Language and Media Studies

You can pursue the Language and Media Studies programme entirely in English, but some courses are also offered in German.

This programme refines your international profile, benefiting from Viadrina’s strategic position at the interface of Eastern and Western Europe, and thus providing a distinctive pan-European perspective.

You have the option to select the interdisciplinary elective “Central and East European Studies,” gaining insights into the history, cultures, societies and literatures of Central and Eastern Europe. By choosing this elective for both elective modules, you can develop an additional specialisation and receive a corresponding certificate upon graduation.

We offer extensive study abroad opportunities at over 250 partner universities worldwide. At the Viadrina, nearly every second student is from abroad. This fosters an international community made of multilingualism, diverse perspectives and dynamic interaction.

The Language and Media Studies programme will give you insights into different academic cultures, enhance your language skills and prepare you to navigate international contexts in a confident manner. During your studies, you will establish a valuable international personal and professional network.

We are committed to being a university defined by short distances and direct interactions. Our excellent study and learning conditions ensure that, as a student, you remain in personal contact with our researchers. Teaching and research are conducted in an open atmosphere within small learning communities. From the programme-specific student advisory service to the Career Center, a wide range of advisory services is available to support you with any questions and challenges you may encounter during your studies.

The Language and Media Studies programme offers in-depth academic expertise for analysing audiovisual, digital, and linguistic phenomena within modern societies. It also provides you with practical skills in multimodal linguistic and audiovisual text and media design, with a particular emphasis on digital contexts.

This programme prepares you for a professional career as well as for pursuing further academic studies, such as a PhD.

The Language and Media Studies programme preares you for a range of professional fields nationally and internationally, including:

• Coaching, especially in intercultural environments
• Communication and writing consultancy
• Communication in public institutions and companies
• Higher education management
• Information design
• Marketing
• Project management
• Public relations and journalism
• Publishing houses
• Research and academia
• Social media management

Professional requirements

To enroll in the Language and Media Studies programme, candidates must possess a first professionally qualifying degree comprising at least 180 ECTS credits. This degree must include relevant achievements worth at least 30 ECTS credits in linguistics, media studies or humanities (e.g. linguistics, media studies, communication studies, journalism, cultural studies, aesthetics).

To assess the relevance of the 30 ECTS, candidates must provide a transcript of records endorsed by their university.

Language requirements

All students must demonstrate English proficiency at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). We accept the following certificates:

• UNIcert II
• TOEFL (IBT): Minimum 80 points
• Cambridge Advanced or Proficiency: Minimum 176 points
• IELTS (Academic): Minimum score of 6.5

The programme’s academic manager evaluates and may recognise additional language certificates.

German language skills are not required upon enrolment but are beneficial for participating in German-language courses offered in the programme.

Additional information for the double degree with the University Paris 3

Please note that applications for the international double degree programme “Multimodality – Discourse – Media,” in collaboration with the Université Sorbonne Nouvelle – Paris 3, are only possible for the winter semester.

In addition to English proficiency at the B2 level, applicants for the double degree programme are required to demonstrate French proficiency at least at the level of UNIcert I or B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

In addition to the general application documents, applicants for the double degree programme must submit the following materials:

• Letter of motivation
• CV

Admission to this study course is open. A place in the program is available to anyone who meets the requirements for the degree program and enrolls within the deadlines.

The enrollment is done online in viaCampus. The required documents have to be uploaded to the system.

Application for the 1st subject semester is possible in each semester.
Application for higher subject semester is possible in each semester.

For enrolment in higher subject semesters, the following requirement for classification confirmation must also be fulfilled.

Questions regarding classification confirmation and study planning can be clarified with the Study course related advisory service.

For further information on enrolment, please visit our page "Application and Enrolment".

Whether you want to complete one of our study programmes and graduate with an academic degree from the European University Viadrina or whether you are planning a one- or two-semester stay abroad as part of our exchange programmes with us at the Viadrina - we warmly welcome you.

For important information to make enrolment, arrival and settling in easier, follow the link to our page:

Admissions Office: Advice on the application and enrolment process
Central Student Advisory Service: further advice on starting your studies (housing, financing, arriving)
Viadrina International Affairs: specific information and advice for prospective students from abroad

The introductory module provides a comprehensive foundation in linguistics and media studies.

Subsequently, you will select two specialisation modules (“topics”) from the following options:

• Aesthetics and Audio-visual Media
• Language and the Body
• Language and Media Cultures
• Language and Society

During the course of your studies, you will enhance these specialisations by selecting two elective modules. You have the following options:

• specialising in one of your topics from the core curriculum
• the fourth topic from the core curriculum
• the interdisciplinary electives:
• Central and East European Studies
• Cultural History
• Gender and Queer Studies
• Philosophy and Arts in Times of Crises
• the Language and Practice module, in which you can enhance your practical experience and/or foreign language skills. You have the opportunity to learn a modern European foreign language, with all language courses at Viadrina Language Centre offered free of charge. Alternatively, you can build practice-related skills by completing an internship, attending courses on practical skills, or obtaining additional certificates.

The research module is a key component of the Language and Media Studies programme. In this module, you will work in small groups to develop your own research project under the close supervision of lecturers over three semesters, culminating in your Master’s thesis. Through this project and with continuous support, you will learn to apply your acquired knowledge to theoretical, empirical and practice-oriented questions.

In the concluding phase of your studies, you will complete a Master’s thesis on a topic of your choice, followed by an oral examination (final colloquium).