Degree
Bachelor of Arts
Semester fee
71 Euro
Start of the program
Winter semester
Standard length of the program
6 Semester
Place of study
Eichstätt
Part-time studies possible
No

How have language and literature changed from the past to the present? What factors influence their development? Does the attitude of people to certain literary motifs and topics or to varieties of German, such as dialects, change? What difficulties are encountered in conveying these complex contents and what approaches to solving them can be found? What makes a text a representative of a certain genre and what are the differences between the Germanic languages? If you are interested in these and similar questions, German Studies is the right program for you.

The program in detail

The subject can be studied as a major or minor subject in the Interdisciplinary Bachelor’s program in the variant Aisthesis.Culture and Media or in the flexible variant in the amount of a minimum of 60 and up to 152 ECTS credits.

Contents

Depending on their degree program and individual interests, students of the subject can choose different specializations.

German Studies comprises the following sub-disciplines:

Early German Literature (Medieval Studies)

The department for medieval studies teaches and researches in the field of German literature from its beginnings to the 16th century. The focus is on the teaching of the older language levels of German as well as literary and philological methods of indexing genres typical of the period (e.g. court epic poetry, Minnesang (courtly love songs), heroic poetry, etc.).

Modern German Literature

Modern German Literature focuses on the history of German literature from the early modern period to the post-war era, textual analysis and interpretation, genre theory, rhetoric and aesthetics.

German Linguistics

German linguistics is devoted to the historical and contemporary analysis of the structure and use of German, also in comparison with other Germanic languages. It also explores the differences between dialect and standard language and examines processes of language change, language contact and language acquisition.

Rankings and assessments

StudyCheck2024

KU students and alumni have voted for their University to be Germany's most popular university in the 2024 ranking of the online portal StudyCheck. This is the third time in a row, as KU was also voted the most popular university in 2021 and 2022. The ranking was based on over 78,000 evaluations for more than 500 higher education institutions and universities. 97 percent of students questioned for the ranking would recommend studying at the KU to others. 

"There is no better praise for a university than almost 100 percent of students and alumni agreeing: I can only recommend studying at the KU! That is why we are very pleased with the ranking’s outcome, because it expresses the high level of satisfaction of our students," says KU President Prof. Dr. Gabriele Gien.

More ranking results

Studying abroad

German Studies abroad? This may seem strange at first glance, since you study the national language of Germany. But a semester abroad is also recommended for German Studies, because it broadens your horizon with valuable new experiences. You make valuable personal contacts that often last a lifetime, get to know the subject and university cultures of other countries, experience the exciting change of perspective on German as a foreign language philology and perhaps even learn a new language. In addition, students also have the possibility to approach German in a study period abroad from the perspective of other countries where the German language is an official language (such as Austria or Switzerland). A stay abroad in a country with a closely related neighboring language, such as Dutch or one of the Scandinavian languages, allows students to experience German from a new perspective, as Germanic neighboring languages show alternative linguistic developments to German on the basis of a common historical basis. Even after graduation, it often proves to be an advantage when applying for jobs if a stay abroad was integrated into the studies.

Partner universities

The Eichstätt German Studies department maintains contacts to various universities not only in Europe. The German institute partnership with two Brazilian universities, in which Eichstätt German Studies are involved (UFRGS Porto Alegre and UFPEL Pelotas), should be particularly emphasized in this context. Further information can be obtained from your lecturers and in the overview of partner universities at the International Office, where you will also find general information on financing and organizing a stay abroad.

Semester abroad in Belgium

"During my Erasmus semester in the beautiful Belgian student town of Ghent, I got to know new and innovative teaching methods which combined a varied course program with a high academic standard. Furthermore, it was super exciting to experience German Studies from an "outsider" perspective and to talk about E.T.A.…

"During my Erasmus semester in the beautiful Belgian student town of Ghent, I got to know new and innovative teaching methods which combined a varied course program with a high academic standard. Furthermore, it was super exciting to experience German Studies from an "outsider" perspective and to talk about E.T.A. Hoffmann and variational linguistics with Belgian students of German Studies. I can warmly recommend a semester abroad to anyone who would like to grow personally and experience the European concept of international cooperation first hand. “

- Sarah Inninger(student)

Practical connection

The Interdisciplinary Bachelor's degree program provides for an internship at a private or public institution, which brings students into contact with possible professional fields at an early stage. Students also have the possibility to complete their internship abroad; for individual advice and support in finding an internship and financing possibilities, the KU Career Service and the International Internship Service are happy to help.

