Courses are held in German (50-75%) and in English (25-50%). It is also possible to choose courses in French.
15 July for the winter semester / academic year
15 February for the summer semester
International applicants: https://www.international-office.uni-bayreuth.de/en/come-to-bayreuth/index.html
The Master's programme in Language-Interaction-Culture is characterised by the possibility to bring out your special interests by choosing your preferred field of activity within a range of languages. You can study German, French, English, Arabic and/or African languages in cultural, interactional and multilingual contexts. You will learn to analyse linguistic issues with empirical methods on a high interdisciplinary level by taking into account intercultural, interactional and multilingual connections. The possibility to cover African languages within the Bayreuth focus area of African studies is a unique offer in Germany.
In addition to the multilingual portfolio, the programme provides for the possibility to gain an international orientation. Each year, two students can take part in the “Euro Campus” programme. This programme offers an additional certificate (in the winter term) with a focus on intercultural communication. Ten European universities (e.g., Cambridge, Paris, Lugano, Tartu, Jyväskylä) take turns organising the “Euro Campus”, which can be integrated into the Master's programme. There is also a dual degree programme with Moscow.
A) Theory and definition, first to second semester
The obligatory preparatory course M1 guarantees that all participants share a common basis of relevant knowledge.
Course aims: consolidation of knowledge in a) scientific methods in linguistics, b) a solid theoretical foundation in linguistics and c) in empirical research methods
Content: a) academic texts, citation conventions, online resources and b) overview over the fields of linguistic research, the history of the subject, current trends in empirical studies in Language - Interaction - Culture
This module teaches relevant concepts and theories to define and describe the fields of Language - Interaction - Culture, with a special focus on their respective connections in the fields of spoken and written language, theories of culture and interaction, talk at work, variational linguistics.
Course aims: developing a theoretical foundation to define and understand the connections between language, interaction and culture
Content: orality and literacy, culture, interactional linguistics, language in the context of institutions, language contact, multilingualism
B) Research methods, first to third semester
This module offers an overview over qualitative and quantitative methods of empirical linguistics and enables a deeper understanding of the methodical approaches relevant for a study of Language - Interaction - Culture.
Course aims: preparation for the choice of a major field, methodical competences, practical skills for empirical analysis
Content: introduction to the methodology of empirical linguistics, acquisition of solid practical knowledge of methods in qualitative and/or quantitative methods
C) Findings, second to third semester
Students gain insights into the state of knowledge in central areas of empirical linguistics, e.g., i) intercultural studies, ii) language and culture in Africa, iii) multilingualism/language contact, iv) interactional linguistics/conversation analysis.
Course aims: obtaining knowledge and competence in core fields of empirical linguistics content: thematic classes on relevant topics
The practical training/internship is chosen in close accord with the major field the student has chosen and with prior consultation with the mentor. Internships can be done, e.g., in EU institutions, with companies or newspapers, or they might be compensated by a linguistic summer school or a field trip (e.g., to Africa), by taking part in a research project, by organising a conference, etc. The progress and results of the practical component are documented in a report.
D) Transfer (Master's thesis), fourth semester
The solid linguistic and socio-linguistic foundation will allow students to conduct their own empirical research in the Master's thesis. The Master's module further encompasses participation in a colloquium in the respective department of the supervisor.
A joint degree is possible with Moscow City Teachers' Training University (MGPU / Russia). A focal area of MPGU is the study of English Linguistics, this programme is taught in English at MGPU. Master's students have the option of spending their second year at the partner institution (tuition will only be paid at the home institution). Each university will then grant its own Master's degree.
A short internship is part of the study programme.
In Germany, students at all higher education institutions pay a semester contribution. This payment (University of Bayreuth: 116.03 EUR per semester) has nothing to do with tuition fees; rather, it covers your contributions to student services and the student government. At the University of Bayreuth (which combines the campus in Bayreuth and our Faculty VII located in Kulmbach), it includes a "semester ticket" that allows you to use public transport in the region.
The cost of living in Germany, e.g. accommodation, food, clothing and recreational activities, is about average compared to other European countries. Living expenses are significantly lower than in countries like Denmark, Luxembourg or Switzerland, but they are rather high compared to countries like Poland, the Czech Republic or Italy. Compared to other large German cities, such as Munich, Berlin or Hamburg, Bayreuth's low cost of living and affordable housing make the city and the region particularly attractive to young people and families. The DAAD website will tell you what living expenses to expect in Germany: https://www.daad.de/deutschland/nach-deutschland/voraussetzungen/en/9198-financing/.
Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in philologies or language studies, admission granted by the academic adviser at Bayreuth University
Students with a native language other than German should provide proof of sufficient German language skills (DSH 2 or TestDaF). Furthermore, knowledge of English is expected, in order to be able to follow courses in English (Cambridge proficiency [C2 mastery]).
15 July for the winter semester / academic year
15 February for the summer semester
International applicants: https://www.international-office.uni-bayreuth.de/en/come-to-bayreuth/index.html
There are many ways for international students to earn money while they study, but there are some restrictions. For more detailed information, please visit the DAAD website.
The University of Bayreuth’s Career Services team provides a central interface between student and professional life. The team offers guidance and support to students of all subjects with regard to starting their careers.
For information regarding the Corona virus, please visit our website and also see https://www.daad.de/en/coronavirus/.
Accommodation for students
Bayreuth and Kulmbach have a number of student dormitories (both private dormitories and dormitories offered by the Association for Student Affairs) and a vast array of private rooms available. Under no circumstances should you assume that you will be assigned a room in the student dormitories! You will need to actively search for a room on your own – either in a private dormitory or on the private market.
More information regarding accommodation for students is available here: https://www.uni-bayreuth.de/en/studies/accomodation/index.html. Please also read the DAAD’s information.
Accommodation for international guests
All other international guests are requested to register via the Welcome Services Database (WelSe).
Accommodation for short visits
For short visits, we recommend searching for accommodation on Airbnb. In addition, a limited number of apartments are available in the Alexander von Humboldt Guest House.
