Interview
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We asked Anna (29 years old), who is in the 6th semester of her Master's degree in German Studies and about to write her Master's thesis, a few questions about studying for a Master's degree in German Studies at the University of Kassel. |
Why did you decide to do a Master's degree and not to start a career after your Bachelor's degree?
I chose the Master's degree program because I was interested in the content of the course and I wanted to continue studying. I particularly enjoyed the scientific work. I also wanted to improve my qualifications for the job market.
What do you think is the biggest difference between a Bachelor's and a Master's degree?
The biggest difference for me is that the content of the Master's program is more detailed and you can set your own personal focus (literature or language) relatively quickly. Introductory lectures are no longer offered in the Master's program and you are therefore more free to decide which seminars you want to take and in which order. I also find the content of the seminars more demanding, as well as the work you have to do for an examination or coursework.
The best and worst thing about the Master's program?
The best thing about the Master's program is definitely the independent work and research. You no longer have to attend courses that may not have interested you thematically. This means you have much more freedom in the Master's program than in the Bachelor's program. I also think it's great that you can decide on a specialization relatively quickly, i.e. either linguistics or literature.
What I don't like, however, is that relatively few seminars are offered per semester, especially if you have to take 3 courses to complete a module. I also miss the practical courses in the Master's program.
What comes after your Master's thesis?
After my Master's thesis, or probably even during it, I will start looking for potential jobs. If I don't find a job straight away, I will definitely try to do as many internships as possible to gain practical experience.
One last tip for those interested in a Master's degree?
If you already enjoyed your studies during your Bachelor's degree, I can only recommend studying for a Master's degree. You deepen your existing knowledge and really learn how to research independently. During your Bachelor's degree, you often don't find the time to really get to grips with a topic in depth, as you're always under time pressure and the Bafög office is breathing down your neck. Personally, I also noticed that it was only during my Master's degree that I realized what I was really interested in and where I could imagine working later on. During my Bachelor's degree, I often didn't have time to really think about it. The Master's course is definitely not a waste of time and it is worthwhile both on a professional and personal level!