# German Philology (Master)

**Source**: https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/degree-programmes/master-programmes/german-philology-master/
**Parent**: https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/degree-programmes/bachelordiploma-programmes/german-philology-bachelor-with-osa/

The master’s programme in German Philology builds on a bachelor’s programme and aims at equipping students with the necessary competences for academic work in the area of German philology (medieval German literature, modern German literature, linguistics). The master’s programme places a clear focus on research and theory. Students acquire advanced academic knowledge in the area of German literature from its beginnings to the present and in the area of German linguistics. The programme deals with subject areas, such as: cultures and identities in Europe, in particular the typology and interdependence of German literature in a European context; the systemic and functional dimension of linguistic communication, with particular focus on the socio-historic dimension of language varieties; or aesthetic communication in intermedial contexts.

### Master of Arts

Degree Programme Code: 066 817

4 semesters / 120 ECTS credits

Language: [German](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/admission/german-language-proficiency/)

NO entrance examination

[Curriculum](https://senat.univie.ac.at/fileadmin/user_upload/s_senat/konsolidierte_Masterstudien/MA_DeutschePhilologie.pdf)

### Facts & Figures

- Students: **311**
- Graduates in the last academic year: **27**
- Number of semesters needed for graduation (median): **8,0**

*Data updated on: 26**.11.2025*

[Information about presentation & calculation](https://backend.univie.ac.at/index.php?id=157848&L=2&id=157848)

*\*[Click here for further information on statistical data in the field of teaching and learning. (in German)](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/studienangebot/warum-hier-studieren/statistische-daten-zum-studienbetrieb/)*

### Attention

#### Instruction Language German

Please note that the instruction language of this programme is German. To start the degree programme, you need to hold a [certificate of German proficiency on C1 level](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/admission/german-language-proficiency/).

### Admission Procedure

[Admission procedure](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/admission/master-programmes/german-philology/)

#### Admission requirement:

- completion of an eligible degree programme
- PLUS [qualitative admission requirements](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/degree-programmes/master-programmes/master-access-guide/mag-german-philology/#c644265)

### Information on Previous Studies:

In any case eligible degree programmes at the University of Vienna:

- [German Philology (Bachelor)](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/degree-programmes/bachelordiploma-programmes/german-philology-bachelor-with-osa/)
- [Master Access Guide](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/degree-programmes/master-programmes/master-access-guide/mag-german-philology/)

### Getting started

[Orientation course](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/degree-programmes/master-programmes/german-philology-master/)

[Orientation in the first semester](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/study-organisation/)

[Semester planning](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/semester-planning/)

### Getting Informed

[StudiesServiceUnit (SSS) German Studies](https://spl10.univie.ac.at/studienservicestelle/)

[Students' Representatives German Studies](https://www.oeh.univie.ac.at/stv/stv-germanistik)

## Study Programme

The master’s programme consists of a group of elective modules, three alternative compulsory modules, four compulsory modules, a master’s thesis and a master’s examination. It encompasses the subject areas of medieval German literature, modern German literature and linguistics.

### Five Concepts

which you will deal with during your studies:

- Linguistics
- Comparative literature
- Rhetoric
- History of language
- Middle ages

... and many more.

## Overview of the programme structure & topics

Here you find the current offer of courses for this programme to gain better insight into the topics and structure. For more information please click on the respective level.

[Elective Module I: Group Expansion I (24 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336657)

[Module I,1 Medieval and Early German Literature (12 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336658)

[Masterseminar Medieval and Early German Literature (6 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336666)

[Conversatorium Medieval and Early German Literature (6 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336667)

[Module I,2 Modern German Literature (12 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336659)

[Masterseminar Modern German Literature (6 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336669)

[Conversatorium Modern German Literature (6 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336668)

[Module I,3 Linguistics (12 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336660)

[Masterseminar Linguistics (6 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336670)

[Conversatorium Linguistics (6 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336671)

[Module II: Expansion II (12 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336661)

[Medieval and Early German Literature](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336672)

[Modern German Literature](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336703)

[Linguistics](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336674)

[Alternative Compusory Modules Expansion I (10 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336662)

[Alternative Module III,1: Medieval and Early German Literature (10 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336675)

[Lectures Medieval and Early German Literature](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336677)

[Conversatorium Medieval and Early German Literature](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336676)

[Alternative Module III,2 Modern German Literature (10 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336678)

[Lectures Modern German Literature](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336680)

[Conversatorium Modern German Literature](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336679)

[Alternative Module III,3: Linguistics (10 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336681)

[Lectures Linguistics](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336683)

[Conversatorium Linguistics](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336682)

[Module IV: Expansion II (12 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336663)

[Research Colloquium](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336688)

[Medieval and Early German Literature](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336689)

[Modern German Literature](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336690)

[Linguistics](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336691)

[Conversatorium](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336684)

[Medieval and Early German Literature](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336685)

[Modern German Literature](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336686)

[Linguistics](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336687)

[Module V: In Depth Studies (16 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336664)

[Research Seminar](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336692)

[Medieval and Early German Literature](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336693)

[Modern German Literature](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336694)

[Linguistics](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336695)

[Lecture courses](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336696)

[Medieval and Early German Literature](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336697)

[Modern German Literature](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336698)

[Linguistics](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336699)

[Module VI: Master Module (4 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336665)

[Seminar for Master's Thesis](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336700)

[Modern German Literature](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336673)

[Linguistics](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336702)

[Medieval and Early German Literature](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=336701)

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## After Graduation

Graduates are qualified to make independent contributions to the academic discourse in the area of German studies. The degree programme prepares students for a job in academia and qualifies them for a profession in a range of occupational fields without a clearly defined job profile.

### Continuing after Graduation

- [Center for Doctoral Studies - everything about doctorcal/PhD programmes at the University of Vienna\](http://doktorat.univie.ac.at/en/)
- [Alumni of the University of Vienna](https://www.alumni.ac.at/)
- [Postgraduate Center - postgraduate programmes at the University of Vienna\](http://www.postgraduatecenter.at/en)
- [Uniport - career service of the University of Vienna](https://www.uniport.at/uniport-fuer-studierende)

### Graduates' Perspective on the Degree Programme

[#### Degree programme in retrospect](https://www.qs.univie.ac.at/en/analyses/graduate-surveys/)

### Graduates ...

- say that this degree programme receives the grade: 2.2 (good)
- rate the level of difficulty as: 3.5 (appropriate)

→ These results are based on feedback from 55 graduates.

\**You can find further assessments of the degree programme from its graduates’ perspective in the graduate survey of the**[master's programme in German Philology](https://www.qs.univie.ac.at/fileadmin/user_upload/d_qualitaetssicherung/Dateidownloads/AbsolventInnenbefragungen/2021/Master/101_Master_Deutsche_Philologie_public.pdf) (in German).*

[#### Career entry & paths](https://www.qs.univie.ac.at/en/analyses/graduate-tracking/)

### Graduates ...

- find employment within 2 months after graduation on average.

\*You can find further information on career entry and career paths in the tracking of graduates "[German Philology](https://www.qs.univie.ac.at/fileadmin/user_upload/d_qualitaetssicherung/Dateidownloads/AbsolventInnentracking/2023/englisch/UA_F1_2023_MA_German_Philology_en.pdf)".

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