You need 120 credit points to successfully complete the Master's degree in Communication and Media Studies. You will receive these credit points if you pass the module examinations and the master's thesis. On this page you will find all the important information about exams and the master's thesis.
Academic Advising
Information about the application process, the admission requirements, and the formal and organizational framework can be obtained from the faculty’s study office (Helpdesk). You will also find information and frequently asked questions about the Master’s application here.
If you have any questions about the structure and general organization and content of the Communication and Media Studies degree, please first try to clarify them with the help of the study documents and MANUAL FOR COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA STUDIES from the faculty’s Helpdesk.
Information and contact persons for special requests are also available:
- Study abroad: Page of the Erasmus program
- Examination matters: M.A. Communication and Media Studies page of the examination board (e.g. recognition of study achievements, placement in subject semesters when changing majors)
If you still have questions, please contact the faculty helpdesk first. If you have any questions about the content of the course, please contact Dr. Dirk Arnold.
The module registration at the Institute for Communication and Media Studies is simultaneously the exam registration. Detailed information on module registration can be found on the faculty’s website.
Enrollment is via the online enrollment system TOOL.
If you have problems enrolling, you can use the enrollment team's contact form.
Immatrikulation ab 01.10.2022
Studienordnung
(Lesefassung)
Prüfungsordnung
(Lesefassung)
Institutsweiter Leitfaden zu Zitation und Literaturverzeichnis
Registration from October 1st, 2018
Registration from October 1st, 2010 to October 1st, 2017
The amendments to the study and exam regulations can be found here.
NOTES ON FORMALITIES OF ACADEMIC WORK
In the courses at Institute for Communication and Media Studies, there is no mandatory citation method for exam papers.
In the introductory course to the B.A. Communication and Media Studies, we recommend and teach the citation method according to APA, as is also required by communication studies journals such as Publizistik (with minor deviations) and SCM . Other ways of citation are possible if they are followed consistently, are complete and verifiable. Even with indirect citations, page numbers should be given and no blanket reference to an article or book should be made.
If in doubt, clarify these formalities with the examiner..
The Exam Office at the Institute for Communication and Media Studies
During your studies, you will often come into contact with the exam office. The Exam Office supports you when you have questions regarding examination formalities and ensures that your study credits appear in Alma Web.
Jurisdiction
The Exam Office is responsible for a number of different tasks relating to examinations. These tasks include:
- Exam registration
- Exam dates / registration deadlines
- Recognition of pre-exam achievements / exam achievements that have been completed at other universities
- Admission to the exam / withdrawal from the exam
- Internships
- Announcement of exam results
- Receiving objections
- Issuance of certificates
Please note:
Always state your student number with inquiries to ensure smooth processing. If you have questions about module registration/deregistration, please also state the module title and the corresponding module number. The application for the second repeat examination must be submitted to the chairperson of the relevant examination board.
It is the task of the examination boards to coordinate the examination procedures for the degree program in question and to monitor compliance with them. The examination boards are therefore responsible for all matters relating to examinations and the recognition of academic achievements in a degree program. The respective examination board takes care of complaints or objections from students against the examination procedure. It is also obliged to report regularly to the faculty on the development of study times and examination results.
There are three examination boards at the Institute of Communication and Media Studies to cover the various programs. Each of the committees has a chairperson and several members. The members are made up of representatives from the group of university lecturers, academic staff, and students.
The following members are currently members of the examination board for the master's degree in Communication and Media Studies, master's degree in Global Mass Communication, master's degree in Radio Broadcasting, and master's degree in ommunication and media studies:
- Prof. Dr. Patrick Donges (Chairman)
- Prof. Dr. Sonja Ganguin (Vice Chair)
- Prof. Dr. Alexander Godulla
- Dr. Charlotte Knorr (Deputy: Dr. Freya Sukalla)
- Tabea Dittrich (Student member, Deputy: Micaela Speck)
Deputy when a university teacher is prevented from attending: Prof. Dr. Anne Bartsch
Master’s Thesis
The master’s thesis is usually written in the fourth semester. You have 23 weeks to work on your master’s thesis from the time you have successfully registered with the exam office. At the request of the student, the processing time can usually be extended by up to four weeks for reasons for which he/she is not responsible, based on a statement from the supervisor. The master’s thesis must be submitted twice in printed form and once in electronic form in German or English to the exam office.
The master’s thesis should be registered with the exam office in the third semester at the end of the lecture period at the latest. Any deviating deadlines for registering the topic of the master’s thesis must be discussed with the supervisor in advance. If you start later, please note that not only the end of your processing time, but also the deadlines for the assessment and the creation of certificates will be pushed back.
The topic agreed with the supervisor must be entered on the application for the master’s thesis and signed by the supervisor. In addition, the second reviewer must be entered and their declaration of consent obtained. The master's thesis is supervised by the university teachers working degree Master Communication and Media Studies. In the Master Communication and Media Studies, these are Prof. Patrick Donges, Prof. Anne Bartsch, Prof. Alexander Godulla, Prof. Christian Pentzold, Prof. Siegfried Lokatis, Prof. Sonja Ganguin, J.-Prof. Sven Stollfuss and J.-Prof. Nicholas Venema. Topic and time are to be put on record. The exam candidate can express desired topics. The topic can only be returned once and only within two weeks of being issued.
REGISTRATION FORM MASTER THESIS
The processing time of the master’s thesis can be extended by up to four weeks at the student's request for reasons for which he/she is not responsible, by the exam board on the basis of a statement from the supervisor. (cf. §19 para. 3, S.3 PO Master Communication and Media Studies, as of August 28th, 2018).
Please fill out the linked application and submit it to the exam board.
Application
Application for German students
The application for the Master Communication and Media Studies at the University of Leipzig is possible from May 2nd, 2022 to May 31st, 2022 online via the campus management system AlmaWeb. You will be assigned an applicant number with which you can view the status of your application at any time and find all further information on the documents to be submitted.
The following documents must be submitted for the selection process:
- Tabular CV/Résumé
- Proof of language skills in English at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference
- Copy of the degree certificate (incl. Transcript of Records and Diploma Supplement) (If you do not yet have a certificate, then the Transcript of Records and proof from the exam office that having the degree is realistic by the beginning of the master’s program is sufficient.)
- Evidence of a continuous internship of at least 300 hours in one or more course-related institutions before starting the program. Evidence of course-related experience can also be provided through other practical work in the media sector.
- A three-page depiction of the thesis of the first professionally qualifying course (e.g. bachelor)
There are no selection interviews.
Application for foreign students
International students, please apply via uniassist. Applications via uniassist are possible from April 15th, 2022 to May 31st, 2022. Further information can be found here. There are no selection interviews.
Information
Please also note the guide from the Helpdesk.
Termin: Dienstag, 25. April 2023, von 18.00 bis ca. 19.30 Uhr via ZOOM
Der Studiengangsleiter Prof. Dr. Patrick Donges und weitere Dozentinnen und Dozenten stellen Ihnen den Studiengang vor und beantworten Ihre Fragen im Vorfeld der Bewerbungen im Mai 2023. Bitte melden Sie sich für die Online-Veranstaltung per E-Mail an nixdorf(at)uni-leipzig.de mit dem Betreff „Informationsveranstaltung M.A. KMW 25. April 2023“ und unter Angabe Ihres Namens und Ihrer jetzigen Hochschule an. Sie erhalten dann die Zugangsdaten für die Videokonferenz. Eine Bewerbung ist selbstverständlich auch ohne Besuch der Informationsveranstaltung möglich.
Bitte beachten Sie auch den RATGEBER DES HELPDESK.
Further course-specific and general information on the application can be found on the UNIVERSITY OF LEIPZIG’S M.A. COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA LEIPZIG INFORMATION PAGE
Information on the application process, the admission requirements, and the formal and organizational framework can be obtained from the faculty’s study office (Helpdesk). If you have any questions about the content of the course, please contact the academic advisor.
1. What is a relevant subject that meets the requirements for the Master Communication and Media Studies?
The Master Communication and Media Studies is a social science course. It is designed to be consecutive, so it requires basic knowledge of the German media system, the essential communication and media studies theories, and methods as well as the relevant research and application fields of the subject. These should have been acquired in a degree in Communication and/or Media Studies, Journalism, or a closely related subject. If necessary, please inform yourself about the contents of our B.A. course Communication and Media Studies for comparison.
Linguistic, literary, and philosophical courses do not usually meet the admission requirements.
2. I don't have a bachelor's degree yet. Can I still apply?
Yes, an application without a B.A. certificate is possible and often even common. It is important that you enclose documentation of your previous course of study (= Transcript of Records) that is as precise as possible, showing the modules you have attended and successfully completed with points and grades. It is actually about your individual course of study, not a general description of your course. The transcript should indicate that you will be able to successfully complete your B.A. degree on the scheduled date. Some universities certify this separately, others do not.
4. I will only start/complete my internship after the application deadline. How do I prove this?
As with all admission requirements, you must prove that these have been met by the time you begin your studies. This means that you can still complete your internship after you have applied. In this case, please enclose the internship agreement or a comparable certificate proving that you will complete the internship.
