German as a Foreign Language: Estudos Interculturais de Língua, Literatrua e Cultura Alemãs MA

• Usually an academic degree in the subjects German as a foreign language, German, German language and literature, Letras Alemão, German studies, linguistics, foreign language pedagogy, literary studies or related subjects;
• Knowledge of German at C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages;
• Students of partner universities who intend to complete a period of study at Leipzig University from a higher semester of study onwards, must prove their knowledge of German at C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages when commencing their studies at Leipzig University;
• Knowledge of Portuguese at B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (reading comprehension);
• Knowledge of Portuguese at B1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (other skills);

The faculty will check whether the requirements have been met and then issue an official notification. This serves as proof that the candidate fulfils the admission requirements.

The four-semester master’s programme commences each winter semester. You will complete two semesters at Leipzig University and two semesters at the Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR) in Curitiba. The degree programme combines the strengths of both participating partners: In Leipzig these include linguistics and applied linguistics, didactics, cultural studies and test research. In Curitiba they include intercultural literature and translation studies as well as contrastive cultural studies.

You choose eight compulsory elective modules and also complete an internship module. In these modules, you cover three subject areas:

Linguistics

• Grammar and lexicon, learning a foreign language: current models and developments
• Test research and test development
• Teaching and learning pronunciation, rhetoric
• Linguistic discourse analysis in the field of German as a foreign and second language
• Text linguistics and text type analysis
• Portuguese oral competence / Brazilian cultural studies
• Contrastive linguistics: Portuguese - German
• German as an academic language (as a specialised offer for students without university experience in German-speaking countries)

Cultural studies

• Cultural studies research
• Literature, culture, media
• Culture of German-speaking areas
• Intercultural studies: Brazil in German-speaking areas, German presence in Brazil
• Literary studies in an intercultural context: Current German-language and Brazilian literature
• Translating as a form of linguistic and cultural mediation

Didactics / methodology

• Develop and research lessons: Focus on writing
• Develop and research lessons: Focus on speaking
• Problems and development trends in German as a second language
   

You can also take the following additional modules that are not assigned to one of the above areas:

• Current development trends in the field of German as a foreign and second language
• Elective subject offered by the Universidade Federal do Paraná

In the 3rd and 4th semester, you will write your master’s thesis. You complete your programme with a double Master of Arts degree from the Brazilian and the German university.

• Integrated study stay abroad at the partner university (typically with a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for the stay abroad).
• Identical programme structure at both locations.
• High degree of individual freedom in designing your curriculum (no compulsory modules, only compulsory elective modules)
• Specialised colloquia and tutorials for support in writing the master’s thesis.

Graduates of the binational master’s programme have a double degree that is accredited in both Germany and Brazil. The programme prepares you for work in a wide range of professional fields of teaching and learning German as a foreign language and related areas such as cultural mediation, cultural policy, media and publishing, foreign trade relations etc. For the core area of learning and teaching German as a foreign language, this means, for example, that you can find positions worldwide as a manager for curriculum design, organising language courses or developing teaching materials. In addition, students on the master’s programme will learn to conduct independent research in the field of German as a foreign language both at home and abroad. In particular, you will acquire subject-area and management skills in key areas of linguistic-cultural contact and exchange between the German and Portuguese-speaking worlds.

• A mandatory component of the master’s programme is an internship of at least five weeks, which must be completed at an institution related to the field of study in Curitiba. Students are expected to organise this internship themselves, although the University does have numerous contacts at institutions such as the Goethe-Institut.
• Integrated study stay abroad at the partner university in Curitiba in the second and third semesters.

• Study regulations (SO) and examination regulations (PO), curricula and module descriptions (in German)

Course start: Winter semester
Admission restriction (NCU): no
Application period: 2 May–31 May
Application portal: AlmaWeb

Please ensure that you read and take note of the further information provided on the pages “Online application” and “Applying for a master’s programme”.

International students can find information about application periods and how to apply on the page “International”.

Options in the winter semester: 3rd semester – without restrictions on admission
Options in the summer semester: 2nd semester and 4th semester – each without restrictions on admission
Application period: 2 May–15 September for the winter semester; 1 December–15 March for the summer semester
Application portal: AlmaWeb
Special enrolment requirements: credits form (Anrechnungsbescheid)

You can find more information on our page for “Applying for higher semesters of study”.

International students can find information about application periods and how to apply on the page “International”.

Two semesters of study at foreign partner universities

Award of a double degree with an international partner university