German as a Foreign Language in an Arabic-German Context MA

• Academic degree or degree from a state or state-recognised university of cooperative education with a focus on German as a Foreign Language or a comparable study programme;
• Knowledge of German at C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages;
• Students of partner universities who intend to complete a period of study at Leipzig University from a higher semester of study onwards, must prove their knowledge of German at C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages when commencing their studies at Leipzig University;
• Knowledge of Arabic at A1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages for applicants commencing their studies at Leipzig University’s Herder Institute.

The Faculty will check whether the above requirements have been met and then issue an official notification. This serves as proof that the candidate meets the admission requirements.

The master’s programme in German as a Foreign Language in an Arabic-German Context is a consecutive, research-oriented programme of study offered by the Herder Institute and the Center of Excellence for German and Arabic as Foreign Languages at the Faculty of Education at Ain Shams University in Cairo.

The programme’s teaching and research profile is a result of the combination of the subject-specific strengths of the Herder Institute (linguistics/applied linguistics, didactics, cultural studies, test research) and the Center of Excellence (comparative literary studies and literary didactics, contrastive linguistics and Arabic-German discourse analysis). In addition, an in-depth exploration of the other university’s scientific culture is one of the focal points of the programme. Particular importance is attached to the supervised internships at renowned institutions of language teaching and cultural exchange in Germany and Egypt.

The programme begins in the winter semester. You will study for three semesters at Leipzig University’s Herder Institute and one semester at the Center of Excellence for German and Arabic as Foreign Languages at the Faculty of Education at Ain Shams University in Cairo. The integrated study stay abroad takes place in the second or third semester. Students may also start the programme in Cairo and then spend one semester in Leipzig.

The master’s programme (MA) entails a student workload of 120 ECTS credits, of which 30 credits are for the master’s thesis and 10 credits are for the compulsory internship. The remaining 80 credits are earned in elective modules. At least one module (10 credits) must be chosen from each of the following three areas:

• Didactics / Methodology
• Linguistics / Applied Linguistics
• Cultural Studies / Literature

You can complete the compulsory internship during your stay in Cairo as a supervised teaching practical at a renowned institution for language teaching. However, you can also complete it at another location of your choosing and/or in another professional field.

The modules in Cairo typically have a contrastive focus on the Arabic-speaking region, e.g., Contrastive Linguistics Arabic – German, Teaching German Literature for Arabic-Speaking Learners. Additionally, the module “Arabic Language and Culture” is offered in Cairo.

The master’s thesis is supervised and reviewed at both universities.

• Binational master’s programme with a joint degree, accredited in Germany and Egypt
• Integrated semester abroad at the partner university (scholarship opportunities)
• Opportunity to engage in supervised internships at renowned institutions of language teaching in Egypt or to complete an internship anywhere in the world
• High degree of flexibility when choosing specialisations
• Joint study groups with the Egyptian and other international students
• Supervision of master’s thesis by professors at both universities

Upon graduation, you are a highly qualified expert for German as a Foreign Language (DaF) with a specific focus on the Arabic-speaking world. You can find employment in the following fields, for example: as a teacher of German as a foreign language in Germany and abroad, in curriculum planning and in management positions, in conceptualisation and development of teaching materials, as an editor for publishing companies in the field, at all institutions or organisations involved in cultural mediation and cultural and economic exchange with the Arabic-speaking world. In addition, students on the master’s programme will learn to conduct independent research in the field of German as a foreign language both at home and abroad.

• Compulsory internship totalling between 150 and 250 hours or at least 5 weeks, e.g., as a supervised internship at renowned language teaching institutions in Egypt.
• Binational master’s programme with a joint degree, accredited in Germany and Egypt.
• Integrated semester abroad at the partner university (in the second or third semester) with scholarship opportunities.

• STUDY REGULATIONS (SO) AND EXAMINATION REGULATIONS (PO) (IN GERMAN)
• CURRICULA AND MODULE DESCRIPTIONS (IN GERMAN)

Course start: Winter semester
Admission restriction (NCU): no
Application period: 2 May–31 May
Application portal: AlmaWeb

Please ensure that you read and take note of the further information provided on the pages “Online application” and “Applying for a master’s programme”.

International students can find information about application periods and how to apply on the page “International”.

Options in the winter semester: 3rd semester – without restrictions on admission
Options in the summer semester: 2nd semester and 4th semester – each without restrictions on admission
Application period: 2 May–15 September for the winter semester; 1 December–15 March for the summer semester
Application portal: AlmaWeb
Special enrolment requirements: Credits form (Anrechnungsbescheid)

You can find more information on our page for “Applying for higher semesters of study”.

International students can find information about application periods and how to apply on the page “International”.

One semester of study at a foreign partner university

Award of a double degree with an international partner university