Scandinavian Studies (BA)
Scandinavian Studies (BA) (B.A.)
Scandinavian Studies is a fascinating and multifaceted subject that deals with the language, literature, and culture of the Northern European and North Atlantic-Arctic countries from a variety of perspectives. These include Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Sami territories.
- 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?
The texts and topics covered during the course are mainly from a period extending from the Reformation period to our present day, as the focus of study at FAU is on Modern Nordic Philology. The texts are analyzed and interpreted from historical, systematic and literary-theoretical perspectives. Cultural and linguistic contexts can play just as important a role as aspects of media dissemination and comparisons with the literatures of other countries.
An important pillar of your studies will be the learning of Scandinavian languages. At FAU, we offer Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish as first languages. You can take Icelandic in later semesters if you already speak a continental Scandinavian language. Since all Scandinavian languages are closely related to each other, you will quickly be able to understand and read the languages you have not taken.An important pillar of your studies will be the learning of Scandinavian languages. At FAU, we offer Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish as first languages. You can take Icelandic in later semesters if you already speak a continental Scandinavian language. Since all Scandinavian languages are closely related to each other, you will quickly be able to understand and read the languages you have not taken.
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Scandinavian Studies/Nordic Philology deals with the literatures, cultures and languages of Scandinavia. It examines literary and cultural phenomena in inter-Scandinavian comparison through current theoretical approaches in historical and systematic perspective.
The basis of the study is an intensive language training in one of the continental Scandinavian languages (Danish, Norwegian, Swedish).
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Main areas of research and teaching are:
- Scandinavian literary history,
- contemporary literature,
- Arctic discourses,
- Intermediality (text and image, text and film),
- Theater and performance practice,
- gender studies and theories of the body
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- Willingness to read widely and carefully
- General enthusiasm for literature and language
- Strong interest in the languages as well as the literature and culture of the Scandinavian countries
- Desire to learn one or more Scandinavian languages
- Interest in questions of literary and cultural theory
- An inclination to read and write academic texts yourself
- Enjoyment of exchange with other cultures: a longer stay abroad in a Scandinavian country is highly recommended during your studies.
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As in the humanities in general, there are many possibilities for starting a career, because there is no clear-cut career field for Scandinavianists. With a bachelor’s degree in Scandinavian Studies, job opportunities include the following:
- Journalism and publishing (e.g., as translator, proofreader, editor)
- Culture (e.g. museums, theaters, libraries)
- Culture and event management
- Tourism sector (e.g. travel management and planning)
- Politics and society (e.g. in cultural institutes, embassies)
- Business (e.g. in companies with close ties to Northern Europe)
- Adult education (e.g. language teaching in Germany and Scandinavia)
In general, you should already make intensive efforts to obtain additional qualifications such as job-related internships during your studies in order to get a more precise idea of the working world and your own career goals. As a rule, internships can also be credited as study achievements.
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FAU offers the program of Scandinavian Studies as a BA program as a major or minor subject. It can be supplemented and deepened by the MA program „Literary Studies – intermedial and intercultural“.
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Degree program combinations
- Archaeological Sciences
- Art History
- Book Studies
- Business and Economics
- Chinese Studies
- Cultural History of Christianity
- Education
- English and American Studies
- French Roman Studies
- German studies
- Greek Philology
- Hispanic Studies
- History
- Indo-European and Indo-Iranian Studies
- Islamic Religious Studies
- Italian Romance Studies
- Japanese Studies
- Medieval Latin and Neo-Latin
- Oriental Studies
- Philosophy
- 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
- Computational Linguistics
- Digital Humanities and Social Sciences
- Geography: Cultural Geography
- Latin Philology
- Political Science
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
- 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.