German-French Studies / Deutsch-Französische Studien University of Bonn

The "German-French Studies" Master of Arts programme is an international course of study with a joint degree. It arose from the cooperation between University of Bonn in Germany and Sorbonne Université in Paris, France. The course of study is part of the Franco-German University (FGU). It is focused on philological and cultural knowledge about France and Germany and the mediation of German and French culture. The students take classes that are offered by the Department of Romance Studies as well as the Department of German Studies. This curriculum includes lectures and courses in literature and (inter)cultural studies, in linguistics and comparative studies, and language courses.

Students have the possibility to specialise in chosen fields of study in order to gain scientific or practical qualifications. The Master’s programme prepares students for further scientific qualification in a German-French PhD (Cotutelle de thèse) or a trinational German-French-Italian PhD (Bonn-Paris-Florence) as well as for a direct start in their professional careers.

All students spend their first year in Bonn and their second in Paris.

In Bonn, students can choose courses from a wide range of subjects in linguistics, literature, comparative and cultural studies. In their second year of studies in Paris, courses include mandatory methodological courses as well as the possibility to choose a number of courses in linguistics, literature, comparative and cultural studies.

During the preparation of the Master's thesis, a final colloquium is held to provide guidance and support to the students. After the thesis has been submitted, a defence is conducted.

Graduates are awarded a joint degree.

Sorbonne Université, Paris, France

An internship can be completed voluntarily and will be recognised as part of a module.

Admission is processed through the online application on the Master's portal. The application period runs from early June to mid-September.

Academic admission requirements include a Bachelor of Arts in German-French Studies or a similar subject as well as very good knowledge of French and German literature, linguistics and culture.

The University of Bonn is a public university, meaning that it does not charge tuition fees. However, all students must pay the semester fee of about 350 EUR per semester, which covers a Deutschlandsemesterticket (student transit pass for public transport) and statutory accident insurance, among other things.

In France, the semester contribution is approx. 400 EUR per semester. However, German students are exempt from this fee during their year abroad.

Students in Bonn can expect to pay around 1,000 EUR a month, with rent accounting for the largest share of their living costs.

In Paris, we recommend a budget of around 1,000 EUR to 1,200 EUR per month.

The University of Bonn has a central career service, which provides a range of advice and support about choosing a career and applying for jobs. Moreover, international students can join the iStart career programme, which teaches participants tangible knowledge and valuable skills that will enable them to write successful applications for jobs in Germany.

The programme coordinator and her team provide the students with information concerning the educational organisation, the study units abroad, the internship, funding opportunities and career prospects. Students are informed about possible career paths at yearly alumni events from regular alumni surveys and the forwarding of job/internship offers by the team of coordinators who cooperate with the "Alumni-Netzwerk" of University of Bonn.

Students at the University of Bonn can apply for a room in a dormitory owned by the Studierendenwerk Bonn (see www.studierendenwerk-bonn.de/en/accommodation for more details).

For further information on housing in Bonn, please visit our website at www.uni-bonn.de/living-in-bonn.

International applicants who are admitted to the Master’s programme can apply for a dorm room through the programme coordinator. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that all students will be allotted a room, as these are in short supply.

Private housing can be found on websites such as www.wg-gesucht.de in Bonn and www.pap.fr in Paris.