Study program structure and content
In the first two semesters of the linguistics program, students acquire the necessary foundational knowledge. This includes:
- Theoretical introductions and seminars in which scientific working methods are practiced.
- Courses on language structure that provide insights into languages that differ significantly from your native language.
You apply the foundational knowledge you have acquired in advanced seminars and deepen it. Each semester, you can decide independently where you want to focus your studies:
- Do you want to engage more closely with the formal description of linguistic phenomena?
- Are you interested in what can be done with language?
- Would you like to gain a better understanding of how languages change over time?
- Do you want to gain a deeper understanding of how German differs from Chinese or Turkish?
At the end of the program, you complete your bachelor's thesis in your chosen area of interest.
- Program structure [de]
For more information on the study program structure please consult our German website - Combination options for Bachelor’s study programs
This page provides an overview of the different subject combinations available for your studies - Curriculum and Module Handbook single subject [de]
In the C@MPUS portal, you can view the structure of the study program. Clicking the book icon opens the module handbook with detailed information on course content. - Curriculum and Module Handbook major subject [de]
In the C@MPUS portal, you can view the structure of the study program. Clicking the book icon opens the module handbook with detailed information on course content. - Curriculum and Module Handbook minor subject [de]
In the C@MPUS portal, you can view the structure of the study program. Clicking the book icon opens the module handbook with detailed information on course content. - Information on the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science
Click here to learn more about the Bachelor's degree in Germany
Studying abroad
Intercultural exchange, enhanced language skills, fresh perspectives on your field of study, exciting adventures, lifelong global friendships, personal growth, and a valuable boost to your CV — all this and more awaits you during a stay abroad! Are you interested in studying abroad for one or two semesters, or doing a language course or an internship, or would you like to take part in a summer school? The International Office will help you to make your stay a reality.
- Find out more about your options!
Everything you need to know about studying abroad: group advice, partner universities, language requirements, application deadlines, funding.
Images from the study program
Get a glimpse of how the study program works:
You spend most of your time working in seminars, where you examine specific linguistic phenomena – usually through research articles. In (group) presentations, you learn how to prepare and present topics concisely.
Unlike what movies might suggest, the study of linguistics consists only to a small extent of lectures where an instructor speaks and students listen and take notes.
In practical exercises, you have the opportunity to apply and practice the knowledge you have learned. In tutorials, you review what you have learned in lectures and seminars together with students from higher semesters.
You spend at most one-third of your time in courses, and during the lecture-free period (semester break), usually none at all. Independent study therefore plays a major role in linguistics and requires self-discipline: You can organize your time freely and choose your place of study when reading research texts, preparing or reviewing lectures and seminars, working on (group) presentations, studying for exams, or writing term papers.
Seminars are concluded with so-called term papers. These are shorter research papers that you work on during the lecture-free period. In consultation with your lecturer, you develop a thesis related to your research topic. You read additional research texts on the topic and develop your own argumentation in a text of about 18 pages.