Official Study Guide for Germany
Communication and media
The degree programmes in this field of study prepare students for a career in the areas of editing, journalism, press and public relations, communication or information management.
Overview of the academic discipline
There is a wide range of options in the field of communication and media studies - both in terms of degree programmes and subsequent career opportunities. It is often not yet clear from the choice of degree programme where the career path will lead. Mobile and digital technologies mean that these disciplines are constantly facing new challenges. This explains why many new degree programmes have been created in this field in recent years.
- Communication studies analyses the communication process in all its effects, the functioning of mass media and their impact on the public.
- The generic term ‘media’ includes theoretically oriented degree programmes that prepare students for a career in journalism and editing as well as press and public relations work. In addition to a creative and confident use of language, prerequisites include the ability to present complex issues and contexts in a generally understandable way, as well as an interest in diverse contacts. On the other hand, production-oriented degree programmes such as media technology or information management tend to impart practical knowledge about media production and management.
Which topics are included in the curriculum?
Depending on the focus and orientation of the chosen degree programme, different theoretical and practical principles are taught, e.g.
- Conceptual and methodological knowledge
- journalistic writing
- Production or media technology
- Management or IT skills
- media or information law
- intercultural communication
- Psychological-qualitative or quantitative market research
- digital media
- media practice
- content management
- media ethics
- PR practice
- Website creation
- Advertising copy
- Online media and e-commerce.
What are the requirements?
For a degree programme in the field of communication and media, it is advantageous to have in-depth knowledge of these school subjects: German, politics/social studies, economics/law, English, history, computer science, maths, art and music.
For journalism degree programmes, some universities require two to three months of pre-study work experience in a publishing house, editorial office or in the press department of a company.
What study programmes are there to choose from?
The Bachelor's degree programmes are offered at universities and universities of applied sciences and have the following course titles: Information Management, Intercultural Communication, Journalism or Journalism Studies, Media Studies, Communication Studies, Language and Communication, Digital Media Production, Public Relations or Marketing Communication.
In the Master's programme, it is possible to specialise or broaden your knowledge, e.g. in areas such as literature and media practice.
What job opportunities are there after graduation?
Graduates in the field of media can work in production studios of radio or television stations, in a multimedia agency, at advertising agencies, publishing houses and other companies in the media industry, in opinion research institutes or in the press and public relations departments of companies and institutions.
Graduates of a journalism degree programme work as editors, correspondents, presenters, specialist editors, reporters, photojournalists and press and media officers - usually after completing a one to three-year traineeship after graduation. They are employed in the online and multimedia sector and in daily and weekly newspapers, magazines, advertising papers, television and radio, press offices, agencies and press offices; increasingly also in the field of public relations/public relations and corporate publishing, whereby there are many overlaps with the fields of advertising and marketing.
Technical editors work in technical documentation for industrial companies or trade journals.