Historical comparative linguistics/Indo-European Linguisticsfull time

Degree
Master of Arts
Master
Standard period of study (amount)
4 semesters
Location
Marburg

Overview and admission

Study Type

graduate

Admission semester

Summer and Winter Semester

Area of study
  • Comparative Linguistics
  • Indo-European Studies
Focus

Comprehensive training in historical-comparative (Indo-European) linguistics, Specialisation in Anatolian (Hittite) Studies and in typological-comparative linguistics

Target group

Graduates of a specialised relevant Bachelor's degree in the area of linguistics and cultural sciences with a substantial specialist module content in historical-comparative linguistics (amounting to at least 60 credit points) or proof of a comparable German or international professionally qualifying degree.

Annotation

Historical-comparative linguistics is a linguistic discipline that uses both philological and comparative methods to investigate the origin and development of Indo-European languages. It is therefore also called Indo-Germanic Studies or Comparative Indo-Germanic Linguistics. The special Marburg profile of the degree programme is based, in addition to working with language material from different languages, on a close interweaving of language historical, language typological and philological issues: In the course of the four semesters, you will therefore not only study the four central areas of historical grammar (phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics), but also acquire in-depth knowledge of the Indo-Germanic individual languages and the basic language, as well as precise knowledge and application competence of the methodology of reconstruction. In addition, you will acquire philological competence in a branch of language that enables us to access new language material from the lore and improve our knowledge of synchronic and diachronic aspects of the respective language system. The course of study also includes a proportion of interdisciplinary modules and courses. Here you can choose from a wide range of subjects, e.g. Prehistory, Latin and Greek Studies, Celtic Studies, Indo-Tibetology or Semitic and Ancient Oriental Studies, which are taught at the Marburg Centre for Near and Middle Eastern Studies (CNMS) alongside other languages. The individual modules are generally designed so that they can be completed in one semester. This gives you the opportunity to spend part of your course of studies abroad. The academic internship offers you the opportunity to deepen your didactic and professional skills as a seminar leader. The Marburg M.A. Comparative Historical Linguistics is a more research-oriented degree programme. From the first semester on, you are encouraged to pursue your own research questions or participate in research projects. The research focus of Marburg Indo-European Studies is on the linguistic systems of the Old Anatolian language family and on the historical-comparative analysis and typological classification of these languages.

Admission modus

Without admission restriction

More information regarding admission requirements

Lecture period
  • 22.04.2025 - 25.07.2025
  • 13.10.2025 - 13.02.2026

Application deadlines

Summer semester (2025)
Winter semester (2025/2026)

Tuition fees

Tuition fees

There are currently no tuition fees in the state of Hesse!

Languages of instruction

Main language

German

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