Study Regional Studies in Germany

The field of study regional studies deals with issues concerning the culture, literature, history, politics, society, and economy within a specific region as well as in comparison to other regions. In your studies, you will become familiar with linguistic, social, economic, and historical basics and methods in order to analyse the past and present of the respective region. In this way, you will be able to examine developments and transformational processes, the effects of events, and the connections between different aspects of the region.

The field of study regional studies comprises the following subject areas:

• Asian studies
• Australia and Oceania
• European studies
• Islamic studies
• Latin American studies
• North American studies

The above-mentioned areas, as well as other specialisations such as the media or the political structures of a region, offer many opportunities to choose the primary focus of your studies. You should therefore make sure that the programmes and specialisations offered by a particular higher education institution match your individual interests.

Since courses of study in this field deal with the specifics of different regions of the world, prior knowledge of and enthusiasm for the region that is the focus of your degree programme is desirable but does not have to be proven.

Many degree programmes require language skills with a level of at least B2 according to the European Framework of Reference in a relevant language (English, Spanish, Arabic, French, Mandarin, Japanese, etc.). At most higher education institutions, however, this knowledge can also be acquired in the context of intensive language courses immediately before studying or during the first semesters. The predominantly English-language degree programmes are an exception. Depending on the type of degree, advanced English skills of at least B2.2 to C1 are required.

In Germany, you must have a higher education entrance qualification or an equivalent qualification in order to study. You can study regional studies at the Bachelor’s level at many higher education institutions without admission restrictions. This means that a simple enrolment is sufficient. Some higher education institutions require a certain NC, i.e. grade point average after graduation, or an internal admission procedure to limit the number of students.

If you want to study regional studies in a Master’s programme, you should have successfully completed a Bachelor’s programme corresponding to the subject and also have in-depth language skills. Here, too, it is sometimes possible to acquire the language qualification at the beginning of the Master’s programme.

The first semesters focus on basic knowledge of religion, economics and society of the region and on practical language training. Later, students can specialise further within in-depth modules.

The standard period of study for a Bachelor’s programme in regional studies is between six and eight semesters. Master’s programmes are designed for two to four semesters. Students are advised, and in some cases required, to undertake a practical or student placement in a relevant country as part of their studies. The main purpose of this is to provide students with further expertise and a feel for the respective region.

Some degree programmes are offered with an international double degree. This means that you complete part of your studies at a partner higher education institution and can thus acquire a German and an international degree.

Studying regional studies in Germany is usually free of charge when you study at a public higher education institution. However, you usually have to pay a semester contribution to cover administrative costs and the student union. Sometimes your semester contribution covers a ticket for local public transport or you can purchase a discounted ticket. 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.

Rents vary depending on the city you want to study in. In large cities, housing is often scarce and expensive, while in smaller cities it is comparatively affordable. In any case, student halls of residence are usually your cheapest option. 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.

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.

If you plan to study abroad or spend a semester abroad, you may incur higher costs despite funding programmes and cooperation agreements.

Due to their linguistic and region-specific expertise, graduates are employed in intercultural communication, development cooperation, political consultancy as well as in the cultural and tourism sectors. Work in editorial offices and media houses as well as in publishing are also among the possible fields of work. Work assignments at home as well as abroad are possible.

Due to a large number of opportunities, the chances of finding a job directly after graduating and especially after completing a Master’s programme can be described as good. Due to the diversity of potential positions, the possible starting salaries also vary widely.