Applied Cultural and Translation Studies (German-Polish) | Angewandte Kultur- und Translationsstudien (Deutsch-Polnisch) University of Potsdam

Maria Curie-Skłodowska University Lublin (UMCS)

The teaching languages are Polish (50%) and German (50%).

Participants can choose to write the Bachelor's thesis in either language.

In cooperation with the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University of Lublin (UMCS), the University of Potsdam (UP) offers a German-Polish Bachelor's programme with a profile in cultural and translation studies that is unique in both Germany and Poland.

The course of study conveys a broad spectrum of specialist knowledge in the fields of cultural, literary, linguistic and translation studies. Special consideration is given to inter- and transcultural processes in German-Polish language and cultural contact, including translation as cultural transfer and media practice. A variety of practical language and translation exercises (including simultaneous interpreting, audiovisual translation, dubbing) underscore the vocational orientation of the programme. In seminars on techniques of translation and interpreting in the field of media (e.g. film) as well as of tourism, museums and memorials, the field of language-related contexts is expanded, and at the same time, opportunities for professional specialisation are opened up. The study programme also includes short-term internships in Potsdam/Berlin and Lublin.

Graduates of the programme are offered professional perspectives as professional translators and interpreters (consecutive/simultaneous), who are specialised in the fields of tourism, tourist guidance, memorial and museum education, intercultural work and media (audiovisual translation, film subtitling and literary translation). Furthermore, due to their intercultural competences, they are very well prepared for a career in the international cultural sector, political organisations and associations as well as in the free market economy in the German-Polish border region.

Graduates of the course receive a degree from both universities (double degree).

The programme has been funded by the DAAD since the 2020/21 winter semester. This funding comprises six full scholarships of 1,025 EUR per month for the eleven-month study abroad period at the University of Lublin as well as comprehensive support from a coordinator during the entire study period.

Additional information about the dates and deadlines can be found here.

Information about the application deadlines can be found here.

The study programme is optimally structured at both universities. It is explicitly designed to promote intercultural skills. The joint programme combines the strengths of the profile foci in the teaching of both partner institutes: cultural studies (Chair of Polish Studies in Potsdam) and translation studies and practice (German Studies and Applied Linguistics Department in Lublin). The central focus is on the acquisition of a high level of language competence through intensive language and translation practice training as well as one year of study abroad. In Lublin, state-of-the-art language laboratories are available for consecutive and simultaneous as well as digitally supported interpreting and translating.

In the practice-oriented course of study, seminars, project seminars and exercises predominate. Lectures are also offered in the fields of cultural studies and linguistics. There are introductory courses to literary and cultural studies in the first and second semesters. Furthermore, Polish students acquire language skills in German at level C1 and German students master Polish at level C1 at the end of the second semester. In the third to fifth semester, the focus of the course is on translation and interpreting. Here a number of modules have been designed exclusively for this course of study: translation as a cultural practice, translation/interpreting 1 and 2, tourism as an area of linguistic activity, and media as an area of linguistic activity. In the sixth semester, a deepening of cultural studies content and translational practice takes place in seminars and project seminars.

At the end of the second semester, students complete a four-week internship in Potsdam or Berlin in an institution or organisation that is active in the field of German-Polish cooperation. At the end of the fourth semester, they carry out the same kind of internship in Lublin.

More information can be found here.

The programme includes two integrated internships of at least four weeks. The first internship is to be completed at the end of the second semester, preferably at a cultural institution in the Berlin/Brandenburg region that is active in the field of German-Polish cultural exchange or at political organisations, publishing houses, media, museums, memorial sites with a German-Polish connection or a company in the field of German-Polish cooperation.

The second internship is carried out in Lublin at the end of the fourth semester in a translation agency or in a public institution (such as a museum, radio station, city administration, etc.). The purpose of the internship is to increase translation skills in areas directly and indirectly related to tourism and media.

No tuition fees

No tuition is charged for studying at the University of Potsdam (with the exception of a few continuing education courses). However, there is an administrative fee that includes a semester ticket entitling you to free use of public transport all over Brandenburg and Berlin as well as regional/local trains all over Germany. More information here

The average monthly living expenditures of students at the University of Potsdam are 935 EUR, but this can vary between 600 and 1,100 EUR, largely depending on accommodation. A more detailed list of the average monthly expenditures of our students can be found here.

All information about the academic admission requirements can be found here.

If you have any questions about the admission requirements, you can contact the departmental adviser at the Institute of Slavic Studies directly: www.uni-potsdam.de/de/slavistik/studium/studienorganisation/studienfachberatung

When applying for admission to or enrolment in the Bachelor's programme in Applied Cultural and Translation Studies – "Angewandte Kultur und Translationsstudien (deutsch-polnisch) / Polsko-niemieckie studia kulturowe i translatorskie" – special language competence in Polish at level B1 is required. You can either take an aptitude test in June or August or present equivalent proof. Then you will receive a certificate of equivalence.

For studies at the University of Potsdam, German language skills at level B2 are required.

You will complete the programme with a high level of language competence at level C2.

Information about the application deadlines can be found here.

The programme is funded by the "Integrated International Programmes with Double Degrees" DAAD programme. Students from Potsdam can be supported during their studies abroad in Lublin with a full scholarship of 1,025 EUR per month.

Job opportunities for students alongside their studies are numerous. Depending on personal and professional skills, students can find jobs in the service sector (e.g. in restaurants, supermarkets, cinemas, museums, theatres, etc.) or work as student research assistants at the University of Potsdam or at one of the many non-university research institutions located in the area. Berlin, the capital city of Germany, is located just around the corner, and students can also find jobs there. Please see this website for further information.

There are several student dormitories in Potsdam. These are administered exclusively by Brandenburg's Association for Student Affairs ("Studierendenwerk West:Brandenburg"). You can apply for a room in one of these dormitories if you are under the age of 30. If you are a Master's student, you can only apply if the degree at the University of Potsdam is your first Master's programme. Additionally, there are also a few private dormitories in Potsdam, to which these conditions do not apply. However, many students prefer to find an apartment in Potsdam or Berlin, which they often share with fellow students. The housing market is very tight, so please start looking for an accommodation as early as possible.

For information on how to register for a dorm room or find accommodation elsewhere, please click here.

The Career Service of the University of Potsdam supports students and graduates who want to actively shape their careers. The aim is to ensure comprehensive career orientation and to provide opportunities for the development of professional skills. The Career Service offers workshops, seminars, and individual counselling. There are information pages on a wide range of occupational fields as well as a database of internships and jobs. Many of the services are also available in English. For more info, visit https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/career-service

General services and support for international students: The International Office and the Central Student Advisory Service support international students in preparing for their studies and life in Potsdam.