Frequently Asked Questions

With us, you can choose from over 40 subjects, some of which are unique in Lower Saxony. Some subjects can only be studied in Göttingen. In most subjects you will study in small groups and thus have direct and intensive contact with lecturers and fellow students. To make it easier for you to get started, many subjects offer mentoring. This means that students from higher semesters are available to offer you advice and support.

The study of humanities/cultural studies in Göttingen is characterised by

• the combination of a long university tradition with state-of-the-art learning opportunities,
• individual supervision in small groups,
• a wide range of advisory services for all phases of your studies,
• a study-accompanying programme and advisory services on career prospects,
• the centrally located humanities and cultural studies campus,
• additional specialisation opportunities through participation of many subjects in the Germany-wide student exchange programme PONS,
• if interested: research-oriented learning and interdisciplinary work,
• a lively and diverse student and cultural life, and
• a high quality of life due to short distances and living in one of the greenest cities in Germany.

There are also many student initiatives and university offers on campus that you can benefit from and take part in, e.g.:

• University Cinema
• Student Theatre Theater im OP
• Campus TV univision
• Campus Radio GöHört
• Student Choires Unicante and Skandichor
• Dance Courses of the Studentenwerk
• University Sports of the University of Göttingen

Links

• The Faculty on Facebook »
• The Faculty on Instagram »
• Student Blog of the University of Göttingen »

As a humanities graduate, many professions and industries are open to you. Contrary to the cliché, your career prospects are excellent if you already orient yourself during your studies and, for example, do some further training, e.g. in the form of key competence workshops in the professionalisation area, and internships.
During your studies, you will acquire specialist skills that will qualify you for subject-specific professions. With the choice of your second subject, you can enrich your profile with e.g. legal, economic or computer science knowledge. Our student advisors will be happy to support you in choosing your subject combination with regard to possible career prospects.

In addition, you will acquire key competences, particularly in humanities and cultural studies subjects, which are needed in many areas of employment in the free economy and in the public sector. These include:

• Text Competence
• Writing Competence
• Research Competence
• Analytical and Critical Thinking
• Argumentation, Structuring
• Evaluating and Conceptualising

Job opportunities for humanities scholars and cultural scientists are available in the following areas, among others:

• Publishing
• Public Relations
• Journalism
• Tourism
• Human Resources
• Education
• Project Management
• Event Management
• Cultural Management
• Management Consultant
• Associations and Non-profit Organisations
• Foundations
• Politics

A doctorate and thus entry into an academic career is also open to you with a Master's degree in the humanities.

At the faculty, one of the ways we support you in developing career prospects is with the virtual orientation tool for selecting key competences.

Links

• Information on professionalisation area and key competences »
• Infothek on career entry and key competences »

With us you can choose from over 40 subjects (including teaching subjects):

• Egyptology and Coptic Studies*
• General Linguistics*
• Ancient Near Eastern Studies*
• Ancient Cultures* (Single Subject Bachelor’s Degree)
• Arabic Studies / Islamic Studies*
• Archaeology of the Greco-Roman and Byzantine World*
• German Studies
• Digital Humanities
• English: Language, Literatures and Cultures
• Finno-Ugrian Studies*
• French and Francophone Studies / French
• History*
• Greek Philology*
• Indology*
• Iranian Studies*
• Italian Studies / Italian
• Cultural Anthropology / European Ethnology*
• Art History
• Latin Philology
• Latin Philology of the Middle Ages and the Modern Era*
• Musicology
• North American Studies*
• East Asian Studies / Chinese as a Foreign Language*
• East Asian Studies / Modern China*
• East Asian Studies / Modern Sinology* (Single Subject Bachelor’s Degree)
• Philosophy
• Portuguese and Brazilian Studies / Portuguese*
• Religious Studies
• Scandinavian Studies*
• Slavic Studies*
• Spanish and Hispano American Studies / Spanish
• Turkish Studies*
• Prehistory and Early Archaelology*
• World Literature* (Single Subject Bachelor’s Degree)
• Economic and Social History*

* This degree programme is only offered in this form at the University of Göttingen in Lower Saxony.

