Learn Galician
The Centro de Estudos Galegos at Heidelberg University offers opportunities to explore Galician language and culture through university courses, as well as study and mobility programmes in Galicia. Galician is a Romance language spoken by more than two million people in the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula and forms part of a wider linguistic area shared with Portuguese.
Through the CEG’s courses and activities, students can begin learning Galician, discover Galicia’s cultural landscape, and explore issues related to linguistic and cultural diversity.
Courses in Heidelberg
The CEG offers university courses in Galician language and culture for students at Heidelberg University. These courses provide a foundation in Galician, develop communication skills, and introduce students to Galicia’s history, culture, and sociolinguistic context.
The courses offered in the winter semester 2026-2027 (WiSe 2026–2027) are:
Galicisch I
An introductory Galician language course covering basic grammar and vocabulary and developing foundational comprehension and expression skills.
Galicisch II
An elementary Galician language course for students with some prior knowledge of the language. It introduces more complex structures and develops students’ ability to use Galician in different contexts.
Proseminar
Academic Collaborations
The Centro de Estudos Galegos in Heidelberg collaborates with other academic and cultural institutions to promote Galician language and culture. These initiatives include teaching and academic activities developed in cooperation with the University of Vienna, as well as cultural activities organised in collaboration with the Instituto Cervantes in Munich.
These collaborations strengthen the international presence of Galician studies and build networks of cooperation between European universities and cultural institutions.
Explore Language and Culture in Galicia
Students wishing to continue their studies can also learn Galician in Galicia through university mobility programmes, summer courses, and scholarship schemes.
Erasmus+ Programme
Heidelberg University has mobility agreements with Galician universities that enable students to spend a study period in Galicia. Erasmus places are currently available at the following universities:
- University of Santiago de Compostela: 4 places for Romance Studies (Romanistik) and 3 places for the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (IÜD).
- University of Vigo: 2 places for the IÜD.
Further information about the application process is available on the Heidelberg University website.
BEME Scholarships
The Xunta de Galicia offers the Bolsas de Excelencia Mocidade Exterior (BEME) scholarships annually, enabling Spanish nationals who meet specific eligibility requirements to pursue master’s degrees at Galician universities.
“Galego sen fronteiras” Summer Courses
Among the available study opportunities is the Galego sen fronteiras international course, organised by the Real Academia Galega, which offers intensive tuition in Galician language and culture every summer.
Certification and Other Courses
The Secretaría Xeral da Lingua website provides information about other Galician language courses and the official CELGA language certification examinations.