Dutch is spoken by around 17 million people in the Netherlands and approximately 6 million people in the Flanders region of Belgium. The colonial past of these two countries has also left its linguistic mark on other countries around the world. Dutch is one of the official languages of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (which includes the ABC islands Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao) and the sole official language of the former Dutch colony of Surinam (today Suriname) in South America. In addition, Afrikaans, one of the eleven official languages of South Africa, was heavily influenced by the Dutch spoken by colonists from the Netherlands in the seventeenth century.

The Language - Literature - Culture: Dutch bachelor’s program equips students with an in-depth understanding of Dutch language, culture, and literature. At the same time, it provides students with the skills to situate phenomena from these areas within larger historical, cultural and/or transnational contexts. The strong practical focus of the program means that students receive substantial insight into various methods and research questions within the fields of linguistics and literary studies. A key part of the degree program involves acquisition of the Dutch language. It is expected that students will attain B2/C1 level proficiency by the end of their studies.

Should students of other degree programs choose to complete modules in the Language - Literature - Culture: Dutch program worth 30 and 60 credit points, these will be treated as relevant contributions to their overall study program (see “Structure”).

The Department of Philosophy and Humanities at Freie Universität Berlin offers a broad range of subjects and an excellent instructor-student ratio. The Language - Literature - Culture: Dutch bachelor’s program benefits greatly from the wide variety of research projects carried out by Dutch studies specialists at the university, as well as from the inclusion of our teaching staff in other linguistics and literature-based programs across the department. Students are acquainted with current research questions within the fields of linguistics and literary studies from the very beginning. They also practice examining Dutch studies-specific questions within larger contexts and wider discourse. The Dutch Language and Literature Department at Freie Universität Berlin places particular emphasis on posing and exploring structurally and socially relevant questions within the field of linguistics and ensuring that students are able to interact with contemporary literature on an academic level.

In terms of resources, the visually striking Philological Library of Freie Universität Berlin is home to a vast range of books on the subjects of Dutch literature, Dutch studies, linguistics, and literary studies. With its impressive catalog, modern research facilities, and long opening hours, the Philological Library is the ideal place to study and research.

In addition, students have the opportunity to take part in our established Erasmus programs with partner universities in Amsterdam, Antwerp, Ghent, Leiden, Nijmegen, Utrecht, and the island of Aruba.

Language - Literature - Culture: Dutch is offered as either a core subject with modules totaling 60 credit points, or it can be completed as a combination of two modules where these are worth 30 credit points each. When selected as a module worth 60 credit points, Language - Literature - Culture: Dutch must be combined with a core subject worth 90 credit points. When selected as a module worth 30 credit points, Language - Literature - Culture: Dutch must be combined with a suitable core subject worth 120 credit points or a core subject worth 90 credit points and an additional module worth 30 credit points.

Selecting Language - Literature - Culture: Dutch as a core subject requires students to demonstrate that they are able to independently carry out an in-depth, complex academic research project in a field of study of their choosing at the end of their degree (bachelor’s thesis).

The general professional skills courses (Allgemeine Berufsvorbereitung, ABV) comprise an internship as well as modules in the following skill areas: foreign languages; information and media skills; gender and diversity awareness; organization and management skills; personal, social and communication skills; and subject-related additional qualifications. The aims, content, and structure of the general professional skills courses are outlined separately in the ABV study and examination regulations.

The structure and progression of the program is laid out in the degree program regulations, which also includes detailed descriptions of the contents and learning objectives for the individual modules as well as a standard curriculum plan. The examination regulations define the types of assessments and coursework required in the different modules. The regulations stipulate the number of credit points required for each module (and/or course) as well as the workload (in hours) for the entire degree program.

Graduates of this degree program possess academic knowledge and practical skills that qualify them for a relevant professional career or further education. If Language - Literature - Culture: Dutch is taken as a module as part of a combi bachelor’s degree program, the professional qualification is determined by the core subject.

Graduates of the Language - Literature - Culture: Dutch degree program are prepared for work in almost all professional fields where analytical, interpretative, and communicative skills based on understanding of texts and contexts are key. They may also carry out roles as mediators between Dutch/Flemish and German cultures. For example, this may involve career opportunities in the foreign languages or cultural management sectors (museums, libraries, publishing houses, online platforms, etc.).

Managerial roles or research and teaching positions require a master’s degree and, in some cases, a doctoral degree.

Related links:

Neon – Nederlands online (information on Dutch and Dutch studies)

DBNL – Digitale bibliotheek voor de Nederlandse letteren (online database of standard references for Dutch language and literature)