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German language and literature (in Universities) Schools and Programs in Germany

20 schools in Germany teach German language and literature (in Universities).

German language and literature (in Universities) Studies in Germany

In Germany, the academic study of German language and literature is called Germanistik. International students come to it in two ways: as full degree students of Germanistik or of German as a foreign language (Deutsch als Fremdsprache, DaF), or as visiting students who take German courses and semester programmes at a university.

Our directory lists 20 universities, university programmes and language schools in Germany under this subject, in cities such as Berlin, Kassel, Göttingen, Munich, Trier, Münster, Freiburg, Potsdam, Stuttgart and Bremen.

Degrees in Germanistik

A German degree in Germanistik is a bachelor's degree of six semesters, which can be followed by a master's degree of four semesters. The Universität Trier is a typical example. Its programme has three traditional parts: German linguistics, older German philology (medieval language and literature) and modern German literary studies, with further options such as German as a foreign language or Yiddish studies. Germanistik can be taken there as a Bachelor of Arts, as a major or a minor subject, or as a Bachelor of Education for future teachers; students can enrol in the summer or the winter semester. Anyone who wants to teach in a German school needs a master's degree, the Master of Education.

German as a foreign and second language is usually a separate master's degree for people who want to teach German. At the Universität Kassel, the Master of Arts in Deutsch als Fremd- und Zweitsprache starts in the winter semester, lasts four semesters, is taught in German and has no admission restriction (numerus clausus). It is open to international applicants with a suitable background in language and education studies.

German courses and short programmes at universities

Students who are not yet ready for a German-taught degree, or who come for a semester or a summer, can study the language at or alongside a university. According to the DAAD, many universities run language courses during the semester break, usually between June and September.

  • IIK Göttingen teaches German courses on the campus of the University of Göttingen in groups of 5 to 15, from level A1.1 to C1. Each course covers half a level and is worth 6 ECTS credits. Its International Summer Course from 3 to 28 August 2026 has 80 lessons and costs €750 including course books and the supporting programme; a four-week intensive course of 80 lessons costs €495.
  • FU-BEST, the European Studies Program of Freie Universität Berlin, is an intensive academic semester programme that introduces international students to Berlin, Germany and Europe.
  • Private language schools complete the picture. The Institut für Sprachen in Kassel, for example, teaches German from A1 to C2 and prepares for the telc and TestDaF exams, and the Hermann-Hesse-Kolleg in Horb am Neckar, founded in 1993, is a telc examination centre.

Admission and language level

For a full degree, applicants need a university entrance qualification recognised in Germany; if the school-leaving certificate is not sufficient, a foundation course (Studienkolleg) comes first. The final decision lies with the university. Many universities have foreign certificates checked by uni-assist, which charges €75 for the first application and €15 for each additional one in the same semester.

Because the degrees are taught in German, proof of German is required, normally through the TestDaF or the DSH. A result of TDN 4 in all parts of the TestDaF, or DSH-2, gives unrestricted admission. No test is needed with, among others, the Goethe-Zertifikat C2, the Deutsches Sprachdiplom level II or telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule.

Costs and visa

State universities as a rule charge no tuition fees for bachelor's and many master's degrees. The state of Baden-Württemberg is the exception: non-EU citizens pay €1,500 per semester there. All students pay a semester contribution, which the DAAD puts at about €70 to €430 depending on the university.

The DAAD estimates living costs at €900 to €1,200 a month. Students from the EU, the European Economic Area and Switzerland do not need a visa. Others must apply for a student visa and show proof of financial resources, set at €11,904 a year since 1 January 2025. The DAAD warns that a tourist or language course visa may not be converted into a student visa later.

Careers

The Universität Trier names publishing, the media, public relations and advertising, education and teaching, and cultural institutions such as theatres, libraries and museums as fields for Germanistik graduates. Graduates in German as a foreign language teach at language schools, universities and schools, in integration courses and at educational institutions abroad, according to the Universität Kassel.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a degree in Germanistik take?

The bachelor's degree takes six semesters and the master's degree four more, as at the Universität Trier.

What level of German do I need to study Germanistik?

Universities ask for proof of German. TestDaF with TDN 4 in all parts or DSH-2 gives unrestricted admission; a Goethe-Zertifikat C2 or telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule replaces the test.

Can I take a German course at a German university without enrolling for a degree?

Yes. Many universities offer language courses in the semester break, and institutes such as IIK Göttingen accept participants who neither study nor work at the university.

Do I pay tuition fees?

For degrees at state universities usually not, except for non-EU citizens in Baden-Württemberg (€1,500 per semester). Language courses have their own fees, for example €750 for the four-week summer course in Göttingen in 2026.