Allgemeine und vergleichende Sprachwissenschaft (grundständig)

This Studium (university degree program) takes place at universities. Learning locations at the university include lecture halls, seminar and practice rooms, language labs, and libraries. Learning also occurs at home (e.g., preparing for and reviewing courses, completing assignments; potentially participating in online courses).

Studium (university degree program) type: Undergraduate program. Studium (university degree program) options: University. Degrees: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.). Standard Studium (university degree program) duration: 3-4 years. The undergraduate field of General and Comparative Linguistics provides fundamental scientific knowledge in phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. This field can sometimes be combined with other subjects. Possible undergraduate programs include Applied Intercultural Linguistics, Linguistics, Phonetics and Language Processing, Language and Society, German Linguistics, Comparative Indo-European Linguistics. Admission requirements: For universities and equivalent Hochschulen (higher education institutions), general or, if applicable, subject-specific Hochschulreife (university entrance qualification). Potentially, passing an internal university selection process and demonstrating knowledge in English and/or a second modern foreign language may be required. The contents of the Studium (university degree program) are listed below.

The standard Studium (university degree program) duration is 6-8 semesters. The average actual Studium (university degree program) duration is 8 semesters. Source: Statistisches Bundesamt (Federal Statistical Office), Statistical Report - Statistics of Examinations at German Hochschulen (higher education institutions) - Examination Year 2024.

Studium (university degree program) costs include enrollment and administrative fees, as well as semester contributions (e.g., for the Studierendenwerk (student union), student body, semester ticket). If applicable, there may be Studium (university degree program) fees for 'long-term students,' for a second Studium (university degree program), or after exhausting a set study credit. Expenses for learning materials and study needs, such as specialized literature and excursions, are also incurred. Contributions for student health insurance (usually when exceeding the age limit of 25 or certain income limits) are part of the costs. For information on funding opportunities, please refer to the Deutsches Studierendenwerk (German Student Union) - Funding Opportunities. The Federal Law on Individual Promotion of Education (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz - BAföG) in the version of the announcement from 07.12.2010, last amended by Article 11, Section 1 of the law from 16.04.2026, is applicable.

Modules may include: Empirical Linguistics, Sound and Writing, Linguistics and Computational Linguistics, Morphology, Psycho- and Neurolinguistics, Sociolinguistics, Language Forms and Language Functions, Language Structure, Comparative Linguistics. Practical Studium (university degree program) content includes, if applicable, internships (e.g., in publishing houses) and semesters abroad.

One should be prepared for the following conditions and requirements: Courses: Attending lectures and seminars in the lecture halls and seminar rooms of the Hochschulen (higher education institutions) during the semester; potentially participating in online courses from home. Practical exercises: For example, conducting phonetics exercises in language labs. Independent work: Preparing for and reviewing courses, researching in libraries, preparing presentations, completing assignments (even during lecture-free periods). Organization: Independently planning the Studium (university degree program) within the given study structure, adhering to submission deadlines and study periods, and completing study and examination requirements on time (self-discipline and organizational talent are required). Career preparation: Potentially completing internships (e.g., in publishing houses), preparing for career entry.

Students can complete parts of their Studium (university degree program) abroad. For example, there are International Undergraduate Linguistics programs in various countries. Hochschulen (higher education institutions): University of Konstanz and partner Hochschulen (higher education institutions) in countries such as the USA, Canada, France, Spain, Great Britain, Ireland, Turkey, Italy, and New Zealand. Degree: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). Further information: University of Konstanz: Bachelor's in Linguistics.

The following Studium (university degree program) subjects can be alternatives for the undergraduate field of General and Comparative Linguistics: Area of Language and Literature Studies: Computational Linguistics (undergraduate), Interpreting (undergraduate), Translation (undergraduate), German Studies (undergraduate), German as a Second/Foreign Language (undergraduate), Digital Humanities/Computational Philology (undergraduate). Commonality: working with language; applying linguistic methods.

In-depth knowledge in the following school subjects are good prerequisites for a successful Studium (university degree program): German: For example, to analyze complex grammatical structures. English, French, Italian, Latin, Russian, Spanish: For example, to understand foreign language specialized literature and to compare languages with each other.

