The MA in German is an academic graduate programme which prepares students for careers requiring specialist knowledge of the German language, German literature and German-speaking cultures.
The programme is 120 ECTS and is organised as two years of full-time study.
The programme is made up of:
Courses are taught in German unless otherwise stated.
Students are expected to take part in the programme (generally 30-60 ECTS) at one of UI's partner universities abroad, but must take certain mandatory courses and write their final thesis at the University of Iceland.
After completing the programme, students should, for example:
A Master's degree in German allows you to apply for doctoral studies.
BA-degree in German with average grade first class and a BA-thesis.
120 ECTS have to be completed for the qualification. Students are expected to complete a part of their studies (as a general rule 30-60 ECTS) at one or more partner universities abroad but to complete certain mandatory courses and write their Master’s thesis at the University of Iceland. The lacking ECTS credits are obtained by taking free elective courses in German or other subjects at the University of Iceland (see course list below; students are permitted, in consultation with the German teaching staff, to obtain up to 20 ECTS in other subjects in addition to the interdisciplinary courses DET710F and DET802F).
Further information on supporting documents can be found here
Check below to see how the programme is structured.
This programme does not offer specialisations.
Goal of the course is to provide an overview of German cultural history from Bach to present age. The history of ideas will be described through the prism of literature, music, art, and science, and the interdisciplinary nature of the relationship between these areas will be the basis of analysis. Certain thinkers, poets and artists are highlighted as representative of specific currents (such as Baroque and Romanticism). Students will write an academic paper on a subject of their choice, but students of Applied Studies in German in Tourism and Communication may choose an assignment concerning the presentation of Icelandic culture to German-speaking audiences.
Those students who have already finished the course ÞÝS702F German and Intercultural Communication do not need to take this course, but students in the programme MA in German and MA in German Tourism and Communitation can take it as an elective course.
Goal of the course is to provide an overview of German cultural history from Bach to present age. The history of ideas will be described through the prism of literature, music, art, and science, and the interdisciplinary nature of the relationship between these areas will be the basis of analysis. Certain thinkers, poets and artists are highlighted as representative of specific currents (such as Baroque and Romanticism). Students will write an academic paper on a subject of their choice, but students of Applied Studies in German in Tourism and Communication may choose an assignment concerning the presentation of Icelandic culture to German-speaking audiences.
However, those students in the programme German Teaching, MA who have completed either ÞÝS702F German and Intercultural Communication or ÞÝS104F German Cultural History from Bach to Present Age do not take this course, whereas students in the programmes German, MA and Applied Studies in German in Tourism and Communication, MA can take this course as an elective course even if they have completed the above-mentioned courses.
Practical exercises in grammar, text analysis, writing and oral presentation for master students.
The translation of a selected text combined with text analysis, reflection of suitable translation methods and commentaries.
In this course there will be discussions about culture and literature in German speaking countries, focusing on tourism and media.
Training in various aspects of the writing and editing of scientific texts. Various kinds of texts (non-fiction) examined and evaluated. Training in reviewing and commenting on scientific texts and in other aspects of editorial work. The main emphasis will be on the writing of articles, but other kinds of texts will also be considered, both shorter (conference abstracts, reviews) and longer (theses, books), as well as research proposals. Discussion of guidelines for the preparation of manuscripts. Types of plagiarism and how to avoid them and find them. Texts on different subjects will be used as examples, especially writings in linguistics, literature and history. The book Skrifaðu bæði skýrt og rétt will be used as a textbook (Höskuldur Þráinsson 2015).
This course is open to students of many MA programmes in the School of Humanities, cf. the regulations of the individual subjects. Students in the MA programmes in Icelandic literature, Icelandic linguistics, Icelandic studies and Icelandic teaching can take the course as part of the MA course requirements in Icelandic literature or Icelandic linguistics. Students in the MA programme in Icelandic teaching can, however, not have this course as the only linguistics or literature course in their MA.
This course concerns the diverse connections between culture and language, as seen from the perspective of cultural history, social sciences and linguistics. Ancient and modern world languages will be introduced and their origins, influence and effects investigated. Written and spoken language will be discussed: what sorts of things are written, why and how? Rules and alternate perspectives on the nature of langauge will be considered, raising the question of how we understand man with respect to thought and language.
Introductory course in translation studies in which we will create a reader where important texts in the field are gathered. The most important theories of translation studies will be discussed and put into the context of contemporary discourse on translation with a view of seeing how they can be applied in research.
This course will be dedicated to the Computer Assisted Translation-technology available to translators. Students get an insight into the importance of translation memories, how humans and machines use these memories, and learn how to align text corpora to create language data and dictionaries. How to use online dictionaries, data bases and other online means. We will consider language policy, technical terms and neologisms. The translators working environment will be considered as well as skills that help freelancers get by in the gig-economy. It is hoped that experienced translators will contribute to the seminar. Students work on projects during class to prepare them for the home assignments.