Career possibilities and professional fields

Career prospects

The program does not prepare students to fulfill the requirements of a specific job description but rather imparts practical professional knowledge and skills that are relevant to numerous social fields. The acquired skills qualify not only for an academic career or for a teaching profession, but also for fields of activity in cultural institutions (e.g. museums, archives, etc.) and political organizations (e.g. foundations, parties, NGOs), in the field of language teaching and adult education, in publishing and librarianship, in journalism, but also in business and the private sector (e.g. internal and external communication departments, sustainability management, terminology management, etc.).

Alumni testimonials

Foto Laura_Schabenberger

"The German Studies program in Eichstätt is characterized by a broad range of topics and depth: The wide range of courses on offer allows students to set their own priorities. Because lecturers are quickly and easily accessible, no one has to feel left alone – despite the individual program structure.

With this…

"The German Studies program in Eichstätt is characterized by a broad range of topics and depth: The wide range of courses on offer allows students to set their own priorities. Because lecturers are quickly and easily accessible, no one has to feel left alone – despite the individual program structure.

With this training, it is possible to pursue different career paths. Nobody is bound to a preconceived career plan. This degree program is therefore not only a stepping stone into science, but also into business and the industry – in my case, for example, into journalism."

- Laura Schabenberger
Foto Jessica_Heinold

"The range of seminars in German Studies in Eichstätt is very wide and new topics are added every semester – from language history to grammar to dialectology – so the subject remains exciting until the last semester. University life in Eichstätt is basically very friendly and informal, everyone knows everyone and the…

"The range of seminars in German Studies in Eichstätt is very wide and new topics are added every semester – from language history to grammar to dialectology – so the subject remains exciting until the last semester. University life in Eichstätt is basically very friendly and informal, everyone knows everyone and the lecturers are easy to reach and take their time for the students. An additional advantage of the University is its location in the ‘countryside’, it has numerous surrounding meadows and paths leading directly along the river that are inviting for enjoying small study breaks, picnics and barbecues in summer.

The studies have sharpened my understanding of language and text very much, so that I now benefit from this skill in my job in the personnel development department of a bank when I structure content, write texts and prepare presentations. This has gone so far that my colleagues now address me as "the linguist" and regularly ask me for my support, for example when it comes to structuring incoherent (!) and incohesive (!) texts".

- Jessica Heinold

What students say about the program

"The German Studies program at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt offers a broad education in German language and literature studies. From the very beginning, I have been fascinated by the linguistic contents and have been able to set my main focus of study there. The excellent supervision by the lecturers…

"The German Studies program at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt offers a broad education in German language and literature studies. From the very beginning, I have been fascinated by the linguistic contents and have been able to set my main focus of study there. The excellent supervision by the lecturers thanks to interactive, small-scale seminars contributes enormously to the substantiated teaching of both theoretical and methodological aspects of linguistics. In this way, students of German Studies are given attractive access to linguistic research at an early stage.”

- Vladimir Buskin(student)

"What I particularly like about studying German Studies at the KU is the University’s size. Although the variety of different courses offered may not be as wide as at larger universities, the contact is all the closer. You get to know your fellow students and lecturers within a very short time and there is a friendly…

"What I particularly like about studying German Studies at the KU is the University’s size. Although the variety of different courses offered may not be as wide as at larger universities, the contact is all the closer. You get to know your fellow students and lecturers within a very short time and there is a friendly teaching and learning atmosphere from which you benefit a lot in the long term.”

- René Peters(student)

The KU

Sommerresidenz Luftbild

Campus

Short distances on campus at the KU save time and avoid stress. The KU is a campus University with modern facilities. The buildings on campus are located close to the Eichstätt old town. Although the University and its campus has grown, it is still characterized by short distances: In Eichstätt, everything can be reached within ten minutes’ walking distance. On campus, green spaces such as the Hofgarten are the perfect places to relax. The garden of the Kapuzinerkloster is also used by different student initiatives for their projects. The canteen is located at the heart of the Eichstätt campus and has a sun deck and cafeteria that leave nothing to be desired.

Studierende vor der Zentralbibliothek

What sets the KU apart

Studying at the KU is more than just acquiring specialist knowledge. We broaden our horizons together and take on responsibility in and beyond the individual degree programs. The KU has a particular focus on topics such as personal development, sustainability, social skills and social commitment.

