Program overview
This master's is a joint offering from the linguistic institutes and chairs within the Faculty of Philology and the Department of Cognitive Science at the Institute of Psychology. It investigates language from multiple angles — its forms and functions, variation, historical development, cognitive foundations, and role in communication — combining linguistic and cognitive-science perspectives to allow in-depth study of how language works and is used.
Specialisations and language options
You choose an individual specialisation from six available tracks: English Language & Linguistics; General Linguistics & Linguistic Diversity; German Linguistics; Language & Cognition; Romance Linguistics; and Slavic Linguistics. Important for non-German speakers: if you select English Language & Linguistics or General Linguistics & Linguistic Diversity, the programme can be completed entirely in English.
Why this programme might suit you
The programme’s interdisciplinary setup (linking philology and cognitive science) supports students who want to focus on theoretical, descriptive or cognitive approaches to language and communication. Its structure allows students to tailor their studies to a particular language family or to broader linguistic and cognitive questions, making it a good fit for those seeking depth in a chosen subfield.
Key facts / requirements (concise)
This MA is organised around two complementary domains. The first domain brings together core, programme-wide offerings: an introductory lecture, a suite of methods seminars, and regular colloquia that are taught by faculty across the participating disciplines. The second domain is devoted to specialisation: you choose modules from one of several tracks (English Language & Linguistics; General Linguistics & Linguistic Diversity; German Linguistics; Romance Linguistics; Slavic Linguistics; or Language & Cognition). The Scandinavian department also makes additional Scandinavian linguistics courses available if you wish to include them.
The structure is deliberately flexible: you can take most of your modules within one specialisation to build depth, or mix modules from other specialisations to broaden your profile. The programme pools courses from all linguistics and cognitive science departments at the University of Freiburg, combining wide-ranging theoretical and empirical coursework with focused training in your chosen area. Overall this prepares graduates for a variety of careers in and beyond academia by pairing methodological competence with specialist knowledge.
Key modules and components
Learning outcomes (what you will gain)
Admission overview
This master's programme requires a completed Bachelor's degree in linguistics or a closely related subject area. Typical relevant backgrounds include philology, cognitive sciences, communication sciences and similar fields that provide a foundation in language study.
Applicants must also have completed a meaningful portion of their undergraduate coursework in linguistics: the programme specifies a minimum number of ECTS credits in linguistics-related modules. In addition, language proficiency is important — required levels of German and/or English (and possibly other languages) depend on the chosen field of specialisation within the programme.
International applicants and those with degrees from other systems should consult the programme’s admission page for details about documentation, exact language levels, and application procedures: https://www.linguistik.uni-freiburg.de/en/study-programme-linguistics-freiburg/linguistics-language-communication-cognition/application-and-admission
Admission requirements (summary)
Winter Semester (International)
15 July 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 September 2026
Graduates are well prepared for research and professional roles that require advanced linguistic knowledge and empirical skills. Typical paths include further academic study (PhD), research positions in universities or research institutes, and applied roles in language technology, education, lexicography, publishing, policy advising, and language-related consulting.
The programme’s mix of theoretical grounding, methodological training and practice-oriented modules also equips students for work in interdisciplinary teams, for project-based roles in linguistic data analysis, and for positions in organisations that require expertise in language variation, communication and cognition.