Links

• Overview of all subjects that you can study in a Bachelor's degree, including teaching subjects
• Overview of all subjects in which you can study for a Master's degree

You can get an initial overview of the structure and content of the individual subjects in the university’s A-Z subject list. In the right-hand column you will find a link to the individual institutes and seminars. There you will find detailed information on the individual subjects, focal points and current events. You are welcome to contact the respective subject advisors for subject-specific questions.

You can also use our study preparation offers, such as the early study programme, the information days for prospective students or the trial study programme. Some of our subjects - American Studies, English Philology, French/Gallo-Romance Studies, Intercultural German Studies, Italian/Italian Studies, Cultural Anthropology, Portuguese/Lusitanian Studies, Romance Studies, Russian, and Slavic Philology, Spanish/Hispanic Studies – can also be viewed in the virtual study orientations. There you will get in-depth insights into the contents of the degree programme and you can get a taste of real courses.

We recommend that you take advantage of the preparatory offers as well as the counselling services of the faculty and the university in order to get as comprehensive an impression as possible of the subjects we offer. Our study advisors can help you find the subjects that suit you best. Your contact persons:

• The faculty’s student advisors:
  if you want to find out which subjects best suit your interests, strengths and goals and if you would like support in making a decision.
Direct contact: studienberatung@phil.uni-goettingen.de



• The subject advisory of the respective subjects:
  if you have specific questions about individual subjects.
  
  

Information and introductory offers before studying: Offers from the Central Student Advisory Service

Links

• Study Advisory Service of the Faculty »
• Subject Advisory Service for the Subjects »
• Offers of the Central Student Advisory Service »
• Virtual Study Orientations »

Studying in a mono-subject Bachelor's programme means that you only study one subject. A classic example here would be Ancient Cultures. There are currently three mono-subject Bachelor's degree programmes at the Faculty of Humanities: Ancient Cultures, World Literature and East Asian Studies/Modern Sinology.


In the two-subject Bachelor's degree, two subjects are studied equally. Except for the subjects of East Asian Studies, all subjects can be combined with each other. Combination with subjects from other faculties within the framework of the two-subject Bachelor's degree is also possible. Possible subjects include, for example, political science, law, economics or computer science. You can find more information here.

Links

• Structure of the mono-subject Bachelor’s degree at the Faculty of Humanities »
• Structure of the two-subject Bachelor’s degree at the Faculty of Humanities »

You can find information on this page Glossary - Studies at the Faculty of Humanities.

Many of our seminars and institutes have partnerships with foreign universities and support you in organising a semester abroad. In addition, the department Göttingen International offers a wide range of information and assistance for all students who would like to go abroad independently or, for example, through the DAAD programmes.

Links

• Important Links for Outgoings »
• Our Partner Universities and Programmes »
• Department Göttingen International »

It is often the case that the first in the family to want to study have many questions about studying that parents and siblings cannot answer. Sometimes family members also cannot understand why one chooses to study humanities or cultural studies. Our study advisors are happy to answer any questions you may have.

There are barriers in studying that can make it difficult for students to achieve their goals: With its diversity strategy, the University of Göttingen pursues the goal of offering all students equal opportunities and protection against discrimination.
Information and counselling options on studying with a disability, chronic illness, care or nursing responsibilities can be found here.

Thank you for choosing to study with us!
You can find all information about application and enrolment (e.g. deadlines, admission requirements and admission restrictions) here.

What are admission requirements and restrictions?
In subjects with restricted admission, only a certain number of places is available. As a rule, the grade of your higher education entrance qualification decides whether you get a place or not. The waiting period you have already completed also plays a role in the allocation of study places.
For admission-free degree programmes you do not have to apply separately, but can enrol directly online.

You can find out whether a subject has admission restrictions or is free of admission in the respective degree programme description, in the chapter 'application': degree programme portal
In the case of subjects with restricted admission, you will also find further information on the numerus clausus (NC) and the selection procedure.

In addition, some subjects have special admission requirements, such as language skills, which you must prove. You will also find this information in the programme description.

Please also note the respective application and enrolment deadlines. You can find more information here: application and enrolment