Verona, Ponte Pietra. © Unsplash, Patrick Pahlke

Double-Degree Option with the Università di Verona

Studying at two universities with a focus on applied linguistics and receiving two degrees

Applications can be submitted
at the University of Konstanz from 9 May to 15 June,
or at the University of Verona from mid-July to 31 July.

General information

The Department of Linguistics at the University of Konstanz and the Department of Linguistics at the University of Verona offer a double-degree programme in Linguistics. Students study one year at and receive a master's degree from each university. The double-degree option provides students with advanced knowledge of linguistics in both its theoretical and applied aspects from two institutions known form outstanding research and teaching.

Every academic year, each institution grants access to up to five students to this programme. Students spend their first year at the institution at which they gained access (home university) and their second year at the partner institution (host university). The programme is taught in English at both universities, with only elective courses taught in other languages. For their year at the host university, students can apply for a mobility grant from the Erasmus+ programme.

Benefits

  • Diplomas from two top universities
  • Preparation for an academic or non-academic career
  • Highly qualified professors and teaching staff
  • More courses to select from
  • Small seminars with a friendly atmosphere
  • International peers
  • An extended social network
  • Mobility grant from the Erasmus+ programme

Outline of the study programme

The double-degree option is a study option within the master's programme Linguistics at each of the two universities. In Konstanz, when applying for access to the master's programme Linguistics, students must choose among several possible areas of specialization, one of which is the Double-Degree Option with the Università di Verona. In the two-year master's programme (four semesters), students obtain 120 ECTS credits (cr) in total and, starting in the winter semester, spend their first year at their home university and their second year at their host university. During the first academic year, students must obtain a minimum of 40 cr. Throughout their studies, students receive support from the academic and administrative staff at both universities, and lecturers from both universities also supervise students working on their master's thesis.

Modular structure of courses to be taken as a student of the double-degree-option with the University of Verona

Organization

Exemplary study plans (start in Konstanz or Verona)

Exemplary study plan, start in Konstanz
for students with Konstanz as their home university

Semester 1 (30 cr, University of Konstanz, winter)

  • Core components, 9 cr, 1 course in Module 1
  • Methods, 6 cr, 1 course in Module 2
  • Language change, 9 cr, 1 course in Module 4
  • Additional courses, 6 cr, course(s) in Module 6

Semester 2 (33 cr, University of Konstanz, summer)

  • Core components, 9 cr, 1 course in Module 1
  • Methods, 6 cr, 1 course in Module 2
  • Applied linguistics, 18 cr, 2 courses in Module 5

Semester 3 (30 cr, University of Verona, winter)

  • Additional courses, 12 cr, courses in Module 6
  • Structure, 18 cr, courses in Module 3

Semester 4 (27 cr, University of Verona, summer)

  • Additional course, 3 cr, course in Module 6
  • Research, master's thesis and oral examination, 24 cr, thesis/exam in Module 7

Exemplary study plan, start in Verona
for students with Verona as their home university

Semester 1/2 (choose courses for 60 cr, University of Verona, winter and summer)

  • Levels of linguistic analysis, Morpho-syntax, Semantics and pragmatics, Italian linguistics, 6 cr (L-LIN/01, L-FIL-LET/12, see Module 1 in Konstanz)
  • Information technology, Statistics for the humanities, 6 cr (INF/01, SECS-S/01, see Module 2 in Konstanz)
  • Comparative Germanic syntax, or English, Spanish, French or Russian linguistics, 9 cr (L-Lin/14, L-Lin/12, L-Lin/07, L-Lin/04, L-Lin/21, see Module 3 in Konstanz)
  • Ancient Anatolian linguistics and philology, Romance philology, Germanic philology, Slavic philology, Psychology and cognitive sciences, 6 cr (L-OR/04, L-FIL-LET/09, L-FIL-LET/15, L-LIN/21, M-PSI/01, see Module 5 in Konstanz)
  • Language learning, 12 cr (L-Lin/02, see Module 5 in Konstanz)
  • Argumentation and communication, Semiotics, Textual scholarship and editorial techniques, Philosophy of science, 6 cr (M-FIL/01, L-LIN/01, L-FIL-LET/13, M-FIL/02, see Modules 2 and 6 in Konstanz)
  • Further language skills, other (elective) activities, 3 cr (see Module 6 in Konstanz)

Semester 3 (30 cr, University of Konstanz, winter, course categories depending on previous course choices)

  • Language change, 9 cr, 1 course in Module 4
  • Applied linguistics, 18 cr, 2 courses in Module 5
  • Additional course, 3 cr, course in Module 6

Semester 4 (30 cr, University of Konstanz, summer)

  • Additional courses, 6 cr, course(s) in Module 6
  • Research, master's thesis and oral examination, 24 cr, thesis/exam in Module 7

Application / access requirements

  • Certificate of completion of an undergraduate degree in the humanities, including a detailed description of your coursework and performance assessments, with a minimum of 6 cr in the field of general and/or historical linguistics: The grade point average of the bachelor’s degree should at least correspond to the German grade 2.5 or Italian 93 of 110. If you have not received your examination certificate by the application deadline, please attach documentation of all performance assessments that you have completed so far and that are relevant for the calculation of your final grade.
  • Documentation of advanced language skills in English (spoken and written), at least at Level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR): The certificate of the University Language Centre is acceptable for students from the University of Verona.
  • An application letter in English to demonstrate your suitability and motivation for the study programme (at most 1 page)
  • A current certificate of enrolment or proof of exmatriculation: If you have studied at a German university, please indicate your 'Fachsemester’ and ‘Hochschulsemester’.

Please mind the information on access requirements and application documents provided on the central page about the study programme.

International applicants

  • If your documents are not available in German or English, you need to upload translations along with the original versions. Before or when you enrol, you have to submit the translations (by sworn or state-recognized translators) in person or by post, either in the original or as an officially certified copy.
  • Applicants from China, India and Vietnam need to submit an APS certificate (original) issued by the German Embassy of their home country.

How to apply

  1. Register for the application portal ZEuS.
  2. Have the documents listed above ready.
  3. Fill in the online application form and upload your application documents on ZEuS.

You can see the current status of your application on ZEuS ("my application").

For students starting in Verona: what happens before you enrol in Konstanz

If you have gained access to the double-degree programme at the University of Verona, you still have to submit the documents specified above and run the regular application process in Konstanz during the regular application period preceding your second year of study. Technically, you seek access into a higher semester of a study programme, in order to register in the local systems and because our administration is required to document your eligibility. However, the International Office of the University of Konstanz (IO) will normally contact you even before you need to 'apply' (in the sense just described):

While you are eligible for Erasmus+ funding from your home university, you are not an Erasmus+ exchange student, but your status at the University of Konstanz is that of an international degree-seeking student. Since you, unlike other international degree-seeking students, are already enrolled in a double-degree programme, staff in Konstanz are notified of your pending arrival in advance (i.e. you are nominated by the person in charge of your programme at the University of Verona). Thus you can expect the IO to reach out to you by e-mail, usually at the beginning of May, and provide you with important information, for instance on accommodation, welcome programmes, or how to get a visa if you need one.