Slavic Studies (Master of Arts)
Slavic Studies (Master of Arts)
With the political upheavals of recent decades, which resulted in the EU's eastward expansion, among other things, a number of Slavic countries have found a place in the previously often narrow Western European consciousness. At the same time, antagonisms have intensified - antagonisms that have come to light in a dramatic way with the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. They illustrate once again the need for a constant and sustained academic examination of the languages, literatures, cultures and societies of the Slavic region, their reciprocal and conflictual historical and current interdependencies, their processes of self-assurance and their relations with the German-speaking world - beyond the current economic cycle.
With this in mind, the Institutes of Slavic Studies and History at the University of Oldenburg and the Federal Institute for the Culture and History of Germans in Eastern Europe (BKGE), three important institutions of Slavic and Eastern Europe-related research, offer a Master's degree programme (M.A.) that focuses in particular on the Russia-Poland-Belarus-Ukraine region .
The degree programme is research-oriented. In addition to the in-depth and extended Slavic linguistic, literary and historical competences taught as part of the specialisations "Slavic Linguistics and Literary Studies" and "German-Slavic Contacts", the programme teaches in-depth and extended language skills in Russian, Polish, Belarusian and Ukrainian. In addition, as part of the interdisciplinary School and area of specialisation, it enables students to acquire additional or extended linguistic, literary or cultural skills with a view to non-Slavic areas.
Within the framework of research-based learning, the degree programme enables students to independently deal with current research questions and to set their own individual focus in terms of both areal/linguistic and disciplinary aspects, thus offering the possibility of a subsequent doctorate. In addition, interdisciplinary skills are acquired for a career in the field of linguistics and literary studies, but also in text- or language-related areas of the media industry, cultural work or adult education, depending on the programme design.
Programme structure
Over the course of the four-semester Master’s programme, you will earn a total of 120 CP. It comprises the following components, from which you can tailor your own individual study programme:
I. Profile Development 6 CP
- Fundamentals and Background
II. Specialisation 30 KP
Two modules totalling 30 KP from one of the following specialisations:
Specialisation 1: Slavic Linguistics and Literary Studies
- Contact and Variational Linguistics
- Systemic linguistics
- History of Slavic Literatures
- Literary Theory and Criticism
SP 2: German–Slavic Contacts
- Contact Linguistics or History of Slavic Literatures
- Political and Social History
- Cultural History, Memory and Stereotypes
- Cultural Contacts
- Art History in Eastern Europe
III. Supplementary area 15 CP
One module from one of the two specialisms relating to a second language
IV. Language Practice 24 CP
- Main language (Polish or Russian)
- Second language (Polish, Russian or Ukrainian, Belarusian, etc.)
V. Area of Specialisation 15 CP
Freely selectable courses from one’s own or another subject area, internships, language courses, etc.
VI. Master’s degree module 30 CP
- MA Thesis 75%
- Oral examination 25%
From the very first semester, you will choose a specialised specialisation worth 30 CP. You may choose between the specialisation in Linguistics and Literary Studies (in any combination) and the specialisation in German-Slavic Contacts. The geographical focus is on the Polish- and Russian-speaking regions. For your practical language specialisation (24 CP), you will generally continue with the language you studied at Bachelor’s level as your main language. As a second language, you may choose from Polish and Russian, as well as other languages such as Ukrainian or Belarusian. If you are starting the second language with little or no prior knowledge, please note that a preparatory course is offered before the start of the winter semester to bring you up to the entry level for the language courses. Please check the Institute’s website for information on the current range of language courses, particularly the preparatory courses, as well as placement tests.
In the supplementary module area (15 CP), you have the opportunity to broaden your disciplinary profile by taking a specialised module from the Slavic Studies programme, which you can tailor thematically to your second language.
In addition, you can tailor the area of specialisation, comprising 15 CP, entirely to your own wishes and needs: the excellent contacts of the participating Institutes both in Germany and abroad give you the opportunity to undertake internships and study abroad; various interdisciplinary courses offered by the university can be taken to further develop your specialisation. The fourth and final semester is set aside for the completion of the Master’s thesis and a final examination (30 KP in total).
Notes on the final examination
In addition to the Master's thesis , the Master's degree module includes an oral examination, which accounts for 15% of the grade for the Master's degree module and is conducted by one or more examiners. It lasts 60 minutes and comprises 4 examination parts, which relate to the specialisations taken as part of the degree programme and to the chosen languages. The Slavic languages and specialisations can be distributed evenly or unevenly across the examination sections. It is recommended to discuss the topics of the examination parts with the examiner(s) in good time.
Admission requirements
The degree programmes that qualify students for entry to the Master of Arts in ‘Slavic Studies’ as described above include ‘Slavic Studies’ or ‘Slavic Philology’ and Eastern European Studies. Furthermore, admission is granted if the final dissertation from a related degree programme, e.g. (‘Integrated’) ‘European Studies’ or ‘History’, focuses thematically on the Slavic region. The Admissions Office (ZA) decides on the academic relevance of other degree programmes.
Language proficiency in Polish or Russian is required, corresponding to at least level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Upon separate proposal, admission may also be granted on the basis of equivalent proficiency in another Slavic language. To commence studies in the summer semester, proof of language proficiency in Russian or Polish at the next higher level is required.
In addition to Polish and Russian, other languages such as Ukrainian or Belarusian are also available as a second language. If you are starting the second language with little or no prior knowledge, please note that a preparatory course is offered before the start of the winter semester to bring you up to the entry level for the language courses. Please check the Institute’s website for information on the current range of language courses, particularly the preparatory courses, as well as placement tests.
Occupational fields
In the Master's programme in Slavic Studies, you will acquire critically reflected knowledge of the cultural and social mechanisms of the Slavic countries, which will enable you to gain a deeper understanding of the respective cultural area. After successfully completing the Slavic Studies programme, you will be a qualified expert on Eastern Europe and will have a wide range of opportunities to contribute your skills to international, interdisciplinary discourse. The Master's degree qualifies you to work in various academic appointments, which can be specified through your chosen specialisation and corresponding internships during your studies. This opens up fields of work in the media, journalism, archives and libraries, cultural organisations, the tourism industry, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), intercultural business and project consulting, publishing and adult education. The Master's degree also opens the door to an academic career (doctorate).
Advice and further information
If you have any questions or require information on the structure and content of the programme, please contact
Questions about the application:
- Admissions office: +49-441-798-2728, www.uni-oldenburg.de/i-amt
- International Student Office: +49-441-798-2478, www.iso.uni-oldenburg.de/
Further information can be found on the central study programme information pages of the university: