Center for Francophone Worlds

Studies

At the University of Tübingen, Francophonie enthusiasts can expect a wide range of degree courses related to the French language, France and the Francophone world.

Various faculties make it possible to complete integrated German-French degree courses to achieve a double degree. Students can obtain a degree (Bachelor, Master or PhD) from the University of Tübingen as well as the corresponding degree from the partner university, often the Aix-Marseille Université. These double degree courses are accredited by the Franco-German University (DFH).

TübAix

EIFA

CDFA

The Department of Economics also offers the opportunity to obtain a double degree with the University of Lyon or Strasbourg with the M.Sc. European Management program, or to set an additional French focus through special specialist language courses in the B.Sc. International Business Administration and B. Sc. international Economics with an additional French focus through special specialized language courses.

Students at the Faculty of Law can also obtain a Master's degree from the University of Aix-Marseille by studying abroad.

In addition, one or two semesters abroad in a francophone country, e.g. with Erasmus, are possible in almost all degree programs at the university.


Last but not least, in addition to the traditional courses in French literature and linguistics, students at the Department of Romance Studies can also complete the Master's degree course “Cultures du Sud global”. 

TübAix

Integrated German-French degree program in History, B.A./M.A.

Content and process

The binational Bachelor's course is structured as follows:
The German and French students each spend the first and second semester at their home university, where they are already in personal contact and professional exchange with each other. The Franco-German cohort spends the second year of study together at the University of Tübingen and the last two semesters in Aix-en-Provence.

Both universities offer a wide range of courses covering all periods (Ancient History, Middle Ages, Modern History, Contemporary History) and various regional focuses (e.g. Eastern Europe, North America, Middle East, etc.). In particular, there is the option to specialize in colonial history, the Mediterranean region and sub-Saharan Africa with an additional “Diplôme universitaire d'Études africaines”.

All courses and examinations are mutually recognized. At the end of their studies, students acquire a binational double degree: the B.A. from the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen and the Licence from the Aix-Marseille Université.

The TübAix Master's is primarily aimed at graduates of history degree programs with a very good knowledge of French or German, but lateral entrants are also welcome if they are sufficiently qualified.
Half of the M.A. is spent at the German university and half at the French university, whereby the order can be freely chosen.

If students opt for the first M.A. year in Tübingen, they must complete modules in two historical periods and in the minor subject before taking research-oriented specialization courses in Aix-en-Provence and writing their Master's thesis. For a specialization in the fields of “Antiquity” and “Middle Ages”, proof of the Latinum is required.
If the start of the Master's phase is chosen in Aix, introductory and specialization courses must be attended there before modules in two historical epochs or in one epoch and the former B.A. minor subject are completed in Tübingen and the Master's thesis is written.

The final thesis is assessed by a lecturer from both universities; graduates receive diplomas from both universities (M.A. / Master).

Funding and promotion

Logo DFH

Students are financially supported for their studies at the respective partner university with a DFH mobility grant of currently 3,000 euros. Independently of this, an Erasmus grant can also be applied for.

Tuition fees and the administration fee are only payable at the home university. It is also possible to apply for BAföG from the Studierendenwerk Tübingen.

Career perspectives

The TübAix degree program trains bilingual historians who not only have very good career opportunities on the German-speaking, Francophone and European job market and beyond thanks to their high professional qualifications, but also thanks to their other strengths such as intercultural competence, language skills, increased willingness to be flexible and mobile - and often far beyond the actual subject boundaries.

While 30% of alumni pursue a university career, 16% decide to become teachers and 22% continue their studies, over 30% of alumni pursue a career in journalism, politics, culture or business.

Contact

There is a special office at both universities that takes care of the students' needs: they receive personal support, help with finding accommodation and enrolment formalities as well as advice on course planning. An internship placement service and a tandem system are also offered.
For further information, please contact the central program coordinator at the TübAix office.

EIFA

Intercultural German-French Studies, M.A.

Content and process

The Master's degree program in Intercultural Franco-German Studies (Études interculturelles franco-allemandes - EIFA), which is part of the Faculty of Philosophy, is an integrated Franco-German degree program and leads to a double degree from the University of Tübingen and the Aix-Marseille Université.
The course provides students with historically sound knowledge of Franco-German cultural transfer and current developments in relations. One of the special features of the course is its interdisciplinary and cultural studies dimension at the interface of literature, theater, art, language, politics, media and empirical cultural studies as well as philosophy, sociology and history.
The two-year Master's course alternates between the two countries, with students spending the first year together in Aix-en-Provence and the second at the University of Tübingen and completing an internship between semesters 2 and 3. The modules build on each other over three semesters and the Master's thesis is written in the fourth semester. 

Students receive the best possible supervision and support during their studies. For example, a language course is offered in Aix-en-Provence at the beginning of the course. In April of each year, the German department offers a colloquium for the students, to which the supervisors are also invited.

Funding and promotion

The Master's program is supported by the Franco-German University (DFH), which grants mobility scholarships of €300 per month. Additional funding is also possible with the Erasmus+ program and other scholarships. Tuition fees and the administration fee are only payable at the home university.
It is also possible to apply for BAföG from the Studierendenwerk Tübingen.

Career and perspectives

As Franco-German experts, graduates have excellent skills for positioning themselves in cultural professions. As a study shows, our graduates mainly work in cultural institutions and political organizations in the Franco-German context, as well as in international science management, journals, publishing houses and the education sector.

