Turkic Studies Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

The Master's Programme in Turkic Studies gives you a unique opportunity to pursue your studies at two different universities in two different countries, and graduate from both. The programme allows you to study various classical branches of Turcology, as well as deepen your knowledge in literary studies with close reading and analysis of various genres. You will also get direct insight into ongoing projects, that can be integrated into your studies. This programme is for you if you are interested in a career in academia or research.

The programme is designed for students with a strong interest in acquiring advanced knowledge of Turkic linguistics, philology and literary studies. You will study in international environments with teachers and students from diverse academic, educational, cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

Throughout the programme, you will acquire both broad and specialised knowledge and academic skills in the field of Turcology that qualify you for further academic studies, or academic jobs at universities and research institutions.

The curriculum of the programme encompasses various classical branches of Turcology:

• philological analysis of historical sources
• codicology and critical edition
• historical-comparative linguistics
• linguistic investigation of various phenomena
• dialectology and documentation of the modern Turkic languages

In addition to these, you will also study literary studies with close reading and analysis of various genres. Additionally, the programme incorporates the use and application of modern digital tools in relation to corpora building and born-digital text editions.

During your studies, you will gain a direct insight into our ongoing research projects and scientific activities. If interested, project-related tasks can be integrated into regular coursework to test and illustrate the immediate application of research results achieved.

During the first year, you will study at Uppsala University, Sweden, and during the second year, you will study at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany.

Year One

During the first and second semesters, which take place at Uppsala University, you take seven compulsory courses (for a total of 52.5 credits) in Turkic philology and linguistics, plus the Current Trends in Linguistics course for 7.5 credits, offered in the subject area of linguistics during the second semester.

Year Two

In the third semester, you continue your studies at the partner institute in Germany, where you take compulsory courses in Turkic linguistics and Turkic literary studies. During the final semester, you write your Master's thesis. The thesis work is supervised by a teacher from Mainz with the co-supervision of a teacher from Uppsala. The defence is carried out jointly according to German regulations.

Courses within the programme

Semester One (Uppsala)

• Old Turkic Philology
• History of the Turkic Languages
• Comparative Turcology: Siberian Turkic Languages
• Current Trends in Turkic Linguistics

Semester Two (Uppsala)

• Middle Turkic Philology
• Typology of the Turkic Languages
• Comparative Turcology: Kipchak and Oghuz Languages
• Current Trends in Linguistics

Semester Three (Mainz)

• Turkic Language
• Research Seminar
• Linguistic Turcology
• Turkic Literature and Culture (lecture)
• Turkic Literature and Culture (seminar)

Semester Four (Mainz)

• Academic Seminar
• Master's Thesis
• Thesis Defence

Uppsala University

The application, administration of the selection process and the admission of prospective students is conducted by Uppsala University.

Academic requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish "Kandidatexamen", from an internationally-recognised university.

The main field of study must be Turkic Languages or an equivalent subject.

Students of the JGU pay approx. 350 EUR as a semester fee. The fee includes a semester ticket that covers regional public transport in Germany ("Deutschlandticket") and a discount at the university’s cafeterias.

JGU offers support in finding a suitable scholarship: https://www.studium.uni-mainz.de/en/during-your-studies/organizing-your-studies/financial-matters/#apply-for-a-scholarship 

JGU career service: https://www.career.uni-mainz.de/en/

In Mainz, you can apply for a room in the student residence halls. Other affordable housing options can be found here: https://www.studium.uni-mainz.de/en/starting-your-studies/student-life/.