German as a Foreign and Second Language (Master)

Row of bookshelves in a library.

The master’s programme in German as a Foreign and Second Language equips graduates of a completed degree programme in a philological or cultural studies discipline with the necessary competences to theoretically and practically address German as a foreign or second language. Moreover, they are able to address the culture of German-speaking countries as a foreign culture and engage in intercultural dialogue. They acquire profound didactic and methodical competences required for teaching German as a foreign and second language. The master’s programme prepares students for a profession in academia, practice (teaching, development of curricula, media and textbooks) and the general area of language policy.

Applicants with a first language other than German have to provide evidence of German proficiency corresponding to level C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Master of Arts

Degree Programme Code: 066 814

4 Semesters / 120 ECTS credits

Language: German

NO entrance examination

Curriculum

Facts & Figures

  • Students: n.a.
  • Graduates in the last academic year: n.a.
  • Number of semesters needed for graduation (median): n.a.

Data updated on: 28.12.2022

*Click here for further information on statistical data in the field of teaching and learning. (in German)

Attention

Instruction Language German

Please note that the instruction language of this programme is German. To start the degree programme, you need to hold a certificate of German proficiency on C1 level.

Study Programme

The master’s programme consists of modules covering the following subject areas: basics in the field of research and practice of German as a foreign language/German as a second language; linguistics and grammar; learning to act in the foreign language/second language: conditions and prerequisites, communication across cultures (language policy, multilingualism), teaching focus: regional and cultural studies, text competence, literature contrast language and individual special focus, methods in language teaching, research practice; final phase consisting of a master’s thesis and a master's examination.

 

Five Concepts

which you will deal with during your studies:

  • Research on second language acquisition
  • Linguistics
  • Contrast language
  • Language teaching
  • Education

... and many more.

 Overview of the programme structure & topics

Here you find the current offer of courses for this programme to gain better insight into the topics and structure. For more information please click on the respective level.



After Graduation

Graduates are qualified to work in the area of language training for immigrants. They have the necessary didactic qualifications as well as basic qualifications for a profession in the area of language teaching, intercultural communication, multilingualism and language policy, enabling them to develop, implement and evaluate target-group-specific training measures in political consulting, educational planning and educational practice. The second possible area of activity is more oriented towards teaching abroad: our graduates are qualified to act as experts on German as a foreign and second language in research on language teaching and language learning, training of teachers and continuing education and training of teachers, as well as in a wide range of practical areas of activity. They are able to develop needs-based modern learning concepts for German as a foreign language in multilingual contexts.

Graduates' Perspective on the Degree Programme

Graduate Survey

The University asks graduates to provide their opinion about the degree programme immediately after graduating. The survey results show how graduates evaluate the degree programme they completed from a subject-specific and organisational perspective.

 

The graduate survey is an important feedback tool for continuously improving the quality of studies.

Graduates ...

  • say that this degree programme receives the grade: 2.1 (good)
  • rate the level of difficulty as: 3.5 (appropriate)

→ These results are based on feedback from 78 graduates.

*Detailed information about the implementation, analysis and use of the survey as well as further data can be found in the master's programme in German as a Foreign and Second Language graduation survey (in German).

Career Tracking of Graduates

The tracking of graduates provides information about the career paths of the University of Vienna graduates and aims at providing guidance for career entry after graduation (e.g. questions about the duration of job search until first employment after graduation, salary development and sectors that graduates are active in).

3 years after graduation ...

  •  70% of graduates residing in Austria are gainfully employed.
  • graduates earn approx. € 2,462 gross/month.
  • 27% of the graduates work e.g. in the education sector.

*You can find precise information on implementation, evaluation and use as well as further data for this degree programme in the graduate tracking "German Philology".