1. When was the Department of German Language and Literature established at Hacettepe University? What is the history of the department?

Hacettepe University Department of German Language and Literature was founded by Prof. Dr. Yaşar Önen in the 1966-1967 academic year.

Our department, which has a deep-rooted academic history of more than half a century, has been operating uninterruptedly at both undergraduate and graduate levels since its establishment and continues to meet our country's need for qualified experts in this field.

2. What are the employment areas and career opportunities of graduates of the Department of German Language and Literature?

The Department of German Language and Literature at Hacettepe University equips its students with advanced German language proficiency, as well as analytical thinking, text analysis, intercultural communication, and critical perspective. This equipment allows our graduates to be employed in a wide variety of fields on a national and international scale.

The main sectors and areas where our graduates can pursue a career are as follows:

Education: Our graduates who receive pedagogical formation education can work as German Teachers or Instructors in public schools, private schools, language courses or foreign languages schools of universities affiliated to the Ministry of National Education.

Translation and Publishing: They can work as  literary, technical, legal or consecutive translators and editors in translation offices, publishing houses, magazines and digital media platforms.

Tourism and Guiding: They can work as professional tourist guides by fulfilling the relevant requirements of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism; they can work in administrative positions in travel agencies, hotels and airline companies.

Foreign Affairs and Diplomacy: They can be employed as translators, assistant experts or diplomatic personnel in government institutions, embassies, consulates and international representations, especially in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Private Sector and International Companies: They can work as specialists in the human resources, public relations, foreign trade, logistics, marketing, and customer relations departments of multinational companies, especially those with commercial relations with Germany and German-speaking countries.

Cultural and Artistic Institutions: They can work as project coordinators or cultural consultants in cultural diplomacy institutions such as the Goethe-Institut, art galleries, foundations, and cultural centers.

Academic Career: They can continue their postgraduate education (master's and doctorate) and pursue an academic career as research assistants and faculty members in relevant departments of universities.

With the qualified education it offers, our department prepares its graduates for the future with the competence to meet the needs of the global business world and the academic community.

3. What are the study abroad (Erasmus+) opportunities of your department and which universities do you have agreements with?

Our department attaches great importance to the European Union Erasmus+ Study Mobility program in order to support our students in gaining intercultural experience and improving their language skills on site. In this context, we have bilateral agreements (Inter-institutional Agreements) with Europe's leading well-established universities, especially Germany and Austria.

Students who want to benefit from the Erasmus+ program must meet the general academic average (CGPA) and foreign language threshold score requirements determined by Hacettepe University European Union Coordinatorship. Our selected students gain the right to study for one or two semesters at our contracted universities and benefit from European Union grants.

For the current Erasmus+ partners and quota details of our department, you can visit our Department Erasmus Coordinatorship page [https://ade.hacettepe.edu.tr/tr/menu/erasmus_hakkinda-189], which is updated every application period , or follow the Hacettepe University European Union Coordinatorship website.

4. Can graduates of the Department of German Language and Literature become German teachers? How is pedagogical formation education received?

Yes, graduates of the Department of German Language and Literature can work as German Teachers, provided that they complete the necessary pedagogical training. In accordance with the decisions of the Ministry of National Education (MEB), our graduates must have received Pedagogical Formation Training in order to teach.

Our students can complete this training in two different ways:

During undergraduate education (as an elective course):

Our students can apply to the pedagogical formation program carried out by the Faculty of Education of our university while their undergraduate education continues. The operation of this program is as follows according to Hacettepe University guidelines:

Application Requirements: Our students can apply to the program in the 3rd semester at the earliest and 7th semester at the latest of their undergraduate education. Applicants must have passed all the compulsory courses in their program as of the last semester they have completed.

Evaluation: In case of more applications than the quota, candidates are admitted to the program by ranking them according to their general academic grade point average (CGPA). Students enrolled in a double major (DMP) program can only apply through major programs.

Course Registration and Operation: The  addition and follow-up of formation courses to the system is done by the student's Academic Advisor, the student cannot choose it himself. These courses are in the status of "non-field elective courses" and affect both graduation credits and academic average. Exemption from these courses cannot be requested.

