German unit
Why German?
Studying German at the University of Namur means studying a language that is used worldwide as a first or second language by over 100 million speakers, mainly in Europe, but also in Africa (for example, in the Namibian city of Windhoek), South America (in the Brazilian region of Rio Grande do Sul) and Australia. It's studying a language that allows you to discover German-speaking cultures and literature, rich in original versions. It's also studying a language that gives you direct access to one of Europe's strongest economies, and whose knowledge - like the intercultural and communication skills you'll learn - will boost your chances on the job market. Concerned with capitalizing on students' different basic skills, the young and dynamic team at the German Unit offers its students rich and varied teaching of the German language, cultures and literatures. Through the many activities - readings, colloquia and conferences, visits to museums and archives, cultural evenings hosted by students and annual didactic trips (to Berlin, Vienna, Frankfurt, Cologne, Düsseldorf, etc.) - that the German Unit organizes as part of its courses and research projects, all students acquire (socio)linguistic, (inter)cultural and transversal skills that are both in-depth and diversified. The German Unit's contacts with partner institutions in Germany, Austria and Switzerland enable students studying German to spend a semester abroad during the third year of their bachelor's degree. Don't hesitate to come and visit us during one or other of our open course weeks. In the meantime, the site can already help you get an idea of the team, the program and the various activities we offer. Anyway: Herzlich willkommen!
Teaching
Research
Activities
APAW
The Association for the Promotion of the German Language in Wallonia (APAW) was created at the turn of the century. The aim was to develop strategies to promote German, the official language of the Walloon Region, in education and the economic sector in Wallonia. The German language is an integral part of the Walloon Region, which is therefore officially bilingual. Contacts: manfred.peters@unamur.be or apaw.namur@gmail.com
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Contact
German unitJeroen DARQUENNES+ 32 81 72 41 71 - jeroen.darquennes@unamur.beValérie LEYH+ 32 81 72 41 75 - valerie.leyh@unamur.beon appointment (via email)
Faculté de Philosophie et LettresRue de Bruxelles, 61 B-5000 NAMUR
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Bachelor of Medicine - Registration procedure for resident students
To enroll in the bachelor's degree program in medicine, students must first pass the entrance exam. The procedure differs depending on the student's status: resident or non-resident.
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Teaching
Special features at the University of Namur
The specificity of teaching German language and German literature at the University of Namur lies fundamentally in its plural approach. While, in general, courses and seminars are organized on the basis of interactive methods and practices, they are also accompanied by various activities that enable students to deepen their knowledge, discover specific themes and really get to grips with German-speaking cultures. These activities, often linked to current cultural events, include: exercise sessions that prepare, accompany and complement each language and literature course. In the first year, these exercise sessions are organized according to different level groups (beginners, advanced); conversation classes at all levels (Block 1, Block 2 and Block 3); sessions devoted to the projection of German-language films ; didactic workshops and projects linked to the various courses; student-led cultural evenings ("Frühlingsfest"); annual didactic trips.
Course overview
First-year German language coursesGrundkurs Deutsch (Introduction to the German language) (1st and 2nd quarters) Deutsche Sprachbeherrschung (Mastery of the German language) (2nd quadrimester) Deutsche Sprachwissenschaft (German Linguistics) (2nd semester) First-year German literature and civilization courseGeschichte der deutschen Literatur I (History of German Literature I) (1st quadrimester) Literarische Textanalyse I (Analysis of German-language literary texts I) (2nd quadrimester)
Erasmus
Research
Activities
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Research
Linguistics
While operating within the theoretical and methodological framework of contact linguistics, (historical) sociolinguistics and the sociology of language, research in German and general linguistics within the German Unit focuses primarily on the following themes: the social history of German in Belgium, with a particular interest in the evolution of German both as a language of instruction and as a foreign language from 1830 onwards; the status and use of German as a first and second language in (the German-speaking Community of) Belgium and the Greater Region, as well as the status and use of German as a 'lingua franca' in Europe ; practical management (and the tension between theory and practice) of language policy and planning among linguistic minorities in Europe;language conflict from a theoretical and practical point of view.
Literature
From a literary standpoint, the German Unit's research focuses on three main themes and periods: 18th-century literature and culture: these projects focus on the writings and practices of Enlightenment women of letters, on literary networks in this period, and on the beginnings of children's literature. Literature of the 19th century (particularly German realism) and the early 20th century: research on these topics focuses on narratological issues. exile literature, intercultural literature and travel narratives of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Doctorates in progress
Emma Joveneau's thesis project focuses on the standard variety of German in the German-speaking Community of Belgium in the context of German pluricentricity. Guillaume Etienne, meanwhile, studies travel narratives on foot in contemporary German-language literature, focusing on their societal, ecological, spiritual and historical dimensions.
A description of the research carried out by the German Unit is available above. For further information, please consult the website of the research institute NaLTT (Namur Institute of Language, Text and Transmediality).
The UNamur research portal
Teaching
Erasmus
Activities
Research at the University of Namur
Research
All the information you need about research (institutes, themes, projects, publications, services for researchers, etc.).
ADRE
The Research Administration (ADRE) is at the disposal of researchers and partners in terms of funding, sound management and valorization of research projects.
Services for researchers
Learn more about all the services reserved for researchers at the University of Namur, from Masters to qualified researchers.
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Activities
A language is a living phenomenon. It is spoken in everyday life and cannot be learned exclusively from books. That's why the German Unit offers its students, members and other interested parties a wide range of activities. Please feel free to visit the various sections to learn more about these different activities.
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Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine - non-resident student
Certain fields of study, known as "contingent studies," only allow a limited number of non-resident students to be admitted. The bachelor's degree in veterinary medicine is affected by this measure, as are the following programs:Bachelor's degree in physical therapy and rehabilitation (universities)Bachelor's degree in psychology and education, specializing in speech therapy (universities)Bachelor's degree in speech therapy (colleges)Bachelor's degree in physical therapy (colleges)Bachelor's degree in audiology (colleges)
Procedure
A decree regulates the number of non-resident students who are allowed to enroll in this program for the first time. The number of "non-resident" students is limited to 20% of the total number of students (residents and non-residents) who enrolled for the first time in this program the previous year, i.e., 44 for 2025-2026. Non-resident students are selected by lottery.The number of applications submitted by August 28, 2025, for the lottery is 255.Please note that if you are a student of non-European Union nationality who is not treated as a Belgian national, you must also meet the following conditions:You must have obtained a high school diploma no more than three years ago (i.e., at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year for admission in 2026-2027).Have obtained a minimum average of 13/20 or 65% in your high school diploma.Provide proof of sufficient proficiency in French, either with the Test de Connaissance du Français (TCF – Level B2), the DALF (Level C1-C2), or the DELF (minimum Level B2).Important notes:You may only submit one application for one of the limited-enrollment programs AND at only one university in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. Learn more. (Students who violate this provision will be excluded from the higher education institution to which they were admitted in one of the limited-enrollment programs.)Incomplete applications will be automatically rejected.
Download the deposit terms and conditions (PDF)
When submitting your registration application, you must gather all the required documents (listed in the "non-resident" form below), log in to the specific application submission platform, and create an account.Once your "non-resident" application has been uploaded to the application submission platform, you will receive a confirmation email containing a copy of the submitted application and the number assigned to it for the lottery.
Download the "non-resident" form
Submit your application on the specific platform for non-residents
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Bachelor of Medicine - non-resident student
To enroll in the bachelor's degree program in medicine, students must first pass the entrance exam. The procedure differs depending on the student's status: resident or non-resident.
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Preparatory courses for the medical entrance examination - year 2024 - Exemption or partial reimbursement of registration fees
If you* receive financial assistance** from a C.P.A.S.Registration for preparatory courses is free***.The registration form must be accompanied by a certificate from the C.P.A.S.* or your dependents** a living wage, social assistance or any other one-off financial aid from a C.P.A.S.*** Free tuition is granted for one year onlyIf you have refugee status*Registration to preparatory courses is free**.The registration form must be accompanied by:for refugees: a photocopy of your two-sided identity card;for refugee candidates: a photocopy of your two-sided identity card ("carte orange"). Failing that, a copy of appendix 26 provided by the Foreigners' Office when you arrived on Belgian territory.for people with subsidiary protection status: the decision issued by the Foreigners' Office granting the benefit of protection.* or refugee candidate or if you benefit from subsidiary protection status** Free tuition is granted for one year onlyIf you benefit from a study allowance from the FWBIf you enroll at UNamur in 2024-2025 and you receive a study allowance from the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles for the 2024-2025 academic year, you will be entitled to a 50% refund of the registration fee. Your request must be submitted before September 30, 2024 via the online form.The reimbursement will be made from January 2025 as soon as the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles has confirmed to us the allocation of the study allowance.Any information concerning the procedure and application forms for the granting of higher education allowances can be requested from Service des Allocations d'études - Bureau régional de Namur - Rue Van Opré, 89 - 5100 Jambes - Tel. : 02 413 37 37If you unsubscribeIf you unsubscribe only via the online form, no later than October 28, 2024 for the winter session,no later than June 15, 2024 for the summer session, you will automatically be refunded the full registration fee minus €20 administrative fee, i.e. €70 (or €120 if you have not yet come to collect your syllabuses) for the winter session and €50 (or €100 if you have not yet come to collect your syllabuses) for the summer session.
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Preparatory courses for mathematics and physics students
The program is designed to enable you to choose the most appropriate subjects to prepare you for your first university year in mathematics and physics. This session is aimed primarily at students who are completing studies in which the mathematics program consists of six hours or less per week, or who feel insufficiently prepared to tackle a first year in mathematics or physics. These courses should enable you to refresh your knowledge on certain points, but also to get in touch with university teaching.
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Preparatory courses for students of biology, chemistry, geography, geology and veterinary medicine
The program is designed to enable you to choose the most appropriate subjects to prepare you for your first year at university in biology, chemistry, geography, geology or veterinary medicine.
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Preparatory courses for students in Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
Whether you choose to study pharmacy or biomedical sciences, in your first year you'll mainly be confronted with scientific disciplines. The preparatory courses designed for you therefore offer revision in mathematics and science, but also seminars on study methods.
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Preparatory courses for economics and management students
During the preparatory courses, you have the opportunity to take 3 sessions of courses: mathematics and university work methodology, Dutch and English..
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