5. What content does the depiction of the thesis include?
In the three-page depiction you give an overview of your thesis, i.e. you present the epistemological interest and the research questions of the paper. You will go into the underlying theoretical approaches and literature and explain your methodical approach. If available, present the results of the work. Finally, give an outlook on new research questions.
6. Which application documents must be certified?
No certified copies are required for the application. Only if you are admitted do you have to submit some officially certified documents, such as the B.A. certificate, directly to the university.
7. What is behind the levels of foreign language skills and how do I prove them?
All applicants who have passed a regular German Abitur may provide proof of their language skills with a copy of their Abitur certificate. Other proofs are not necessary.
Only applicants with other school qualifications may have to enclose separate language certificates. The levels are based on the common European reference framework: B2 = at least five years of continuous instruction, A2 = at least three years of continuous instruction.
8. Who counts as a foreign student?
Two criteria are decisive here: the university entrance qualification (= Abitur or equivalent) and the bachelor's degree.
Anyone who has obtained both the higher education entrance qualification and the bachelor's degree abroad is considered a foreign student and must apply via uniassist.
Applicants with a German higher education entrance qualification and a foreign bachelor’s degree also count as foreign students and must use uniassist.
Applicants with a foreign higher education entrance qualification and a German bachelor’s degree, on the other hand, do not count as foreign applicants and should use the application via Alamweb. The same applies to applicants who have both the university entrance qualification and the B.A. acquired in Germany.
Study Structure
The master's program (M.A.) consists of 120 credit points, 25 credit points of which are for the master's thesis. As a rule, 60 credit points are acquired in each academic year. The study content is taught in compulsory and elective modules.
The core subject of the M.A. Communication and Media Studies course is divided into compulsory modules (55 credit points) and elective modules (40 credit points) as well as the master's thesis (25 credit points).
Compulsory modules (55 credit points):
1st semester:
- "Introduction to the Master's degree in Communication and Media Studies" (06-005-550),
- "Communication, Media, Society" (06-005-551),
- "Method Refresher and Immersion" (06-005-552)
2nd semester:
- "Theories of Communication and Media Change" (06-005-553),
3rd semester:
- "Transfer Module: Practical and Application Fields" (06-005-554)
4th semester:
- "Colloquium" (06-005-555)
Elective modules (40 credit points):
Four modules totaling 40 credit points are to be completed in the 2nd/3rd semester. Students have the option of either specializing in one of the main areas (choice of all modules from one main area) or freely combining compulsory elective modules from all main areas.
Focus: Media Publics
- "Method Specialization Focus on Media Publics" (06-005-569),
- "Research Module Media Reception and Media Effects I" (06-005-570)
- "Research Module Media Reception and Media Effects II" (06-005-571),
- "Research Module Political Communication" (06-005-572)
Focus: Media Education
- "Method Specialization Focus on Media Education" (06-005-580),
- "Research Module Media Education and Teaching Practice I" (06-005-581),
- "Research Module Media Education and Teaching Practice II" (06-005-582),
- "Research Module Book Culture and Digital Publications" (06-005-583)
Focus: Media Cultures
- "Method Specialization Focus on Media Cultures" (06-005-590),
- "Research Module Digital Media and Networked Communication Practices I" (06-005-591),
- "Research Module Digital Media and Networked Communication Practices II" (06-005-592),
- "Media and Culture" (06-005-593).
In the fourth semester, students take the compulsory module "Colloquium" and write their master's thesis (25 credit points).
Study Plan
| Focus Media Publics | Focus Media Education | Focus Media Cultures |
| Winter Semester 1 | Introduction to the Master's Degree Communication and Media Studies | ||
| Communication, Media, Society | ||
| Method Refresher and Immersion | ||
| Summer Semester 2 | Theories of Communication and Media Studies | ||
| Method Specialization Focus on Media Publics | Method Specialization Focus on Media Education | Method Specialization Focus on Media Cultures |
Research Module: Media Reception and Media Effect | Research Module: Media Education and Teaching Practice I | Research Module: Digital Media and Networked Communication Practices I | |
| Winter Semester 3 | Research Module: Media Reception and Media Effect II | Research Module: Media Education and Teaching Practice II | Research Module: Digital Media and Networked Communication Practices II |
Research Module Political Communication | Research Module Book Culture and Digital Publications | Media and Culture | |
| Transfer Module: Practice and Application Area Alternative: Internship | ||
| Summer Semester 4 | Colloquium | Master’s Thesis | |