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FAQ Application process

What fields are there?

Our M.A. programme offers six (6) fields of specialisation.

  • English Language and Linguistics
  • General Linguistics and Linguistic Diversity
  • German Linguistics
  • Language and Cognition
  • Romance Linguistics
  • Slavic Linguistics

Do I have to choose a field?

Yes! You have to apply to a specific field. 

When can I apply?

Applications are open starting 01.03.24!

  • If you are an international non-EU applicant, please submit your application by 15.07.24 at the latest.
  • If you an EU-applicant, please submit your application by 15.09.24 at the latest.

How much does application cost?

The application to the M.A. programme Linguistics – Language, Communication and Cognition is completely free of charge.

Can I apply to more than one field at a time?

Yes! You can apply to all six at once. The admission requirements are different depending on the field, so you might get an offer in some and rejection for others. If you get an offer for more than one field, you have to choose in which one you matriculate.

How can I apply?

The application is exclusively online. You can find a step-by-step tutorial here.

  • First, Register on the university’s application portal.
  • Log in and create an application.
  • Follow the instructions of the website to upload your documents.
  • Submit your application.

The portal asks for a German style grade, what do I enter?

Please enter the grade 0. We will convert your grade within the admission process.

What documents do I need for application?

You need the following documents:

  • The Transcript of Records of your bachelor’s.
  • Your bachelor’s diploma.
  • Translations of the above-mentioned documents if the originals are not in English, German, or French.
  • Adequate proof of the required language skills

I graduated but I don’t have my final diploma yet, can I apply?

Yes! In this case, you have to submit your interim documents if you have those. Otherwise please submit your most current Transcript of Records and a confirmation from your university that you already graduated. 

The application deadline is in July, but I graduate later, can I apply?

If you graduate by September at the latest, then yes, you can apply! in this case, please submit your most current Transcript of Records and a at least a confirmation from your university that you registered for your final thesis or that you will be graduating soon.

Do I need to have German skills?

It depends on the field of specialisation that you choose. These are the ones requiring German skills:

  • German Linguistics:
    • C2 German + B2 English
  • Language and Cognition:
    • B2 German + B2 English
  • Romance Linguistics:
    • B2 German + B2 English + B2 Romance Language
  • Slavic Linguistics:
    • B2 German + B2 English + B1 one of these languages: Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin, Serbian, Bulgarian, Polish, Russian, or Czech

What language level do I need to show?

It depends on the field of specialisation that you choose. You can find the detailed information here. 

What language certificates are accepted?

You can find the necessary information about which certificates are accepted depending on the language level you need to prove if you click here.

Are “medium of instruction” letters accepted as language proof?

Your “medium of instruction” letter might not be accepted depending on the field you are applying to and the required language level. Please refer to this webpage. 

What are the admission criteria?

You need to provide proof of at least 35 ECTS in linguistic subjects in order to be considered for admission. The following is considered: 

  • Sound knowledge of the structure of one or more languages, proven through classes in, for example, phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, etc.
  • Sound knowledge in at least one of these linguistic areas:
    • Linguistic action such as pragmatics, text linguistics, conversation analysis,
    • Linguistic variation and/or language change such as dialectology, sociolinguistics, historical linguistics
    • Language and cognition such as cognitive linguistics, psycholinguistics, neurolinguistics 

My university does not have ECTS, what do I do?

Submit your Transcript of Records as it is (with a translation if the original transcript is not in English, German, or French). The admissions committee will decide whether you meet the admission criteria based.

The application portal does not ask for my CV or motivation letter, what do I do?

Nothing! You do not need a CV or a motivation letter to apply to our program.

A good rule of thumb is: if the application portal does not ask you for it, you do not need to submit it.

Please only submit the requested documents and refrain from sending e-mails with additional documents, that only delays the process.

The portal is asking me for a transcript of records of a previous master’s degree, but I don’t have one, what do I do?

If the portal is asking you for this, you chose the wrong programme. Please discard this application and start a new one. Scroll down to “Linguistik – Sprache, Kommunikation und Kognition/Linguistics – Language, Communication and Cognition”. Hover your mouse over the options to be able to read the full title, then choose the field you would like to apply to.

The portal is asking me for proof of German language skills even though I am applying to one of the English-taught fields, what do I do?  

If the portal is asking you for this, you chose the wrong field. Please discard this application and start a new one. Scroll down to “Linguistik – Sprache, Kommunikation und Kognition/Linguistics – Language, Communication and Cognition”. Hover your mouse over the options to be able to read the full title, then choose the field you would like to apply to.

I want to submit additional documents or change a document, but my application status says “in Bearbeitung”. What should I do?

Feel free to send the documents in question via e-mail to studienkoordination(@)linguistik.uni-freiburg.de 

I submitted an online application; do I have to send documents by post?

You do NOT need to submit anything by post. The application is completely online. After submitting, you just have to wait.

The status of your application will change along with the process, so make sure to activate the e-mail notification. 

When will I know whether I am admitted or rejected? 

Please refrain from sending e-mails to ask about the status of your application. We cannot inform you about the status of your application during the admission process.

Please be patient.

I received an offer, what do I have to do?

Now you can matriculate. Your admission letter, that you can download from the application portal, will contain important information about matriculation such as your deadline etc.

You can find additional information here.