Frequently Asked Questions

I have studied at a university in a German - or English -speaking country but did not receive my degree there. Do I have to take the language exams anyway?

All applicants who are neither native German or English speakers nor have earned a degree at a university with German or English as a teaching language are required to submit certification of their German/English proficiency with TestDaF (DHS) and TOEFL (CAE, IELTS) scores.

The results of my language test(s) will not be issued until the official application deadline. Is there any possibility to hand in the results afterwards?

Results of the TestDaF (DHS) and TOEFL (CAE or IELTS) exams can be handed in after the application deadline, but should not arrive later than March, 31st. If you are not able to submit the certificates of your German respective English proficiencies until February, 29th, please note on your application form under ‘additional remarks’ the approximate date when to expect the results of your TestDAF/DHS and TOEFL/CAE/IELTS.

I have earned my degree in another discipline than those represented at the Cluster “Languages of Emotion”. Am I still eligible to apply?

In exceptional cases, degrees of disciplines related to the ones represented at the Cluster will be accepted. However, it is important that your dissertation project matches with the research areas of the Cluster.

My degree certificate will not be issued until July, 31st. Am I still eligible to apply?

We will only admit applicants, who have received their M.A. degree until July, 31st. If the degree certificate has not been issued until this date, we will accept provisional material. This provisional certificate has to document the final grade.

How can I find out which faculty member fits as potential mentor/supervisor?

Please take a look at the homepages of the professors to find more detailed information on their research projects and publications. All disciplines collaborating in the Cluster are being displayed under http://www.geisteswissenschaften.fu-berlin.de/languagesofemotion/
vernetzung/index.html. You may follow the links to the respective homepages.

Do I have to contact faculty members in advance in order to ask if he or she will supervise me or can I just list whoever seems appropriate?

Please just list with whom you would like to work. The final decision on the supervisor and the team of mentors will be based upon the interview in May.