The political system, history and culture of the German-speaking countries. It is assumed that students already have some basic knowledge of these fields.
The course deals with selected aspects of Icelandic and German on the basis of contrastive analysis and with a practical orientation.
The course will focus on deepening the knowledge about and the practical application of basic learning and teaching methods in German as a Foreign Language. The class will also look at how German teaching methodology in the new teaching approaches has changed and developed until now. These changes include new types of assignments, new approaches for testing and evaluation as well as a stronger emphasis on learners' articulation skills and, also, new approaches in intercultural and self-guided learning. To be discussed is also the question of which contents and methods most appeal to Icelandic students. The work in the course is based on group discussions, presentations and class discussion.
The translation of a selected text combined with text analysis, reflection of suitable translation methods and commentaries.
The European intellectual tradition is characterized by the strong links between academia and society. Many of the most important European thinkers of the 19th and 20th Centuries worked outside of the universities – and many of those who did pursue an ordinary academic career also were public commentators frequently intervening in political discussion of the day and in some cases gaining considerable influence. In this course we present a selection of European thinkers who have been important both as scholars and as public intellectuals. We read and discuss samples of their work and look at critical discussion of their ideas. We also reflect on the time and place of the "European" – to what extent their work is quinessentially Eurocentric and to what extent awareness of cultural contingency emerges.
The aim of this course is to make students familiar with new research and discourse in translation studies; regarding for example the role of translation in a globalized world; the function of the translator; the translating process and participants; pros and cons of new translation technology; social, political, cultural and linguistic impact of translation; historical research on translators archives etc.
In this course the major authors in the history of translation will be covered, from ancient times to modernity. Selected texts that have been highly influential, indeed reviolutionary at times, will be read, discussed and translated. A special focus will be on the argumentation and the argumentation structures of authors who translated similar or the same texts.
Students choose a summer course at a university or an approved language school in a German-speaking country on the advice of the German teachers. The course must be at level C1 or higher and, as a rule, cover at least 80 teaching units (of 45 minutes). The University of Iceland does not participate in the costs of attending the course.
The goal of this course is to give students an opportunity to present their theoretical knowledge and research to listeners of the Icelandic Public Broadcasting Service (Ríkisútvarpið). Students will be introduced to public radio as a medium and trained in radio programming and in presenting theoretical material in simple manners suitable for broadcasting in public radio.
MA-thesis in German.
MA-thesis in German.
Goal of the course is to provide an overview of German cultural history from Bach to present age. The history of ideas will be described through the prism of literature, music, art, and science, and the interdisciplinary nature of the relationship between these areas will be the basis of analysis. Certain thinkers, poets and artists are highlighted as representative of specific currents (such as Baroque and Romanticism). Students will write an academic paper on a subject of their choice, but students of Applied Studies in German in Tourism and Communication may choose an assignment concerning the presentation of Icelandic culture to German-speaking audiences.
Those students who have already finished the course ÞÝS702F German and Intercultural Communication do not need to take this course, but students in the programme MA in German and MA in German Tourism and Communitation can take it as an elective course.
Goal of the course is to provide an overview of German cultural history from Bach to present age. The history of ideas will be described through the prism of literature, music, art, and science, and the interdisciplinary nature of the relationship between these areas will be the basis of analysis. Certain thinkers, poets and artists are highlighted as representative of specific currents (such as Baroque and Romanticism). Students will write an academic paper on a subject of their choice, but students of Applied Studies in German in Tourism and Communication may choose an assignment concerning the presentation of Icelandic culture to German-speaking audiences.
However, those students in the programme German Teaching, MA who have completed either ÞÝS702F German and Intercultural Communication or ÞÝS104F German Cultural History from Bach to Present Age do not take this course, whereas students in the programmes German, MA and Applied Studies in German in Tourism and Communication, MA can take this course as an elective course even if they have completed the above-mentioned courses.
Practical exercises in grammar, text analysis, writing and oral presentation for master students.
The translation of a selected text combined with text analysis, reflection of suitable translation methods and commentaries.
In this course there will be discussions about culture and literature in German speaking countries, focusing on tourism and media.
Training in various aspects of the writing and editing of scientific texts. Various kinds of texts (non-fiction) examined and evaluated. Training in reviewing and commenting on scientific texts and in other aspects of editorial work. The main emphasis will be on the writing of articles, but other kinds of texts will also be considered, both shorter (conference abstracts, reviews) and longer (theses, books), as well as research proposals. Discussion of guidelines for the preparation of manuscripts. Types of plagiarism and how to avoid them and find them. Texts on different subjects will be used as examples, especially writings in linguistics, literature and history. The book Skrifaðu bæði skýrt og rétt will be used as a textbook (Höskuldur Þráinsson 2015).
