This programme equips students with advanced skills in both linguistic research and teaching. It builds on prior studies to deepen and specialise students’ knowledge across subfields of linguistics, while providing the methodological tools needed to design and carry out independent research projects.
Students are encouraged to pursue their own research questions and to develop specialised profiles within linguistics. The curriculum emphasizes the ability to formulate and refine research topics, collect and analyse data, and present findings in ways appropriate for academic peers and for a broader public audience.
Designed and delivered in English, the degree prepares graduates to operate in international academic and professional environments. It strengthens competencies useful for further doctoral study, academic teaching, research positions, and other careers that require high-level analytical, writing, and communication skills in linguistics.
Requirements (verify exact details on the university’s official page)
In the first two semesters you explore and define your individual research interests by studying how linguistics connects with related fields such as philosophy, English and American studies, German studies, Romance studies, and computer science. Course offerings are flexible each semester, so you can assemble a programme that matches your interests. Core training during this phase emphasizes academic writing and presentation skills as well as hands‑on empirical methods: data collection, annotation, corpus work, and statistical analysis. You will also learn to critically evaluate published work, reproduce empirical studies, and carry out your own case studies.
The third semester is devoted to developing your own research questions and drafting a preliminary plan for the master’s thesis while gaining supervised research and teaching experience. The fourth semester focuses entirely on completing the final thesis, accompanied by a supporting colloquium and structured peer review to strengthen the quality of your work and prepare you for the transition after graduation.
This master's programme requires applicants to hold an undergraduate degree specifically in Linguistics and to demonstrate adequate English language ability. Admission is competitive and based on academic achievement measured on the German grading scale; the stated threshold is an overall bachelor’s grade of 2.5 or better (German system).
If you completed your bachelor's outside Germany, you should be prepared to provide certified copies of your degree and transcripts and, where applicable, an officially recognized conversion of your final grade into the German grading scale or an equivalent assessment. You will also need to document your English proficiency with an appropriate certificate or institutional statement showing that your language skills meet the programme’s requirements.
Admission checklist (concise)
Winter Semester (International)
15 July 2026
Summer Semester (International)
15 January 2027
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 July 2026
Summer Semester (EU/EEA)
15 January 2027
Graduates leave the programme with advanced research and teaching competencies in linguistics, well prepared to pursue further academic study (e.g. PhD programmes) or research roles. The combination of empirical methods training and didactic experience also equips graduates for positions that require expert linguistic analysis and communication in industry, education, public institutions, or language-technology and corpus-driven roles.