World Literature (B.A.)

Features

Would you like to turn your passion for literature into your future career? Or explore literature as a global phenomenon? Then you have come to the right place by choosing the Mono-Bachelor “World Literature” from the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Göttingen.

We will take you to the Old Icelandic epics and Chinese novellas,
Greek tragedies and the Russian avant-garde,
texts in cuneiform and postmodern Hypertext stories,
parchment manuscripts and the modern globalised print and digital book market.…

Programme:: World Literature (B.A.)
Degree:: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Option:: Double Degree
Standard period of study:: 6 semesters
Start:: Only the winter semester
Language of the programme:: German; English in part
Language requirements:: German, English and a third language
Admission:: open (enrolment without previous application)
Orientation events:: at the begin of your studies orientation events are offered

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Fachspezifisch

About the Degree Programme

International Students report

Fächerübergreifend

JULY to
SEPT

Auf ins Studium!

Studienberatung & Infoangebot

Details

Programme description

This study program will invite you to explore literature of all major world regions. The extraordinary variety of European and non-European philologies at the University of Göttingen allows for a global study of literature. You will read prominent works of literatures of the world and examine their temporal, spatial and cultural allocations. The degree program is aimed at applicants who want to turn their interest in literature into their profession or whose career goal requires broad cultural knowledge.

You will explore the European and the global interconnections of literature, recognizing how literary styles and periods have spread across borders. You will understand how texts allude to each other and how authors learn from each other. You will discover the literary richness of our world and investigate the cultures from which they originate. By evaluating literary techniques such as metaphor, rhyme or narrative perspective for interpretation, you will become aware of how literature works. You will study the specific possibilities of genres such as prose, lyric or drama. The program enables you to assess the qualities of literature. While working with literary texts you will learn and apply journalistic and scientific methods of analysis, which should help you prepare for a subsequent course of study or a professional career.

Language requirements

You are required to present proof of proficiency in 3 languages at the start of the study program.

The level of language understanding in either German or English should be no less than C1 (advanced) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and B2 (upper intermediate) respectively. At variance with the standard terms of admission, you may enroll in this course with a B2 (DHS-1) language proficiency level if German is not your first language.

Your third language, if modern, should be certified at B1 (intermediate) level and in case of a classic one you must provide the Latinum (intermediate Latin), the Graecum (Old Greek) or the Hebraecum (Old Hebrew) certificate.

You must be able to acquire an advanced (CEFR C1) proficiency certification in both German and English after the first few semesters, specifically, in German – after the first, and in English – after the second course semester. The program contains language courses to prepare you for the language tests in question.

Double-Degree-Option

As part of the World Literature programme, students have the option of choosing a double-degree specialisation after the second semester. This specialisation includes a one-year stay at the respective partner university. Currently, it is possible to obtain a double-degree with the East China Normal University in Shanghai (Shanghai, China) or with the Voronezh State University (Voronezh, Russia). After completing a double-degree programme, you will be awarded a B.A. from two universities.

Currently, the DAAD supports the year abroad of Göttingen World Literature students with three to six scholarships, depending on the partner university.

Career opportunities

The abundance of course offers is naturally reflected in the available professional opportunities.

An internship at a German or foreign literary institution (publishing house, media, literary hub, press, radio, collection, archive, editing, literary museum) is recommended for the professional orientation and will be considered an accreditable part of the course program.

This course, mostly in combination with a secondary study, will prepare you to work in the following professional fields:

Literary agent
Publisher
Lecturer
Rights dealer
Translator
Writer
Editor
Manager of literary and art festivals, museums, fairs and exhibitions.

Involved Departments

Consecutive/graduate programmes

Features

Structure

The degree programme is divided into three areas. In the first year of study, the focus is on language skills and the forms and functions of literary processes. Building on this, in the following semesters you will deal with world literary works around the globe, their genres, and their historical epochs. Your own course of study is formed from a broad range of electives in cooperation with the individual subjects of linguistics and literary studies.

Multiple practical modules and workshops with authors offer the opportunity to get to know the literary world from different perspectives.

We expressly welcome a semester abroad, but it is not compulsory. In addition to stays abroad within the framework of Erasmus+ programmes, the degree programme also offers the possibility to choose a Double-Degree major, which enables you to complete a degree in World Literature/ World Literature at two universities at the same time: at the University of Göttingen and at the partner university of the respective major.

Regulations and module directory

Current und older versions

Details

Application

Language requirements before commencement of study

upper intermediate to advanced proficiency levels in German and English plus intermediate proficiency in a third additional language.

Proof to be submitted

Admission

Start:: Winter semester only

1st subject semester:: open admission (enrolment without previous application)
2nd to 6th subject semester:: open admission (enrolment without previous application)