It offers its students the possibility to study and work in a welcoming atmosphere and benefit from outstanding support and comprehensive service offers, a well-stocked library, a broad range of sports and leisure activities and a large global network of approx. 300 partner universities. Our team at the International Office helps you to plan your semester abroad and the KU Career Service provides comprehensive advice and support for embarking on your professional career.

Do I have to be Catholic in order to study at the KU? Do I have to deal with Catholic contents during my studies?

No, the KU is open to students of all faiths and beliefs.

At the KU, just as at all state universities, there is freedom of research and teaching. This means that our degree programs focus on the subjects for which you have enrolled – free from external influences.

As a student at our University, you will notice what our understanding of being a Catholic University means for us in one thing in particular: The University’s focus is on the individual person. The talents and potential of all those who teach, study, work and carry out research at the KU form our most important foundation – regardless of their religion or beliefs, nationality, ethical, cultural or social background, disabilities, gender, sexual orientation or age.

This is why we promote your best possible academic education through personal support and an ideal staff-to-student ratio. At the same time, the KU is more than just a place for earning your degree: We attach particular importance to imparting social skills and advancing our students’ sense and value orientation in addition to providing them with a high level of academic and methodical qualification.

Our aspiration for our University is to build bridges between science and society and to make knowledge available for society as well as to integrate impulses from outside the University into our research and teaching practice. We aim to make a valuable contribution to social coexistence, to the free democratic basic order and to preserving creation. 

Isn’t Eichstätt quite small for a university town?

With a population of around 15,000, it is probably the smallest university town in Europe. For our students, this means living and learning in a friendly and informal atmosphere. Whether it is on the way to a lecture in the morning, at the canteen for lunch or in the pub in the evening, you will often come across people you know. It is easy to meet people in Eichstätt! By the way, the KU’s “living room” is the Theke, a bar run by students for students. Here, people meet for parties, jam sessions, karaoke evenings or a cozy round of table football.

A small town also means short distances: The library, the swimming pool, the cinema or the supermarket – everything can be reached in a few minutes on foot or by bike. The town is located right in the heart of the Altmühltal natural park – a real paradise for climbers, canoeists, hikers and cyclists just around the corner.

Should you still reach a point when you feel too cooped in, you can breathe big city air easily near Eichstätt. Ingolstadt with its 135,000 inhabitants is only a few kilometers away and offers a variety of shopping and nightlife options.

The location

Ortsschild Eichstätt
University town of Eichstätt
Willibaldsburg
Willibaldsburg
Bootsfahrer auf der Altmühl
Canoeing on the Altmühl river
[Translate to Englisch:] Biergarten
Relaxing and celebrating in beer gardens

Eichstätt and the surrounding Altmühltal natural park are not only a popular destination for culture enthusiasts and nature lovers, but also for cyclists, climbers, canoeists and fossil collectors. Located between Munich and Nuremberg, the city impresses with its Baroque setting and southern flair combined with modern and prizewinning architecture as well as a broad variety of cultural offerings and leisure activities. 

The Baroque park at the heart of the campus and the nearby banks of the Altmühltal river are the KU’s “green living room”. Another big advantage: all University facilities are just a short walk away from each other.

More on the study location Eichstätt

Advisory Service

Some offers and study conditions are different for international students – our International Office is happy to provide help and support. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our team. We are happy to accompany you on your way to the KU and hope that we can welcome you in person soon!

David Guevara
David Guevara
Coordinator Welcome Services and International Campus
Building Domplatz 8  |  Room: DP8-203 | Campus Eichstätt

Application

Requirements
General university entrance qualification (Allgemeine Hochschulreife)
Language requirements
DSH 2
Application period winter
May 01 - Jul 15
Admission restriction
No
Selection procedure
No

The application process for international applicants is now completely digital. You can register online in our application portal and carry out and submit your application. After you have carried out the application and uploaded your documents, you do not need to send your documents to us again by post. You do have to submit certified true copies only if you are admitted at the time of enrollment.

Depending on the course of study, you may be asked for information on internships, professional experience, etc. Please upload the relevant documents in the upload area for all the information you provide, even if these are not mandatory fields!

Before you start the application process, please read the additional information on this page, in particular the information on the respective (German) language requirements and university entrance qualifications.