Courses are exclusively held in English, and course materials as well as written and oral contributions by students are required in English as well.
Currently, one application phase is offered each year, with exact dates changing from year to year, typically beginning around mid-May and extending until September.
Enrolment is planned for August or September – detailed information on how to enrol will be provided in your letter of admission.
Applied Linguistics is an interdisciplinary field of research and practice dealing with problems relating to language and communication in society, the media, organisations, business, and politics. Students in this MA programme are given the tools to identify problems and to work on solving them by applying linguistic theories and employing empirical and experimental methods.
The programme aims at developing knowledge of the theories and methods used in intercultural communication, second language acquisition, language processing, and translation studies. Course topics include interpersonal communication, regional and social variation in language behaviour, (im)politeness across cultures, pragmatic competence, writing in a second language, effects of language contact, socio-cultural influence on language use, and cognitive processes in translating. Students are given an overview of the field of Applied Linguistics and may choose to specialise in a wide range of sub-disciplines.
The MA Applied Linguistics is a two-year programme consisting of four semesters for a total of 120 credits (30 credits per semester) including an internship usually completed during the second semester. All courses are taught in English. The third semester can be spent abroad. The programme culminates with an empirical Master's thesis, written in the fourth semester.
The core modules are intercultural communication, second language acquisition, language processing, and translation studies as well as two application-based modules, research trends and research methods. Teaching and research supervision are additionally offered in the areas of pragmatics, discourse analysis, genre analysis, sociolinguistics, dialectology, cognitive linguistics, psycholinguistics, and metalexicography.
The "Professional Training" module, listed in the second semester but generally flexible in when it can be pursued, requires students to spend several weeks (300 hours) in one or several internship positions related to the broader field of Applied Linguistics. Previous students have explored a broad variety of fields such as PR & marketing, media & journalism, publishing, politics, language teaching, speech therapy, computer linguistics, private tuition/tutoring, and translation.
Please find more info here.
The University of Bonn is a public university, meaning that it does not charge tuition fees. However, all students must pay the so-called social contribution (semester fee) of about 330 EUR per semester. It includes a student transit pass for public transport and a statutory accident insurance, among other things.
The cost of living depends on the particular living arrangements, so no fixed value can be given. Compared to the rest of Europe, living in Germany is not very expensive; in fact, it is only slightly above the EU average. The cost of living for students in Bonn is around 800 EUR to 1,000 EUR, with apartment rent accounting for the largest share.
In order to study the MA Applied Linguistics, a German or foreign BA degree is required that forms a reasonable basis for the Master's programme. The Bachelor's in English Studies from the University of Bonn is suitable for the Master's programme if linguistic modules have been attended. Other Bachelor's degrees are welcome if students passed modules that are of immediate relevance to the topics of Applied Linguistics and which account for at least 36 CP (credit points), including 18 CP in practical English language courses. The requirements for practical language courses can be lowered if participants can attest a comparable involvement with the English language by other means (e.g. English language competence certificates: or additional linguistics courses in relevant topic areas).
Note that in this context, "Applied Linguistics" refers to scientific research and not actual applications such as translating or language teaching. Graduates of BA programmes explicitly focused on these areas are not technically excluded, but the corresponding applicants have to demonstrate that a sufficient background in linguistics in this sense has been acquired. You may also apply if you have already acquired another Master's degree and the required linguistic background (BA level). However, you cannot apply if you already have an MA in Applied Linguistics.
English (see academic requirements for details) and German:
Even though the programme is taught in English, you are required to show proof of your German skills in order to apply for our programme. This means you will have to show the proof of your German skills at the latest at the time of your enrolment at the university. In case you are still taking part in a German course just state this in your application. One of the following test results for German is needed:
There are several exceptions: Applicants with a Goethe certificate B2 or students who have completed a Bachelor's programme at a German university which was taught in German do not have to take the DSH test. For a full list of exceptions and more detailed information about DSH, see this official document from the University of Bonn (in German): DSH examination.
It is possible to take the DSH test after your arrival in Bonn, but please be aware of the application deadlines and fees for the courses and the exam.
Currently, one application phase is offered each year, with exact dates changing from year to year, typically beginning around mid-May and extending until September.
Enrolment is planned for August or September – detailed information on how to enrol will be provided in your letter of admission.
Some students have the opportunity to work at the department as student assistants, tutors or potentially at the departmental library, but none of these options are guaranteed.
Accommodation is not provided by the department or programme, but students of the University of Bonn can apply for a room in a dormitory of the "Studierendenwerk Bonn" (further information: https://www.studierendenwerk-bonn.de/en/accommodation/).
For further information on housing in Bonn, please visit our website: www.uni-bonn.de/en/university/university-life/living-in-bonn.
The University of Bonn has a central Career Service, which provides advice and support about choosing a career and applying for jobs. Moreover, international students can join the iStart career programme, which teaches participants tangible knowledge and valuable skills that will enable them to write successful applications for jobs in Germany.
The Applied Linguistics programme also holds an annual event called "Forum Beruf", during which alumni of our programme talk about their career development after graduating and answer questions posed by current students.
Please find more information here.
The University of Bonn offers a range of different support programmes for international students. The Welcome Days before the start of every semester are an opportunity for new students from abroad to gather information on the most important issues, such as enrolment, registration with the local authorities, and opening a bank account. Getting to know fellow international and German students during recreational activities is another benefit of the Welcome Days.
The Study Buddy programme matches newly arrived international students (mentees) with a University of Bonn student (buddy) who helps them as they start their studies and adjust to life in Bonn. The buddies give tips, advice and assistance that make it easier for their mentees to become familiar with the university and get settled in Bonn.
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