Frequently Asked Questions - M.A. English Linguistics

At Tübingen, students first enrol on a course and then decide later, towards the end of the semester, whether they want to receive credits for that course (this usually involves completing an assessment).
Logistically, this means that you must first apply for enrolment on a course and then, later in the semester, you must register for the examination of that course. Both processes are done via an online system called "ALMA".
The registration for enrolment phase occurs before the semester begins. The registration for examinations phase occurs in the final third of the semester.
For new students: A video explaining the enrolment procedure and the organization of the degree course is available here. 
If you don't receive access to the ALMA system before the enrolment period is finished, then we will enrol you on your first-semester courses manually. This will happen during the “welcome” meeting.

This module allows you to take courses in other departments (e.g., General Linguistics department, German department, Romance languages department…) or in other sections of the English department (American Studies, Literatures and Cultures). The courses you take for this module should be relevant to Linguistics generally, or to your own research in particular. For instance, a course on literature studies could be suitable if you plan to carry out interdisciplinary linguistics / literature research. The English linguistics section sometimes also offers courses that are interdisciplinary in nature. Those are listed in ALMA under the “interdisciplinary profile” module and can of course be used to fulfill this module.

The module can be fulfilled by
(i) carrying out a (paid or unpaid) internship with a company or institution. The expected length of the internship is about 6 weeks (full time equivalent). You are wholly responsible for finding a suitable internship or work placement.  You might want to seek advice from the Praxis & Beruf office
(ii) working at the university as a tutor (for a course or for the Research and Writing Center) or as a (paid or unpaid) research assistant (Hiwi). To pursue this option, you can apply to relevant positions that you see advertised and / or let faculty members know that you are available, should any such positions open up.
(iii) taking courses that contribute to your professional development (e.g., courses offered by the Career Center / the Foreign Language Center / the German as a Foreign Language department).
If you choose options (i) or (ii) you will need to write a report of about 1500 words reflecting on how the experience has contributed to your professional training. The report should be submitted to Paula Menéndez Benito, together with proof of employment (your contract or a letter from your employer / faculty supervisor, specifying how many hours you worked and in what capacity).

Your thesis will typically build on a project that you have developed in one of the courses you completed to fulfil you Core Curriculum modules. Once you have decided what area / topic you would like to work on, you need to approach a potential (first) advisor to discuss your thesis topic. You should do this towards the end of your second semester. Please note that you are responsible for finding a suitable advisor (that is, you will not be assigned one). Note also that instructors typically only take on advisees that have taken seminars with them. Once you have secured a first advisor, you could also approach a potential second advisor directly, or you could ask your first advisor for advice regarding who could be a suitable second advisor.
You should use your Research II module (ideally completed in your third semester) to do the groundwork for your thesis research. Ask your first advisor how to best satisfy this module, as different sections within Linguistics have implemented slightly different protocols.

• The MA thesis is worth 20 ECTS points, and the final oral exam earns you 10 ECTS points.
• You need both a first (primary) advisor and a second advisor.
• Before starting this module, you need to have completed the Core Curriculum modules.
• You have a total of six months to complete this module after registering for it with the Examination Office (Prüfungsamt): You have four months to complete the MA thesis and two months to prepare for and take the final oral exam. If you hand in your thesis early, you still have only two months for preparing the oral exam.
• Decide on the order in which you will complete the MA thesis and the oral exam. Register the exam module with the examination office (Prüfungsamt) (https://uni-tuebingen.de/de/128279) and provide the names of your first and second advisor.
• Typically, your first advisor will also conduct your final oral exam.

The MA oral exam lasts for 60 minutes. The exam topics and reading lists are determined in consultation with your examiner. The examiner is typically the first advisor for your MA thesis.