This course is open to students of many MA programmes in the School of Humanities, cf. the regulations of the individual subjects. Students in the MA programmes in Icelandic literature, Icelandic linguistics, Icelandic studies and Icelandic teaching can take the course as part of the MA course requirements in Icelandic literature or Icelandic linguistics. Students in the MA programme in Icelandic teaching can, however, not have this course as the only linguistics or literature course in their MA.
This course concerns the diverse connections between culture and language, as seen from the perspective of cultural history, social sciences and linguistics. Ancient and modern world languages will be introduced and their origins, influence and effects investigated. Written and spoken language will be discussed: what sorts of things are written, why and how? Rules and alternate perspectives on the nature of langauge will be considered, raising the question of how we understand man with respect to thought and language.
Introductory course in translation studies in which we will create a reader where important texts in the field are gathered. The most important theories of translation studies will be discussed and put into the context of contemporary discourse on translation with a view of seeing how they can be applied in research.
This course will be dedicated to the Computer Assisted Translation-technology available to translators. Students get an insight into the importance of translation memories, how humans and machines use these memories, and learn how to align text corpora to create language data and dictionaries. How to use online dictionaries, data bases and other online means. We will consider language policy, technical terms and neologisms. The translators working environment will be considered as well as skills that help freelancers get by in the gig-economy. It is hoped that experienced translators will contribute to the seminar. Students work on projects during class to prepare them for the home assignments.
The political system, history and culture of the German-speaking countries. It is assumed that students already have some basic knowledge of these fields.
The course deals with selected aspects of Icelandic and German on the basis of contrastive analysis and with a practical orientation.
The course will focus on deepening the knowledge about and the practical application of basic learning and teaching methods in German as a Foreign Language. The class will also look at how German teaching methodology in the new teaching approaches has changed and developed until now. These changes include new types of assignments, new approaches for testing and evaluation as well as a stronger emphasis on learners' articulation skills and, also, new approaches in intercultural and self-guided learning. To be discussed is also the question of which contents and methods most appeal to Icelandic students. The work in the course is based on group discussions, presentations and class discussion.
The translation of a selected text combined with text analysis, reflection of suitable translation methods and commentaries.
The European intellectual tradition is characterized by the strong links between academia and society. Many of the most important European thinkers of the 19th and 20th Centuries worked outside of the universities – and many of those who did pursue an ordinary academic career also were public commentators frequently intervening in political discussion of the day and in some cases gaining considerable influence. In this course we present a selection of European thinkers who have been important both as scholars and as public intellectuals. We read and discuss samples of their work and look at critical discussion of their ideas. We also reflect on the time and place of the "European" – to what extent their work is quinessentially Eurocentric and to what extent awareness of cultural contingency emerges.
The aim of this course is to make students familiar with new research and discourse in translation studies; regarding for example the role of translation in a globalized world; the function of the translator; the translating process and participants; pros and cons of new translation technology; social, political, cultural and linguistic impact of translation; historical research on translators archives etc.
In this course the major authors in the history of translation will be covered, from ancient times to modernity. Selected texts that have been highly influential, indeed reviolutionary at times, will be read, discussed and translated. A special focus will be on the argumentation and the argumentation structures of authors who translated similar or the same texts.
Students choose a summer course at a university or an approved language school in a German-speaking country on the advice of the German teachers. The course must be at level C1 or higher and, as a rule, cover at least 80 teaching units (of 45 minutes). The University of Iceland does not participate in the costs of attending the course.
The goal of this course is to give students an opportunity to present their theoretical knowledge and research to listeners of the Icelandic Public Broadcasting Service (Ríkisútvarpið). Students will be introduced to public radio as a medium and trained in radio programming and in presenting theoretical material in simple manners suitable for broadcasting in public radio.
MA-thesis in German.
MA-thesis in German.
The timetable shown below is for the current academic year and is FOR REFERENCE ONLY.
Changes may occur for the autumn semester in August and September and for the spring semester in December and January. You will find your final timetable in Ugla when the studies start. Note! This timetable is not suitable for planning your work schedule if you are a part-time employee.
The University of Iceland collaborates with over 400 universities worldwide. This provides a unique opportunity to pursue part of your studies at an international university thus gaining added experience and fresh insight into your field of study.
Students generally have the opportunity to join an exchange programme, internship, or summer courses. However, exchanges are always subject to faculty approval.
Students have the opportunity to have courses evaluated as part of their studies at the University of Iceland, so their stay does not have to affect the duration of their studies.
This qualification can open up opportunities in:
This list is not exhaustive.
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