How to Apply
We welcome applications to our Germanic studies program from students with a minimum of a BA (or equivalent four-year degree) in German or a related field. Admission to our program is based on:
- the applicant's demonstrated potential for research and teaching excellence
- evidence of a commitment to the advanced study of literature, culture, and media
- demonstrated advanced proficiency in German (ACTFL Advanced or CEF B2 or higher)
- distinguished academic record, especially in courses related to Germanic studies
Graduate Admissions for 2027-28
Our application window for Fall 2027 will open September 8, 2026. The deadline for admission for Fall 2027 is December 1st, 2026.
Applications must include the following materials, all of which are submitted via the Graduate School's online application system. The Department of German, Nordic, Slavic & Dutch is located on the University of Minnesota: Twin Cities campus, and is housed within the College of Liberal Arts.
Please do not use generative AI in any part of your submission materials. Doing so may negatively affect the review of your application. If you have any questions or problems with the application process, please reach out to our Graduate Program Coordinator at [email protected].
Application Materials
| Materials | Notes |
|---|---|
| Graduate School application and fee |
An application fee is required as a part of the admissions process. This fee is assessed by the Graduate School, and not by the Department of German, Nordic, Slavic & Dutch. You may start your application and solicit recommenders before submitting and paying the application fee. Students with financial need may ask for assistance paying the application fee. Please contact our Graduate Program Coordinator ([email protected]) for further information. |
| Personal Statement (Required) | A description of your professional goals of approximately 1–2 pages (750 words) as related to your academic interests in the proposed field of study. Please include information about the level of your training at the time of application; the particular areas of scholarly interest that you would like to pursue during your graduate work; and your professional plans upon completion of your training. You should also address your reasons for undertaking graduate study in the field, and for studying at the University of Minnesota in particular. The statement should be written in English. |
| Diversity of Views and Experiences (DOVE) statement (Recommended) |
Diversity of views and experiences is fundamental to the University’s mission, and the University’s faculty, staff, and students share responsibility for the collective achievement of this goal. Please describe the distinctive perspectives or life experiences, such as successfully overcoming obstacles or hardships, that you would bring to our graduate program. Describe how these perspectives or life experiences could contribute to the education and enhanced perspective of fellow students at the University of Minnesota. |
|
Extenuating Circumstances Statement
(Optional)
|
If you would like to provide an explanation of circumstances that contributed to your test scores or GPA, you may upload a statement in your application. |
| Resume/CV (Required) |
Please include an updated resume/CV. |
| Writing sample (Required) |
The paper should be no more than 25 pages and should reflect your scholarly/academic interests as well as the current level of your analytic knowledge in Germanic studies. A term or seminar paper is best. If you have a thesis, please send an excerpt (e.g., title page, contents, and one chapter). The paper may be in English or German, but keep in mind that the admissions committee is made up of faculty members from several languages in our department, and it is not a given that they are all fluent in German. Some students send two shorter papers, one in English and one in German. If you do this and want to use the upload feature in ApplyYourself, only one paper can be uploaded into the “Writing Sample” section. The other one can be uploaded in the ”Other Information” section. If submitting more than one paper, the total number of pages should not exceed 25 pages. |
| Teaching Statement (Required) | Teaching is a significant part of the graduate career in German Studies at the University of Minnesota. Please provide a statement of up to 250 words in which you describe what you would like to accomplish as a teacher of German. |
| Three letters of recommendation (Required) |
The letters should be from persons who can comment meaningfully about your intellectual capabilities. At least two of these letters must be from professors with whom you have studied. Your recommenders must be listed in your online application. It is best if they upload their letters, but if they encounter problems with that or would prefer not to, they may send email their letters to [email protected]. |
| Transcripts (Required) |
When first submitting your application, unofficial transcripts may be uploaded to complete this requirement. Non-English transcripts should be accompanied with English translations. In order to matriculate, official transcripts must be ordered and sent directly to the University. For non-English transcripts, the Graduate School requires original-language transcripts/credentials to be accompanied by official English translations of those documents. Please make sure your institution's name is on the copy you upload. More information on uploading transcripts at the Graduate School's admissions page. |
| English language proficiency (TOEFL, etc.) |
Minimum TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language for non-native speakers of English) score requirements: 79 on the internet-based test, with a minimum of 21 in writing and 19 in reading. (A speaking score of at least 27 is required for a teaching assistantship. Additional coursework in English is required for teaching assistants with a score below 27.) The Graduate School also accepts English-language test scores from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS; minimum score: 6.5), amongst others. For more information on the requirements, and what other English language proficiency exams are accepted, please see the Graduate School's "English Language Proficiency" page. |
| Graduate Record Exam (GRE) (Optional) | The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required to complete your application. |