However, the Master's degree program also provides an ideal basis for an academic career and doctoral studies within the framework of the Franco-German Research Training Group “Cultural Conflicts - Conflict Cultures”, which is also funded by the DFH.

Contact

CDFA

Franco-German doctoral program “Conflict Cultures / Cultural Conflicts”

Content and process

The college enables interdisciplinary studies and bilateral research approaches in the field of cultural conflicts. It realizes an integrated organization of doctoral studies by the universities of Aix-Marseille and Tübingen (reciprocal courses, bilateral supervision of dissertation projects, double diploma, research stays of doctoral students at the respective partner university, joint events and publications). The training ensures academic excellence for francophone, germanophone and other countries.

Part of the doctoral studies are completed at the partner university. Regular doctoral research seminars are offered in Tübingen and Aix-en-Provence/Marseille as well as conferences and annual workshops organized by the doctoral students and invited university lecturers.

French language courses in Aix-Marseille, German language courses in Tübingen and, last but not least, pre-professional courses round off the program.
The dissertation is supervised by a lecturer in Aix and in Tübingen and assessed by both universities. The defense takes place in front of a mixed jury.

The doctoral program concludes with a double diploma (Docteur Aix-Marseille Université, Dr. phil. from the University of Tübingen).

In addition to the historiographical analysis of conflict zones and phenomena - for example with regard to transcultural places of remembrance - media transformations and representations in the fields of literature, visual arts, theater and film are analyzed and political conflict discourses are examined in light of their cultural references.

The thematically connecting interface of “culture” and “conflict” has proven to be extremely useful and productive for the cohesion of the research group and the interdisciplinary cooperation of doctoral students from different subjects and orientations. In this way, they gain fundamental insights into the methodological and theoretical diversity in the humanities and social sciences.
 

Funding and promotion

logo DFH

The doctoral college is recognized and funded by the Franco-German University. The doctoral students receive a mobility allowance of 600 euros per month during their stay at the partner university (the maximum duration is 18 months).

Career perspectives

Die AbsolventInnen des deutsch-französischen Graduiertenkollegs „Kulturkonflikte – Konfliktkulturen“ schlagen mehrheitlich eine universitäre Laufbahn in Lehre und Forschung sowohl an deutschen als auch an französischen Universitäten und „grandes écoles“ ein. Weitere Alumnis üben einen Beruf  in kulturellen Institutionen und politischen Organisationen im deutsch-französischen Kontext und darüber hinaus im internationalen Wissenschaftsmanagement (z.B. für deutsch-französische Programme), bei Zeitschriften, in Verlagen sowie im Bildungsbereich aus.

Contact

 

CDFA

Franco-German doctoral programme “New Critical Theory and Decentralized Epistemologies”

Content and process

The Franco-German Doctoral College (DFDK) “New Critical Theory and Decentralized Epistemologies” is a cooperative project between the University of Tübingen and the Université Toulouse II Jean Jaurès. The doctoral program promotes interdisciplinary research and interdisciplinary approaches that critically address the challenges of a time characterized by different forms of thought and epistemologies. The DFGK finances research stays at the respective partner university and regularly organizes its own international events. It enables double degrees (cotutelle) and longer research stays as well as the sustainable integration of doctoral students into excellent research networks in France, Germany and other countries within and outside Europe. Doctoral students from the fields of cultural theory, philosophy, cultural and literary studies, history and related disciplines are eligible to apply, provided that adequate supervision is guaranteed in Tübingen and Toulouse.

In addition to the persons named here, other university lecturers can act as supervisors by arrangement.

Funding and promotion

logo DFH

Doctoral students are supported during their stay at the partner university with a mobility allowance of €700 per month (the maximum duration is 18 months).

Doctoral candidates in the cotutelle procedure whose application for cotutelle funding is approved will also receive a one-off grant of €5,000 from the Franco-German University (DFH-UFA), which will be paid out in three installments.

The mobility grants and support from the DFH can be combined with funding from other scholarship providers and organizations.

The Franco-German University is a binational network of higher education institutions. It was founded in 1997 and promotes Franco-German degree courses and graduate colleges in all disciplines. It currently comprises 186 degree courses and around 6400 students.  

Further Information: –https://www.dfh-ufa.org/

Career perspectives

“Career prospects lie in the area of university careers in teaching and research at both German and French universities, in cultural institutions and political organizations in a Franco-German and international context, as well as in journals, publishing houses and the education sector.”
 

Contact

Louisa Bühler, graduate, Master 2 EIFA:

“The EIFA Master's program was a good and important decision for me! The year in Aix-en-Provence and the intercultural collaboration with students and lecturers in particular helped me to develop incredibly on a personal level. In the small, Franco-German courses, you are encouraged and challenged; the varied program of the Cursus intégré and the omnipresent intercultural component prepare you perfectly for the globalized job market.”

Antonia Adam, TübAix alumni and Head of Corporate Communications at a Swiss company:

“I am convinced that above all the personal skills that you acquire through the special requirements of such a double degree have helped me a lot to understand the differences in working methods, communication etc. here [in Switzerland] faster and better and to be able to adapt better and benefit from the differences. Of course, knowledge of French is always useful in Switzerland, even though I myself work in a predominantly German-speaking company.”