MA Linguistics – Language, Communication and Cognition University of Freiburg

The Master's degree programme in Linguistics – Language, Communication and Cognition is offered jointly by the linguistic institutes and chairs of the Faculty of Philology and the Department of Cognitive Science of the Institute of Psychology. The programme aims to explore language in its forms and functions, in its variability, in its history and development, in its cognitive prerequisites and conditions as well as in its communicative function. It offers students the possibility of individual specialisation in one of the following six fields:

• English Language & Linguistics
• General Linguistics & Linguistic Diversity
• German Linguistics
• Language & Cognition
• Romance Linguistics
• Slavic Linguistics

If you choose the specialisations in English Language & Linguistics or General Linguistics & Linguistic Diversity, you can complete the degree exclusively in English.

This MA programme "Linguistics – Language, Communication and Cognition" is structured into two main domains:

• The first domain (shown in yellow and blue in the table) comprises of courses that are taught by all participating disciplines including the introductory lecture, a broad variety of methods seminars, and colloquia.
• The second domain (shown in green in the table) consists of the modules in the specialisation that each student chooses. Specialisations are offered in English Language & Linguistics, General Linguistics & Linguistic Diversity, German Linguistics, Romance Linguistics, Slavic Linguistics, and Language & Cognition.

There is flexibility as to how many modules a student wishes to choose from their specialisation as well as whether or not a student would like to try out modules from another specialisation for greater variety. The Scandinavian department offers the option to choose additional courses in Scandinavian linguistics. This programme thus combines the full breadth of courses from all linguistics and cognitive science departments at the University of Freiburg. At the same time, students deepen their competence in their chosen specialisation. This MA programme thus prepares for a professional future in linguistics in or outside of academia, combining broad theoretical and empirical skills with deep, focused training.

The Linguistic Practice module offers the possibility of accomplishing an internship at a research facility or at another linguistics-related facility.  

• A Bachelor's degree in linguistics or other related fields (e.g. philology, cognitive sciences, communication sciences, etc.) with at least 35 ECTS in linguistics-related modules
• Specific levels of German and/or English and other relevant languages depending on the chosen field of speciality
• More details can be found here: https://www.linguistik.uni-freiburg.de/en/study-programme-linguistics-freiburg/linguistics-language-communication-cognition/application-and-admission.

190 EUR per semester:

• Administrative fee: 80 EUR
• Contribution to the constituted student body: 7 EUR
• Contribution to the student union: 103 EUR

Participants must ensure that sufficient funding is available to finance their participation in a course of study. The average cost of living in Freiburg for one month is currently approx. 850 EUR to 1,000 EUR.

Some details:

• Rooms in private accommodation, including extra costs: 350 EUR – 700 EUR
• Rooms in student residences, including extra costs: 250 EUR – 550 EUR
• Private expenses amount to around 350 EUR per month.
• Health insurance is available for approx. 120 EUR per month.
• Transport: A special student ticket for regional transport costs approx. 96 EUR per semester.

Vacant student or research assistant positions are published on the website of the Department of Linguistics.

International students can also work non-research-related part-time jobs. Please refer to the Foreigners' Office.

As Freiburg is an attractive city, finding a suitable and affordable place to live can take a little while. The University of Freiburg offers all newly enrolled international students the possibility to apply for student housing via the International Office. In addition to these dormitories, which are run by the Studierendenwerk Freiburg (www.swfr.de/en), several independent residence halls are listed on the university website (https://uni-freiburg.de/internationaloffice/housing/). The Studierendenwerk Freiburg and the International Office also offer a list of available private rooms.