Graduation: Students who successfully complete all the courses in the program will have the inscription "Completed pedagogical formation education" on the back of their diplomas.

After Graduation (as a Certificate Program):

Our graduates who did not take these courses during their undergraduate education or who could not be included in the program due to reasons such as quotas can obtain this certificate later by applying to the "Pedagogical Formation Education Certificate Programs" opened by universities after graduation.

Career Opportunities:

Our graduates who successfully complete the pedagogical formation training, according to the results of the Public Personnel Selection Examination (KPSS), they can be appointed as German Teachers to official educational institutions affiliated to the Ministry of National Education, and they can also teach in private schools and language courses.

5. Is there a compulsory internship in the Department of German Language and Literature?

There is no compulsory internship obligation for graduation in the undergraduate curriculum of our department.

6. Is there a compulsory foreign language preparatory class in your department? What are the conditions for exemption from the preparatory class?

Yes, there is a 1 (one) year compulsory German Preparatory Class in our German Language and Literature Department. Our undergraduate education is 4 years and the total education period is 5 years including the preparatory class.

Preparatory class exemption procedures are carried out in accordance with the legislation of Hacettepe University School of Foreign Languages (SFL). Since Hacettepe University SFL conducts foreign language education through "four basic language skills": reading, writing, listening and speaking; national exams such as YDS and YÖKDİL, which measure only reading, vocabulary and grammar, are not considered equivalent for exemption.

Our students can only be exempted from the preparatory class and start their undergraduate education directly if they meet one of the following conditions:

• Hacettepe University Exemption Exam:  To take the German Foreign Language Exemption Exam organized by the School of Foreign Languages at the beginning of the academic year, in which four basic skills are measured, and to get the minimum grade determined by the University Senate.
• International Exams Accepted as Equivalent: To certify that he/she has received the minimum score determined by the international German language proficiency exams (TestDaF, Goethe-Zertifikat, telc, etc.), which are accepted as equivalent by the Hacettepe University Senate and ÖSYM and measure four language skills, during the registration period.

(Note: Since accepted international language documents and minimum score requirements can be updated with the decisions of the University Senate, it is highly recommended to review the "Foreign Language Exam Equivalencies" announcements on the Hacettepe University School of Foreign Languages website for precise information.)

7. What are the Double Major Program (DMP) opportunities and application requirements for the students of the Department of German Language and Literature?

Students of our department can apply to the Double Major Program (DMP), which allows them to have two separate diplomas by taking courses from another undergraduate program within our university simultaneously while carrying out their undergraduate education.

The contracted departments where students of the Department of German Language and Literature can do a Double Major are as follows:

• Department of English Language and Literature.
• Department of American Culture and Literature.
• Department of French Language and Literature.

Application Requirements

Students who want to apply for a Double Major program must fulfill the following academic requirements:

• Students can apply at the beginning of the 3rd (third) semester of the major undergraduate program at the earliest and at the beginning of the 5th (fifth) semester at the latest.
• All courses in the major undergraduate program must be taken and successfully completed by the semester to be applied.
• At the time of application, the student's GPA must be at least 2.75.
• The student must be in the top twenty percent (20%) in the relevant class of the major diploma program in terms of success ranking.
• However, students who have a GPA of 2.75 and are not in the top 20% of their class in terms of success ranking; They can apply if they have sufficient points, provided that they are not less than the ÖSYS base score of the program they want to do double major in the relevant year.

Execution of the Program and Graduation Requirements

The follow-up of the success status of the students who started their double major education and the graduation conditions are as follows:

• During the double major education, the student's overall academic average in the major program may decrease to 2.50 only once.
• Students whose GPA in the major program falls below 2.50 in any semester or students whose GPA falls below 2.72 for the second time are dismissed from the double major program.
• In order for the student to be awarded a double major undergraduate diploma, he/she must obtain the right to graduate from both the major program and the double major program with a general academic average of at least 2.72.

8. What are the opportunities and application requirements for students of the Department of German Language and Literature to do a minor?

