Journalism for the European Idea – the German-French Master of Transnational Journalism

With our transnational master’s programme, we overcome transcend borders – geographically and journalistically. Together with the Université Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris and the Franco-German University (DFH), students are prepared for professional practice in a Europe that is growing together. The participants study the first year in Paris, the second in Mainz. The courses are offered in German, French and English, and the journalistic and academic perspective is transnational rather than national. The programme is open to applicants from all fields of study with very good language skills.

Modules Teaching Programme

No further applications possible

We are very sorry to announce that applications for the Master's programme in Transnational Journalism are no longer being accepted. Unfortunately, we will no longer receive financial support to administer this programme after 2026, which is why we have been forced to close it. As a result, we cannot accept any new students. This step is very difficult for us, as we are losing an extremely successful and unique programme – one that embodies the spirit of Franco-German friendship. We will, of course, maintain our relationship with the Université Sorbonne Nouvelle and are grateful to our dear colleagues for many years of cooperation. We can, of course, still recommend our other Master's programmes to applicants with a Bachelor's degree, which also offer opportunities for going abroad:

Master Journalism Certificate Degrees

How the degree programme is structured

The content of the first module consists of fundamentals and current trends of press journalism of agencies, newspapers, magazines and journals in France and Germany. You will learn to research, write and edit the basic journalistic forms of presentation in French and German, gain comparative insights into the practice of journalism in France and Germany and be taught journalistic quality criteria as well as the ability to deal with questions of media ethics. The most relevant strategies and techniques of press journalism of magazines and journals, including researching and writing the specific forms of presentation, are practiced and journalistic text contributions are produced in both languages. The examination of theoretical and practical aspects of the work of foreign correspondents is also part of the module.

Modules

Partner university

All information about the German-French Master's programme "Transnational Journalism" at the Université Sorbonne Nouvelle can be found here. The programme is managed at the Sorbonne by the programme officers Dr. Valérie Robert.

Course of studies

This is a small programme of excellence with a total of 12 places: Six in Mainz, six in Paris. Participants spend one year at their home university (university of admission) and one year at the partner university. During their studies, all students go through the same modules, which are distributed between the two universities. A modular overview of the study contents can be found here.

The teaching staff in Mainz and Paris consists of lecturers and scholars from various disciplines (e.g. history, German studies, information and communication sciences, European studies, cultural studies) and experts (German and French journalists from various media). The students are thus trained theoretically as well as practically and undergo an intercultural, interdisciplinary and transnational study in Mainz and Paris.

Funding

During the second year of study abroad at the partner university, students receive financial support (mobility grants) from the DFH. Also available is an ERASMUS grant, which is paid out at the beginning of the year abroad and is also intended to provide financial support to students in the partner country. For further information, please contact the study office of the Franco-German Master's in Transnational Journalism in Mainz after you have obtained your place and started your studies.

Graduation

Graduates receive a double German-French diploma, which is issued according to the Cotutelle procedure (a French diploma, a German diploma and a diploma from the DFH).