The Institute of Slavic Studies is divided into the core areas of linguistics and literary studies. Research in both areas concentrates on the northern area of Slavia, i.e. the Slavic languages and literatures in Poland, Belarus, Ukraine and Russia.

In linguistics, the research focus is on the connections between language and society and language and cognition. Particular attention is paid to multilingualism in its social meanings and language contacts, linguistic variation and language change with - with regard to the present - a sociolinguistic and psycholinguistic focus and - with regard to the past - an emphasis on the phenomenon of borrowing.

Literary Studies focuses on research and teaching in the field of modern Slavic literatures (1890-1940). From a historical and comparative perspective, it combines institutional and poetological approaches that also allow the study of 'smaller' Slavic literatures. The literary profile of Slavic Studies is part of the literary research focus on the constitution of modern literature within the philologies of School III, where it is particularly characterised by the sub-focus on comparative field theory.

• Research in literary studies
• Research in linguistics