A minor program is a program that allows students enrolled in a bachelor's degree at our university to obtain a "Minor Certificate" by taking a limited number of courses within the scope of another diploma program, provided that they meet the stipulated conditions.

Application Requirements

• Students who want to apply for a minor program must fulfill the following academic requirements:
• Students can apply at the beginning of the 3rd (third) semester of the major undergraduate program at the earliest and at the beginning of the 6th (sixth) semester at the latest.
• The student must have successfully completed all the courses taken in the major undergraduate program until the semester he/she applied.
• At the time of application, the student's general academic average must be at least 2.75.

Execution of the Program

• The education process of students admitted to the minor program is subject to the following rules:
• It is not possible to enroll in more than one minor program at the same time.
• However, students can enroll in both minor and double major (DMP) programs at the same time if they meet the conditions.
• Students can take a maximum of 3 courses in a semester in the minor program.
• In order for the student to continue the minor program, the general academic average in the major program must be at least 2.25.
• Students whose major GPA falls below 2.25 or students who do not take courses for two consecutive semesters without permission are dismissed from the minor program.

Graduation and Certificate Requirements

• The conditions required for students who successfully complete their minor education to receive a certificate are as follows:
• In order for the student to receive a certificate of achievement (minor certificate), he/she must obtain the right to graduate from the major program and complete the minor program with a general academic average of at least 2.25.
• Unless the student is entitled to graduate from the major program, a minor certificate is not given.
• Students who have obtained the right to graduate from the major program but have not yet completed the minor program may be given an additional period of two semesters at most with the decision of the relevant board of directors upon their justified application.

9. What kind of academic and cultural activities are organized in the Department of German Language and Literature that students can participate in?

The Department of German Language and Literature at Hacettepe University maintains an active cultural calendar throughout the year in order to support the academic development of our students and to bring them directly into German culture. Our main activities in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut Ankara, DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), embassies and international publishing houses are:

Author Talks and Reading Events: Contemporary writers from German-speaking countries (Luca Kieser, Theodora Bauer, Meral Kureyshi, etc.) are guests of our department throughout the year. In these events, current developments in the literary world, the literary approach of the author, the writing process of the works and themes such as "migration, identity, belonging" are discussed. Our students have the opportunity to listen to the works firsthand and discuss them directly with the authors.

Panels and Theater Screenings: Comprehensive events that bring together literature and performing arts (e.g., author and work panels accompanied by theater screenings) are organized to bring literary texts to the stage.

Symposiums and Conferences: National and international scientific meetings are organized with the participation of local and foreign academics who are experts in their fields, where current discussions in the fields of literature, cultural studies, translation studies and linguistics are carried out.

This versatile activity network offered by our department contributes greatly to our students' learning by experiencing literature and becoming a part of the international cultural network, not only limited to theoretical knowledge. (For our current event calendar, you can follow the "Announcements" and "Events" tabs of our website.)

10. What does the undergraduate curriculum of the Department of German Language and Literature include? In which fields are courses given?

The 4-year undergraduate curriculum of our department has been prepared with an interdisciplinary approach in order to provide our students with a versatile academic vision. Our curriculum is based on three main pillars: German Literature, Linguistics and Translation.

German Literature and Culture: Our students examine the history of German literature chronologically and thematically, from its inception to the present day. Literary movements such as the Middle Ages, Enlightenment, Romanticism, Classicism and the Modern period, as well as contemporary literary texts, are analyzed in depth. Students' critical thinking and aesthetic comprehension skills are developed through text analysis, literary theories, comparative literature and cultural history courses.

Linguistics: The structural features of German such as phonetics, morphology, syntax, and semantics are handled within a scientific framework. Through courses such as applied linguistics, text linguistics, and acquisition theories, students are given an analytical language awareness by examining how language functions, is learned, and used.

Translation Studies and Applied Translation: We aim for our students to have a high level of command of both languages (German and Turkish). In addition to translation theories, the basic infrastructure of the professional translation profession is provided with applied courses such as literary translation and translation according to text types.

These three main areas are supported by the wide range of elective courses offered by our department.

