Oriental Studies
Oriental Studies (B.A.)
With Oriental Studies, you will immerse yourself in the history, religions, and languages of the Orient. Explore the rich literature and gain in-depth background knowledge for viewing current issues. From German words with Arabic origins to philosophical beginnings, the Orient holds countless secrets. Gain diverse perspectives on this cultural region through intensive Arabic study.
- Degree
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
- Duration of studies in semester
- 6
- Start of degree program
- Winter semester
- Study location
- Erlangen
- Number of students
- 1-50
- Subject group
- Language and Cultural Studies
- Special ways to study
- 2-subject Bachelor, Part-time degree program
- Teaching language
- completely in German
- Admission Requirements
- No Admissions Restrictions
What is the degree program about?
Beyond stereotypes, the subject of Oriental Studies aims to get to the bottom of things: The study of the history of the Islamic world, the religions of the Orient, the Oriental languages, and the rich literatures of this region is intended to provide a sound background knowledge for the consideration and understanding of historical and contemporary topics related to the Orient.
Much can be discovered in the process: That, for example, the German language contains many an Arabic loanword, that the Koran refers to biblical stories, that numerous inventions have their origins in the Orient, that the Orient has preserved for the world the knowledge of the beginnings of philosophy, etc. The basis for the study of the Orient in Oriental Studies in Erlangen is an intensive study of the Arabic language, the knowledge of which opens up a variety of perspectives on this cultural region.
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In the modularized two-subject bachelor’s degree program, Oriental Studies can be chosen either as a first subject or as a second subject. The first subject differs from the second subject in that a Bachelor’s thesis must be written and an eight-week language course abroad must be completed. Instead of the language course abroad, two translation courses can also be completed on site in Erlangen. In the first subject, the learning of a second oriental language is also obligatory, usually for two semesters. Regularly offered are: Turkish, Hebrew, Persian. Students in the first subject must complete nine modules and students in the second subject must complete eight modules (= teaching and learning units that are self-contained in terms of time and content, with examinations to accompany the course of study).
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The modules are
- Arabic I-IV
- History of the Islamic World
- Religions of the Orient
- second oriental language
- Arabic literature
- Arabic linguistics and dialectology.
During the first four semesters, students acquire a basic knowledge of the Arabic language and a broad base of fundamental knowledge in Oriental Studies. After the first year of study (i.e., after the second semester), students take a foundation and orientation exam, which is considered passed if they have successfully completed the two modules Arabic I and II. The second study phase (fifth and sixth semesters) is characterized by the deepening of methodological competence and language skills. Within the framework of the bachelor thesis, students are instructed in independent scientific work.
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- Curiosity for getting to know initially foreign cultural areas
- Interest in philological, historical and theological issues
- linguistic talent
- perseverance and pleasure in working intensively with texts
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The occupational fields presented here for graduates of the bachelor’s degree program in Oriental Studies represent only a small selection of potential fields of work, for example
- in the intercultural field at the intersection of business, politics and culture (tourism industry, public relations or in national and international institutions)
- in the field of administrations, associations and companies, especially at the intersection of Europe and the Middle East
- in development aid, economic and political consulting, security policy, migration and integration policy
- as a regional analyst for public institutions, private foundations, companies, banks and international organizations
- in foreign language teaching and political education
- (after further, in-depth studies) in research with specialization in one aspect of the subject
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When attending the seminars, constant cooperation, i.e. constant preparation and follow-up, is mandatory.
Arabic, the main language of this subject, is a fascinating but equally demanding language in many respects and requires intensive study.
In advanced study, intensive preparation time is to be expected when studying difficult foreign language texts. -
Degree program combinations
- Archaeological Sciences
- Art History
- Business and Economics
- English and American Studies
- French Roman Studies
- German studies
- Greek Philology
- History
- Indo-European and Indo-Iranian Studies
- Italian Romance Studies
- Japanese Studies
- Latin Philology
- Medieval Latin and Neo-Latin
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Scandinavian Studies (BA)
- Sociology
- Theater and Media Studies
Das Lehrangebot dieser Kombination ist so aufeinander abgestimmt, dass die Fächer in der Regel überschneidungsfrei miteinander kombiniert werden können.
Limited degree program combinations
- Book Studies
- Chinese Studies
- Computational Linguistics
- Cultural History of Christianity
- Digital Humanities and Social Sciences
- Education
- Geography: Cultural Geography
- Hispanic Studies
Diese Kombination kann nur nach einer diesbezüglichen Studienberatung studiert werden. Die Überschneidungsfreiheit kann jedoch nicht garantiert werden. Die Studierenden tragen selbst die Verantwortung für die Studierbarkeit der Kombination und die Einhaltung der Fristen des § 10. Der Nachweis einer Studienberatung ist bei der Immatrikulation vorzulegen.
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- Admission requirements (first semester)
- No Admissions Restrictions
- Application deadline winter semester
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30.09.
Language skills
- German language skills for international applicants
- DSH 2 or equivalent
- General language skills
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Beginners:
You do not need any prior knowledge of Arabic or any of the other languages taught at our school to begin a course of study in Oriental Studies. All our language courses (Modern High Arabic, individual Arabic dialects, Turkish, Hebrew, Persian) start at beginner level.
Native speakers:
Although our language courses are oriented toward beginners, students who already have native or other language skills in Arabic, a dialect of Arabic, or other languages taught at our school are an asset to the Oriental Studies classes.
If this is your case, and you are wondering if you still need to take a beginner’s course, please feel free to contact the instructors: We will advise you on the level at which you can enter a particular language course, or whether a particular language course can be waived for you if necessary (e.g. if you have a high school diploma from an Arab country). From experience, however, it is also recommended in the latter case that you attend at least an advanced Arabic course. This has the purpose of familiarizing you with Arabic-German/German-Arabic translation, with the scientific transcription of Arabic, and with the grammatical description of Arabic from a „Western perspective“.
Nachweis ausreichender Kenntnisse in mindestens 2 Fremdsprachen (darunter Englisch) bis zum Ende des 4. Semesters
- Details and notes
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The application deadline for the winter semester for international applicants is July 15th.
In addition to the general qualification for university entrance (Abitur), there are other access options for studying at FAU.
Do you need help or more information?
Our Student Advice and Career Service (IBZ) is the central point of contact for all questions about studying and starting a degree programme. Our Student Service Centres and subject advisors support you in planning your studies.