Study African Studies, Pre-Columbian American Studies in Germany

African studies and pre-Columbian American studies are interdisciplinary study programmes that combine aspects from linguistics, the social sciences, and cultural studies. This combination is intended to help you form a comprehensive picture of these regional cultures and their legacies.

African studies and pre-Columbian American studies comprise:

• African philologies
• African studies
• Pre-Columbian American philologies
• Pre-Columbian American studies

In African studies, you will study the languages, cultures, history, politics, and religions of the African continent. Depending on the university and the programme, specialisations are possible, for example, in certain African languages or in certain population groups.

Pre-Columbian American studies focus on the indigenous societies of the American continent, especially on those of Latin America, such as the Aztecs, Mayas, and Incas. Research from ethnology, ethnography, archaeology, and ethnohistory contributes to analysing the history of indigenous America in depth.

A good knowledge of English is often required; a basic knowledge of Spanish can be of advantage, especially for pre-Columbian American studies. In general, you should have a talent for languages or an interest in new languages in order to learn them better.

You will mostly find degree programmes in African and Pre-Columbian American Studies at universities and not at universities of applied sciences. First and foremost, you need a university entrance qualification or an equivalently recognised qualification. Admission restrictions in the form of a numerus clausus (NC), i.e. a minimum grade, are rare, although local admission procedures are possible. You will often have to prove a certain level of English for admission; sometimes knowledge of a second foreign language is only desired.

Typically, Bachelor’s degree programmes take six semesters and Master’s degree programmes four. At many universities, you also have the option of completing the degree with a major subject plus a minor subject of your choice, or as a mono-study programme or as a two-subject programme. However, not all universities offer all these options; so it’s best to research this in advance on the homepage of your chosen university. By the way, while you’re on the homepage, it’s also worth taking a look at the programme contents and module plans – the universities can differ considerably. Maybe certain contents match your interests better than others!

A pre-study internship is usually not expected. Instead, you usually get practical insights into possible occupational fields and learned study contents during your studies: Study periods abroad, internships, field research and excursions are often part of the degree programme. This way you can put your theoretical knowledge – and sometimes also the relevant languages – directly into practice.

Since the courses of study in these subjects are predominantly offered at public universities, tuition fees are usually waived. This means that you don’t have to pay anything for your studies. However, there are a few costs: The semester contributions are charged by the universities per semester. They vary from university to university but are usually between 100 and 400 euros. These contributions pay for the student union, for example, but usually also for your ticket for local public transport. Depending on where you study, this may be valid for the city, the region or even for all of Germany. Ask your higher education institution whether such an offer is currently available.

But the biggest cost item is usually rent. Here, too, there are major differences in Germany: large cities and those that are popular with students are significantly more expensive. If your budget is tight, it’s worth comparing average rent payments in cities that offer similar degree programmes. Nevertheless, student halls of residence or shared apartments are always good ways to save some money! As soon as you have decided on where you want to study, you should start looking, as halls of residence can fill up quickly. Here, you can find information on local halls of residence and the respective application process for most cities.

The rest of your expenses depend entirely on your personal lifestyle. However, you can top up your budget with BAföG (if certain conditions are met) or a working student job! To finance your studies in Germany, you should also find out about scholarships. There are many different scholarship programmes and excellent grades are not the only deciding factor. You can learn more about scholarships here and find suitable programmes directly on My GUIDE.

Since your studies won’t train you for a specific profession, it can depend very much on your additional qualifications and specialisations as to which professional field you end up in. A certain amount of time and patience in the job search is certainly also an advantage.

Graduates of a degree programme in African studies or pre-Columbian American studies may find work in cultural institutions such as museums and galleries, in journalism or the publishing industry, tourism, research, politics, or administration. For example, you can apply to join the diplomatic service or work as a consultant in business enterprises where cultural and local knowledge is required.

However, positions in development cooperation and aid, public relations or adult education are also conceivable. Depending on how well and in which language you were able to specialise during your studies, you can also work in translation or interpreting.

As you can see, there are many different doors open to you, with most graduates likely to end up at the intersection of international and intercultural issues. Depending on the industry, the starting salary you can expect varies greatly.