11. Which authors and literary works are taught in the courses of the Department of German Language and Literature? Is there a sample reading list?

In the curriculum of our department, masterpieces from a wide period of time from the beginning of German literature to the present day are examined in detail. In our courses, basic works representing different periods and literary movements of literary history (Enlightenment, Storm and Enthusiasm, Weimar Classicism, Romanticism, Realism, Modernism and Contemporary Literature) are taught.

Some of the authors and their works that are examined in our courses and recommended to our students are as follows:

Enlightenment, Storm and Stress (Sturm und Drang) and Classicism:

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust, The Sorrows of Young Werther (Die Leiden des jungen Werthers)

Friedrich Schiller:  The Bandits (Die Räuber), Wilhelm Tell

Romanticism and Vormärz (Pre-March):

Heinrich von Kleist:  The Broken Jug (Der zerbrochne Krug), Michael Kohlhaas

Heinrich Heine: Selected Poems, Germany: A Winter's Tale (Deutschland. Ein Wintermärchen)

Georg Büchner: Woyzeck, Danton's Death (Dantons Tod)

Realism and Naturalism:

Theodor Fontane: Effi Briest

Gerhart Hauptmann:  The Weavers (Die Weber), Lineman Thiel (Bahnwärter Thiel)

Early 20th Century and Modernism:

Thomas Mann: The Buddenbrook Family (Buddenbrooks), The Magic Mountain (Der Zauberberg)

Hermann Hesse: Steppenwolf , Siddhartha

Franz Kafka: The Metamorphosis (Die Verwandlung), The Trial (Der Process)

Post-War Literature (Trümmerliteratur) and Epic Theater:

Bertolt Brecht: Mother Courage and Her Children (Mutter Courage und ihre Kinder), The Threepenny Opera (Die Dreigroschenoper)

Wolfgang Borchert: Outside the Doors (Draußen vor der Tür)

Contemporary German Literature:

Patrick Süskind: Perfume  (Das Parfum)

Martin Walser: Das fliehende Pferd

These works are meticulously handled in our compulsory and elective literature courses in order to improve our students' textual analysis, literary criticism and historical-cultural context-building skills.

12. Does the Department of German Language and Literature have its own library? What resources can students access?

Yes, there is a special library (reading and research room) within the Department of German Language and Literature at Hacettepe University, which is open to the direct use of our students and academics.

In addition to the huge facilities offered by our university's Beytepe Central Library, our departmental library hosts a German collection that focuses directly on our own field.

13. Where can I find official forms (minor application form, elective course cancellation form, etc.) and petition samples that I may need during my education process?

Students of the Department of German Language and Literature at Hacettepe University can easily access many of the official application documents that they need to submit to the department chair or dean's office during their education digitally through our website [https://ade.hacettepe.edu.tr/tr/menu/yararli_belgeler-213].

14. What is the accreditation status of the Department of German Language and Literature? Is the quality of education certified?

Hacettepe University Department of German Language and Literature is a well-established program that has been registered to provide education at national and international quality standards.

The undergraduate program of our department has been awarded 5-year full accreditation as a result of the comprehensive evaluations made by the Association for Evaluation and Accreditation of Curriculum Programs of the Faculties of Science, Literature, Arts and Sciences, Language and History and Geography (FEDEK).

This accreditation; It certifies by an independent authorized institution that the course curriculum, academic staff competence, research activities, student opportunities and educational infrastructure of our department comply with high quality standards.

15. How does the academic advising system work? To whom or where should I apply in which academic processes?

Each student enrolled in the Department of German Language and Literature at Hacettepe University is assigned an instructor as an "Academic Advisor" who will guide them throughout their undergraduate education.

Class/Academic Advisors: Responsible for the basic processes of our students such as course selection, course registration approval, graduation credit tracking, information about regulations and general academic planning. The first person you should turn to for general academic issues related to your education is the academic advisor of your own class.

Department Coordinators: For matters other than academic advising, there are special "Coordinators" working in our department for more specific issues such as international exchange programs (Erasmus+), Double Major (DMP) and Minor programs . In the application and execution processes of such specific programs, it is necessary to contact the coordinator of the relevant program directly. The list of our department coordinators is available on our website [https://ade.hacettepe.edu.tr/tr/menu/koordinatorler-111].

16. Does your department have Master's and Doctorate programs? How can I apply for these programs?

Yes, the Department of German Language and Literature at Hacettepe University has a deep-rooted academic tradition and  conducts Master's (with Thesis) and Doctorate programs at the graduate level in addition to the undergraduate program.

Our graduate education programs are  carried out within the Institute of Social Sciences of Hacettepe University  . All candidates, including undergraduate graduates of our department, who have graduated from related fields and meet the necessary application requirements can apply to our programs.

The following conditions are generally sought in the admission process to graduate education:

• To get the minimum valid score from the Academic Personnel and Graduate Education Entrance Exam (ALES).
• To provide the required minimum score from YDS, YÖKDİL or international foreign language exams (German) whose equivalence is accepted by the University Senate.
• To have a bachelor's degree for master's degree and a master's diploma with thesis and a minimum graduation grade point average (CGPA) for doctorate.
• To be successful in the scientific evaluation (written and oral interview) exam conducted by our department.

Graduate application dates, current admission requirements and opened quotas  are announced on the official website of Hacettepe University Graduate School of Social Sciences before each semester (fall and spring). Students who want to continue their academic career in our department should follow the web page of the relevant institute for up-to-date announcements.

17. How are exam evaluations and letter grade system made? What is the passing grade?

In our department, a midterm exam and a final exam are usually applied for each course in an academic semester. Course success grades are calculated according to the standard letter grade and coefficient system determined by our university.

The scores, letter grades and coefficients expressing the course success grades are as follows:

95-100: A1 (4.00)

90-94: A2 (3.75)

85-89: A3 (3.50)

80-84: B1 (3.25)

75-79: B2 (3.00)

70-74: B3 (2.75)

65-69: C1 (2.50)

60-64: C2 (2,25)

55-59: C3 (2.00)

50-54: D (1.75)

0-49: F1, F2, F3, F6 (0.00)

In order for students to be considered successful in a course, they  must get one of the grades A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3, C1, C2, C3 or D from that course.

Meanings of Unsuccessful Letter Grades and Make-up Right:

F1: The student does not have the right to take the general and make-up exam due to absenteeism, he/she is considered unsuccessful.

F2: Indicates that the  student has the right to take the general or make-up exam but did not take the exam, is considered unsuccessful.

F3: Indicates that the student took the general or make-up exam but failed.

F6: It is the grade received by students who cannot fulfill the requirements to take the proficiency exam (other than attendance) in the preparatory class during the year; there is no right to proficiency and make-up exams.

Students whose course success grade is F2 or F3 as a result of the final exams have the  right to take the make-up exams of that course on the dates specified in the academic calendar.

For detailed information, see: Hacettepe University Associate Degree, Undergraduate Education and Training Regulation [https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2025/07/20250730-19.htm]

18. What is the right to "Three Course Exam" for students at the graduation stage? How do the application requirements and process work?

Three course exams; It is a special exam right applied to students who are about to complete their education but fail a small number of courses in order to provide graduation opportunities.

According to the regulations of our university, in order to benefit from this right, students must meet the following conditions:

Graduation Status: In  order for the student to graduate, he/she must have a maximum of three failed courses left.

Attendance Requirement: These courses to be taken in the exam must have been taken in the previous semesters and the attendance requirement must be fulfilled. The right to take three course exams cannot be used for courses that have been failed due to absenteeism (F1 letter grade) or have never been taken before.

Application Process:

Students who meet the requirements must make their applications before the "Three Course Exams" week specified in the Hacettepe University Academic Calendar. The application process is carried out in the following steps:

The up-to-date "Three Course Exam Application Form" in the "Useful Documents" tab of our website  is filled in completely and signed.

The form is submitted to the Department Secretariat together with the current transcript document.

Students whose applications are examined and found to meet the conditions take their exams on the days and times announced by our department.

(Note: The grade obtained in the three course exams replaces the final success grade of that course. Students who are successful in these exams are entitled to start the graduation process.)

19. How are course cancellation procedures carried out? Can I cancel a course I failed?

Course cancellation procedures are evaluated in two different contexts:

1. Course Cancellation at the Beginning of the Semester (Add-Drop Week): After completing their course registrations (schedules), our students can add, delete or change courses during the "Add-Drop Week" that takes place on the dates specified in the academic calendar. Outside these dates, normal course deletion cannot be made through the system.

2. Deletion of Failed Course (Dropping from Transcript): It is  only possible for students to completely delete the courses they have taken and failed before for certain elective courses. A maximum of three of the elective courses failed during the education  can be deleted. All of the other elective courses and compulsory courses that are failed must be taken again. If a course is retaken for failure or grade improvement, the most recent grade is valid.

20. How are caps, gowns and shawls supplied for the graduation ceremony?

Our students who will attend the graduation ceremony can obtain their caps, gowns and shawls (graduation set) needs in accordance with Hacettepe University standards in two different ways:

a. Rental with Deposit (Returnable):

At the end of each academic year, our students deposit the gown deposit fee determined and announced by our university to the account of Hacettepe University Strategy Development Department. (Name-Surname, TR Identity Number, Faculty/Department name and "Gown Fee" must be written in the payment description.)

Our students; They apply to our department on the announced dates with the payment receipt and  the wet-signed "Cap, Gown and Shawl Information Form (Annex-1)"  on our website and receive their sets.

At the end of the ceremony, the  deposit fees are refunded by the university to the personal IBAN numbers they specified on the "Deposit Return Form (Annex-2)" to be filled out by the students who return their robes, caps and shawls to our department as a set.

b. Purchasing from Hacettepe Store:

Students who want to keep their graduation team as a souvenir  can purchase directly from the Hacettepe Store stores in our Sıhhiye or Beytepe campuses.

(Note: Gown distribution/return dates, delivery points and current deposit fees are announced under the "Announcements" tab on our department's website every year before the graduation ceremonies.)

21. How are the dismissal procedures of graduating students carried out? Which units need approval?

In order for our students who are entitled to graduate to receive their diplomas, they must fill out the "Graduate Student Dismissal Form" completely, get approval from the relevant units and complete the process.

Unit Approvals: Our students are required to go to the following units respectively and obtain signatures and seals from the authorities stating that they are no longer affiliated with the institution:

Library

Beytepe Student Houses / H.U. Guest House

H.U. Dormitories for Girls / Boys (Note: Even if you have never stayed in our university dormitories or student houses during your student life, you must obtain approval from these accommodation units as per the procedure.)

EU Office / Farabi Coordinatorship: Students studying in other institutions through Erasmus or Farabi programs in this field must obtain approval.

Submission of the Form: After obtaining approval from all specified units, the dismissal form  must be submitted to the Department Officials as the final stage.

Student ID Card Return: In addition to this entire approval process, the Hacettepe University Student ID Card must also be returned to the authorized unit as part of the dismissal procedure (In case of loss of the ID card, procedures such as newspaper loss announcement etc. are usually applied).

22. How does the graduation approval process work? What stages does the graduation decision go through?

The procedures of students who fulfill the graduation requirements (credit and compulsory/elective course obligations, etc.) specified in the relevant regulations are carried out through our university's information systems (BİLSİS and Student Affairs system). This process generally consists of the following approval stages:

Academic Advisor Review: The student's academic status (transcript, courses taken, graduation credits, and general grade point average) is examined by their academic advisor within the framework of the relevant legislation. If it is evaluated that the necessary conditions are met, the first approval is given through the system.

Department Head Approval: Records that pass the advisor stage are forwarded to the Department Chair. The student's situation is evaluated in line with the department curriculum and university regulations and is approved by the Department Chair.

Dean's Office/Board of Directors Decision: After the graduation approvals are confirmed through BİLSİS by the Advisor, Department Head, and Dean, the student's graduation process is carried out by the Department of Student Affairs.

After these decision processes are completed, the student's graduation information is transferred to the Department of Student Affairs system, and the diploma preparation process begins.