My name is Sebastian and since 2018 I've been enrolled in the bachelor’s program Romance Languages, Literatures and Media at the University of Mannheim. When I started informing myself about the program, I was happy for every advice I got. In the beginning, what lay ahead of me seemed huge. Therefore, I’m happy to answer all your questions, give you an overview on the program, and share general information about the University of Mannheim.
Sebastian Müller, program ambassador for the bachelor’s program in Romance Languages, Literatures and Media
/ Photo credit: Leah Kratschmann
Why I chose this program
The bachelor’s program in Romance Languages, Literatures and Media takes four years, one of them is spent at a university in a Romance language country. Students can choose between Spanish, Italian, and French, and will focus on two of the languages throughout their studies. Along with several practical language courses in the chosen languages, linguistics and literary studies make up a major part of the courses. These two main fields are complemented by media studies. In the course of our studies, we get an overview on the Romance language countries and dive deeper into various Romance cultures.
What’s an advantage of our program is that everyone knows everyone because the groups are relatively small. That’s a major brownie point because the classes grow together like a family and people interact with each other on a personal level.
I chose this program because I had been a passionate language learner for years but I didn’t want to do the program in Teacher Education. This program was the perfect choice for me to broaden my language skills and my knowledge on literatures.
Studying at the University of Mannheim
What’s special about the program?
I knew quite early on that I wanted to study Romance Studies. The Department of Romance Studies at the University of Mannheim is among the best in Germany, which made the decision easy. In addition, the program structure is unique and the privilege of spending a year abroad was another strong argument for enrolling in the program.
Extracurricular activities
In general, I can only recommend studying at the University of Mannheim: as first-year students, the departmental student committee took us by the hand and we always received advise when we asked for it. The orientation week for first-year students was the perfect start to my studies. I met many new people. What felt like a strange environment at first quickly became a familiar place. The various events for first-year students, the Schlossfest, and the Schneckenhof parties provide the perfect setting for meeting peers and students from higher semesters.
And once the semester has started, students can get involved in student organizations, such as the departmental student committee. The departmental student committee for Linguistics and Literary Studies, for example, organizes a poetry slam each semester and alumni meetings where the audience learns about what alumni of the humanities did after completing their studies. The various student organizations provide you with many opportunities to become part of the University of Mannheim community.
After graduation
Further study
Graduates of the four-year bachelor’s program can continue with a master’s program. Many students even study abroad. Around the globe, there are many master's programs that only take a year and build on our bachelor's program.
Career opportunities
After completing your studies, you can work in different occupational fields, such as culture, media, research, communication and international communication, and higher education management. By the way, if you complete your bachelor’s studies with outstanding grades you directly qualify for a doctorate.
What you need to know
Frequently asked questions
“Oh, so you’ll become a teacher?”—”NO!” This is a question students of the program will probably be asked repeatedly until the end of their studies. Many people are curious but find it unusual to study two languages outside the Teacher Education program. Once you have explained yourself in great detail, most people still look confused and ask what else you'll do with your degree. Of course, the answer to this question will most likely surprise the other person as well. It's true that the bachelor’s program is relatively “young” and that few people even know about it. You should, however, see this as an advantage—you stand out from the crowd.
Further information
Would you like to learn more about the program in Romance Studies at the University of Mannheim?
Then have a look at the program descriptions:
- Bachelor's program in Romance Languages, Literatures and Media
- Bachelor's program in Culture and Economy: French Studies
- Bachelor's program in Culture and Economy: Italian Studies
- Bachelor's program in Culture and Economy: Spanish Studies
- Master's program in Culture and Economy: French Studies
- Master's program in Culture and Economy: Spanish Studies
- Master's program in Culture and Economy: Italian Studies
