Summer course for Sorbian language and culture

The international summer course for Sorbian language and culture is aimed at Slavists, Slavic Studies students from Germany and abroad as well as all those interested in learning the Upper Sorbian language. This program, offered by the Sorbian Institute every two years, consists of Upper Sorbian language classes for beginners and advanced learners, lectures on the Sorbian language, literature, history and culture, discussions with Sorbian writers and artists as well as visits to cultural institutions and excursions through Lusatia.

In the form of a three-week intensive course, this program teaches the basics for independent learning of the Upper Sorbian language, serves to complement and further any previous self-taught knowledge of the language and provides opportunities for real world language application in Lusatia. Furthermore, the course aims to arouse interest in the Upper Sorbian language and culture, promote their visibility in Slavic Studies institutions and departments at universities in Germany and abroad, and serve as a means for information on Sorbian life and minority politics to be spread across the globe through participants’ personal experiences.

Over 500 professors, lecturers, students, journalists, and translators from 30 countries and almost every continent have taken part in the summer vacation courses to date. The results of participation in the summer course for Sorbian language and culture can clearly be seen in the numerous dissertations and master’s theses on the Sorbian language, culture and history, translations and editions of Sorbian literature abroad as well as interesting publications by course participants themselves.

Course participants are charged a participation fee. This is based on the expenses for meals and accommodation. Applicants’ situations (e.g. student) as well as the conditions in the countries of origin are also taken into account.

Information on the current summer courses can be found in our event overview six months before the start of each course. Applications for the course in summer 2024 are possible from the beginning of 2024.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Fabian Kaulfürst.

Sorbian Summer Course 2024
Serbski institut / Sorbian Institute
Bahnhofstr. 6
D-02625 Budyšin / Bautzen

Those interested in Lower Sorbian/Wendish can find up-to-date information on upcoming courses on the homepage of the School of Lower Sorbian Language and Culture.

Summer courses for Sorbian language and culture have been organized every two years since 1967 – in the 1960/80s by the University of Leipzig and since 1992 by the Sorbian Institute in Bautzen. For organizational and capacity reasons, only 25 to 30 participants were able to take part in the vacation courses until 1994. After the renovation of the Sorbian Secondary School’s student housing, up to 50 applicants were able to take part and at times there were as many as 100 applicants per course.