Additional and key qualifications facilitate a successful career entry. For example, the following topics are relevant: intercultural competence, rhetoric, information processing. Elective and optional modules, such as additional languages, can also provide additional qualifications. Internships, for example in publishing houses, specifically prepare for professional life. Offers for acquiring additional and key qualifications can be found at the Career Centers of the Hochschulen (higher education institutions) (see contact details of the respective Hochschulen (higher education institutions)): Hochschulen (higher education institutions) in Germany - Hochschulkompass's Hochschulen (higher education institutions) search.

The undergraduate (grundständig) study program General and Comparative Linguistics provides fundamental scientific knowledge in phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. It leads to a first university degree (Hochschulabschluss). This field of study can sometimes be combined with other subjects.

Examples: General and Comparative Linguistics (Bachelor), Applied Linguistics (Bachelor), Application-Oriented Intercultural Linguistics (Bachelor), Historical and General Linguistics (Bachelor), Linguistics (Bachelor), Phonetics and Language Processing (Bachelor), Language and Society (Bachelor), German Linguistics (Bachelor), Comparative Indo-European Linguistics (Bachelor).

Depending on the university, the General and Comparative Linguistics study program can be combined with subjects such as: General and Comparative Cultural Studies (undergraduate), English Studies, American Studies (undergraduate), Business Administration (undergraduate), History (undergraduate), Art History (undergraduate), Media Informatics (undergraduate), Philosophy, Ethics (undergraduate), Economics (undergraduate), Business Informatics (undergraduate).

Bachelor's graduates in General and Comparative Linguistics have various career opportunities in the private sector, such as editing, journalism, proofreading, or adult education.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, historical-comparative linguistics developed, for example, with studies on the connections between Sanskrit, Greek, and Latin. The 20th century saw further development of linguistics, including synchronic linguistics (Ferdinand de Saussure) and generative grammar (Noam Chomsky). It branched into numerous sub-disciplines such as sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, and politolinguistics. In 1999, the Bologna Process began, reforming the European higher education landscape. Its goals included creating a unified European higher education area, harmonizing study programs and degrees by introducing Bachelor's and Master's programs, and improving the mobility of students and teaching staff.

Degree titles vary depending on the study program: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.).

The following vocational training (Ausbildung) professions can be alternatives for this field of study: In the field of foreign languages, State-Certified Interpreter (Ausbildung) or State-Certified Translator (Ausbildung). Common aspects include foreign language skills, foreign language communication, and working with foreign language texts. Searching through professional fields may open up further alternatives. For more information on perspectives after dropping out of a study program, visit "Studienabbruch - und dann?" and "studienwahl.de".

No remuneration is received during the study program (Studium). Compensation can be agreed upon for practical phases.

Specialization is possible depending on the university and study program, for example: Old Indian Languages, Historical Linguistics of Latin, Classical Chinese, Central Asian Languages.

At the federal level, the Higher Education Framework Act (HRG) as amended on 19.01.1999 and last changed by the law of 15.11.2019 applies. There are also joint structural guidelines of the states (Bundesland) for the accreditation of Bachelor's and Master's programs (KMK resolution of 10.10.2003) and the Qualifications Framework for German Higher Education Degrees (KMK resolution of 16.02.2017). At the state (Bundesland) level, higher education laws in conjunction with administrative regulations, for example concerning the accreditation of study programs, and qualification or higher education admission regulations are applicable. At the university level, the university's statutes and the study and examination regulations for the respective study programs apply.

The prerequisite for a Studium (university degree program) at universities and equivalent higher education institutions is the general or, if applicable, subject-specific Hochschulreife (higher education entrance qualification) or a certificate recognized as equivalent by the responsible authority of the Bundesland (federal state) (e.g., Ministry of Culture). Information on a Studium (university degree program) without a school-based higher education entrance qualification for professionally qualified individuals: Access to higher education varies in the individual Bundesländer (federal states). Depending on the university, an internal selection process may take place. If necessary, proof of proficiency in English and/or a second modern foreign language must be provided.

Bachelor graduates of General and Comparative Linguistics can continue their Studium (degree program) in an advanced subject, such as General and Comparative Linguistics or Computational Linguistics, thereby expanding their career opportunities. Possible advanced Studium (degree programs) include: General and Comparative Linguistics, English and American Studies, Computational Linguistics, Digital Humanities/Computational Philology, Finno-Ugric Studies, German Studies, Indology, Journalism, Caucasian Studies, Celtic Studies, Korean Studies, Romance Studies, Slavic Studies.