German-French Studies

A 4-semester bilingual Master of Arts in German-French Studies (Deutsch-Französische Studien), a joint degree programme between the University of Bonn (Germany) and Sorbonne Université (Paris, France), affiliated with the Franco-German University (FGU/DFH). Students split their studies between Bonn and Paris, earning a joint/double degree from both universities. The programme combines advanced German and French philology, cultural studies, literature, linguistics, and intercultural communication. Studies are conducted in both languages; near-native proficiency in both German and French is required.

Academic requirements

Deadline: Application period from mid May until end of August Exact application dates can be found here.

Minimum GPA

No minimum GPA threshold stated. Both universities evaluate academic qualifications and language skills holistically. Strong academic background in bilingual philology or literature studies is expected.

German requirements

Very high German proficiency required (near-native). Minimum DSH-2 or TestDaF TDN 4 as a formal requirement; in practice C2-level German (or German as a native language) is expected since studies are conducted fully in German at Bonn. Accepted proofs: DSH-2 or higher, TestDaF TDN 4 or higher, German Abitur, C2 certificate from the Goethe-Institut. Very high French proficiency (C1 or above) is also required — see programme_objectives for dual-language requirement.

Accepted bachelor fields

Bachelor's degree in German studies (Germanistik), French/Romance studies, comparative literature, or a closely related field with strong language qualifications in both German and French. Equivalent teacher training qualifications may be considered. Subject-specific prerequisites assessed by both Bonn and Sorbonne admission committees.

APS Certificate

required

Thesis required

Yes

Mandatory internship

No mandatory internship. Optional practical experience in cultural organisations or publishing may be possible in semester 3.

Tuition fee

University of Bonn is a public NRW university: no tuition fees (only semester contribution approx. €400/semester in Bonn, including NRW Semesterticket). Note: French state universities (including Sorbonne Université) charge tuition for non-EU students during the semesters spent in Paris: approximately €3,770 per year for Master's level (2026 French national rates for non-EU). Total costs depend on allocation of semesters at each institution. Indian students should budget for both Bonn (no tuition) and Sorbonne (non-EU tuition) semesters.

Semester contribution

The University of Bonn is a public university, meaning that it does not charge tuition fees. However, all students must pay the so-called social contribution (semester fee) of about 330 EUR per semester. It includes a student transit pass for public transport and a statutory accident insurance, among other things. In France, the semester contribution is approx. 400 EUR per semester. However, students are exempt from this fee during their year abroad.

ECTS credits

120

Funding info

Tuition: University of Bonn is a public NRW university: no tuition fees (only semester contribution approx. €400/semester in Bonn, including NRW Semesterticket). Note: French state universities (including Sorbonne Université) charge tuition for non-EU students during the semesters spent in Paris: approximately €3,770 per year for Master's level (2026 French national rates for non-EU). Total costs depend on allocation of semesters at each institution. Indian students should budget for both Bonn (no tuition) and Sorbonne (non-EU tuition) semesters. Semester contribution: The University of Bonn is a public university, meaning that it does not charge tuition fees. However, all students must pay the so-called social contribution (semester fee) of about 330 EUR per semester. It includes a student transit pass for public transport and a statutory accident insurance, among other things. In France, the semester contribution is approx. 400 EUR per semester. However, students are exempt from this fee during their year abroad.

Graduates pursue careers in cultural diplomacy, international organisations (particularly in Franco-German contexts), publishing, journalism, cultural management, academic research, translation and interpreting, education, and public administration in Germany and France. The double degree is highly valued in Franco-German cultural institutions and the EU.