Old Frisian
The Old Frisian Summer School is a bi-annual event co-hosted by the University of Groningen and Oxford University. The 4th edition will take place in Groningen in July 2025.
In a five-day programme, students will learn about Old Frisian language, texts, culture and history in the context of Old Germanic languages. There are lectures on Old Frisian grammar, its position within the Germanic language family, Frisians in Anglo-Saxon sources, Old Frisian Law and Literature. Library visits will focus on Old Frisian manuscripts, both in Groningen (UL) and in Leeuwarden (Tresoar’s ‘Richthofenkolleksje’, Unesco heritage).
On Wednesday, the third day of the programme, there is a full day in the Frisian capital of Leeuwarden, including visits to Tresoar, the Frisian Academy and the Frisian Museum. The day will close with drinks, hosted by the King’s Commissioner of Fryslân. On Thursday evening, there is a conference dinner. On Friday morning, OFSS alumni will lecture on research they have conducted into Old Frisian after having attended the OFSS themselves.
The OFSS will close with an optional social programme on Saturday, with a nice bike ride along several of the famous Frisian ‘terps’. The ride will include a lunch.
Groningen is renowned for its dynamic student life, because of the large student population as well as the opening hours of bars.
The 2025 OFSS edition is organized in association with Tresoar and the Frisian Academy.
Practical information
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Dates & location
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7 - 11 July 2025 (12 July - social programme), Groningen, the Netherlands (hybrid)
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Level
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BA/MA/PhD/Postdoc (in person admission) Practitioners (online admission)
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Fee
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On campus attendance fees:
€ 350 on campus standard rate
€ 300 early bird rate applies when candidate applies by 1 April 2025 Online attendance fees:
€ 175 online standard rate
Full fee includes:
Online fees will include:
A (mandatory) hybrid one-day course on Friday (4 July 2025), for applicants with a non-linguistic background, in order to get up to speed on terminology and the basics of Old Germanic languages.
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Academic coordinator
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Anne Popkema (Faculty of Arts, UG)
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Contact
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ofss@rug.nl
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Requirements
The summer school is an event in the field of linguistics, aimed at students, PhD candidates and early career researchers with an interest in (Old) