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How to apply to the graduate program 2025-2026

The Department of Germanic Languages & Literatures offers Ph.D. students a generous funding package that is guaranteed for five years. Sixth-year students are eligible for a doctoral completion grant. We are also able to fund many students in our one-year MA program with a combination of teaching opportunities and internal fellowships. Applications to the Graduate Program in German Literature, Culture and Theory must be submitted through the School of Graduate Studies online application website. The complete application includes: the online form submission of transcripts (please submit electronic transcripts, originals are only required after admission) letters of recommendation (MA:2, PhD:3) a brief resume a sample of written work a statement of up to 700 words outlining your research interests and reasons for embarking on graduate study Please consult the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) Calendar and the departmental Graduate Handbook for details on eligibility criteria. Additional information may be obtained from the SGS Admissions page, the SGS Degree Progams Quick Facts (MA) and Degree Programs Quick Facts (PhD), and the SGS application FAQ. The deadline for online application and payment of the application fee is 15 January 2025. We look forward to receiving your application and wish you much success in ... Read More »

German Studies Undergraduate Journal Zeitgeist 2024 Now Available Online

The German Studies Students’ Union (GSSU) just published the latest edition of the Undergraduate Journal Zeitgeist online:  This new edition features a vibrant mix of academic texts, thought-provoking opinion pieces, creative literary works, and personal experiences shared by our talented undergraduate students.  At Zeitgeist, GSSU believes in providing students with a platform to showcase their diverse voices, perspectives, and academic achievements within the field of German studies. The mission is to foster an inclusive and vibrant scholarly community where students from all backgrounds, years, and disciplines can contribute their unique insights and engage in interdisciplinary dialogue. Through this journal, GSSU seeks to inspire curiosity, foster interdisciplinary connections, and promote a deeper understanding and appreciation of German studies among students and scholars worldwide. By embracing diversity, promoting inclusivity, and valuing academic excellence, Zeitgeist aims to make a meaningful contribution to the advancement of knowledge and scholarship in the field of German studies. We invite you to dive into this exciting collection of articles and join us in celebrating the hard work and creativity of our students. Read More »

Miriam Borden’s new peer-reviewed publication in Canadian Jewish Studies

Miriam's first peer-reviewed publication

Miriam Borden, PhD student in the Yiddish Stream of the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures, is excited to announce her first peer-reviewed publication in the 38th volume of Canadian Jewish Studies, titled “Joshua, King David, and the Flying Nun: Doodles and Reader Annotations in Post-Holocaust Yiddish Primers for Children”. Miriam’s article is a part of a special volume dedicated to Jewish Education in Canada. The article explores the humourous and insightful children’s doodles and reader annotations in Yiddish textbooks used by students at Yiddish schools in Toronto in the 1950s -70s. These annotations offer a window into children’s experiences in developing their relationship between Yiddish and Jewishness. Read the full article HERE. Read More »

Sophie Jordan Wins 2024 Innovative German Award

Sophie Jordan, a PhD student in Germanic Languages and Literatures, has been awarded the 2024 Innovative German Award by German Studies Canada (GSC) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for her project ‘Reading Blackness and Race in Germanic Arthurian Romance’. The award focuses on new courses, curriculum and program development, and the implementation of new teaching and learning approaches in German Studies. Based on original research, Sophie’s project ‘Reading Blackness and Race in Germanic Arthurian Romance’ aims to make teaching about blackness in medieval German and Dutch literature accessible to a wide range of post-secondary educators. To this end, Sophie has created a series of free and fully adaptable interactive materials as well as detailed lesson plans hosted on Pressbooks. The goal of these materials is to highlight the diversity of Germanic experiences and peoples reflected in the literature of the High Middle Ages. Instructors teaching courses on diversity in German culture, on medieval German studies, or on other related topics, can now access, use and adapt these materials without the need for further research and with very minimal preparation. The knowledge that 13th and 14th-century writers portrayed complex, multi-faceted yet successful black Arthurian knights will support students’ grasp ... Read More »