you to apply and deepen the knowledge and skills you have acquired. It deals with a specific topic from your field of study and requires independent research, analysis and the preparation of a written paper. The master's thesis takes 6 months to complete. You can start it as soon as you have achieved 50 LP. Upon request, the master's thesis can also be completed in a company or at another KIT Department.

Depending on your personal focus in the master's degree, there are various career prospects. With a master's degree in German Literature, you can aspire to managerial positions in language and literature teaching, in the press and public relations departments of companies and public institutions and as an editor in the publishing industry. You are qualified for journalistic activities in all areas of the media, communication training, politics and business, as well as for work in editorial offices and publishing houses, in cultural and public relations work, in libraries and documentation, in the education sector (textbook publishers, adult education, adult education centers, German as a foreign language) and in areas related to education (competent authorities such as ministries).

With a good master's degree and academic ambitions, you may also be interested in pursuing a doctorate and a subsequent career at a university or research institution.

Characteristic features of German Literature M.A. at KIT

• the focus of the master's program is on the subject area "Knowledge"
  
• close cooperation with the degree programs History or Art, European Culture and History of Ideas and Science - Media - Communication
  
• changing annual topics are also offered with a specially designed master class and a practical seminar
  
• inter-university colloquia with students and lecturers from several universities based on the concept of research-led teaching
  
• in addition, guest lectures, practical exercises and excursions are regularly offered
  
• various collaborations with cultural institutions in the Karlsruhe area to enable students to gain experience in the field of literature and knowledge transfer as well as archive and museum work during their studies.
  
• integration into the EUCOR university network enables participation in courses at the universities of Freiburg, Basel, Strasbourg, Colmar and Mulhouse
  

What KIT has to offer

• central campus close to the city forest and right next to the city center
  
• 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
  
• internationally oriented degree programs and diverse exchange programs
  
• modern laboratories and practical teaching methods
  
• Lernraum app
  
• diverse student initiatives, clubs and opportunities to actively participate in campus life
  
• stay in touch after graduation via the alumni network
  

Admission requirements

The requirements for admission to the master's degree program in German Literature are based on the current admission regulations:

• bachelor's degree
  a successful bachelor's degree (or at least an equivalent degree) in German Literature or a degree program with at least 50% literary studies at a university, university of applied sciences, university of cooperative education or at a foreign university. The program must have been completed within a standard period of study of at least three years and with a minimum number of 180 ECTS credits.
  
• minimum knowledge and minimum achievements in the following areas
  • knowledge of literary history, in particular in the field of German literature, amounting to 60 CP
    
• selection interview
  participation in an approx. 30-minute selection interview in accordance with § 8 of the statutes for the university's own admission regulations for the master's degree program in German Literature
  
• further admission requirements
  proven knowledge of either two modern European foreign languages or Latin or Greek and one modern European foreign language
  

Language requirements and certificates

You need sufficient knowledge of German for the master's degree program in German Studies. Your German language skills must correspond to at least level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Important: you must provide proof of the required language skills regardless of your citizenship and by the end of the enrollment period at the latest, but preferably at the time of application.

In what form do I have to provide the language certificates? Please read the following chapters on this website carefully. If you have any further questions, please contact

• Students Office if you are applying as a German, German national or a person with German equivalent status
• the International Students Office if you are a non-EU national

Proof of sufficient German language skills

As proof of your German language skills, your university or master's entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur, university degree or a professional qualification that entitles you to study) is sufficient if you have acquired it at a German-speaking institution with German as the language of instruction.

In concrete terms, this means that you do not have to submit additional proof of German if you

• have obtained your Abitur at a German-speaking school in Germany or abroad,
• 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
• you graduated from a foreign school, but there is another official agreement with the respective country regarding 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 Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Laender (KMK) in the Federal Republic of Germany.

If you have already completed a German-language degree at a German university, this can also count as proof of German language proficiency - but only if the diploma supplement, transcript of records or degree certificate clearly states that German was the sole language of instruction and examination.

If, on the other hand, you did not obtain your higher education or master's entrance qualification at a German-speaking institution with German as the language of instruction, you must provide proof of German language proficiency at least at DSH-2 level. This corresponds to CEFR level C1.

Only the following certificates are accepted in accordance with the KIT admission and enrollment regulations:

• passing the German section of the Feststellungspruefung (assessment test)
• passed German language test for university admission (DSH) with overall result DSH-2
• passed the Test of German as a Foreign Language (TestDaF) with level 4 in all four parts of the exam
• German Language Diploma of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs - second level (DSD II)
• Goethe certificate C1 or higher
• passed telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule exam
• Austrian Language Diploma C1 or higher

Note: The tests mentioned are accepted as proof of language proficiency for an unlimited period of time, even if the provider specifies an expiration date.

What if I cannot provide suitable C1 proof of German at the time of application?

If you are unable to provide any of the C1 certificates listed above for your German language skills by the application deadline, admission is still possible if you can present a provisional document proving that you have at least B2 language level. Proof of B2 level only includes

• passed German language test for university admission (DSH) with an overall result of DSH-1
  
• passed Test of German as a Foreign Language (TestDaF) with level 3 in all four parts of the exam
  
• passed telc German B2 exam

But please don't forget: you still have to submit the C1 certificate by the end of your enrollment period at the latest, which is stated in your admission letter.

Therefore, check early on whether you can provide the necessary language certificates by the deadline and, if necessary, plan to take a recognized language test.

In justified cases, you can apply for an extension of the enrollment deadline to provide proof of your language skills, but this extensvion can only be granted up to the day before the start of the lecture period. Please contact the Student Office or the International Students Office - depending on who is named as your point of contact in your letter of admission.

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 PDF (English)
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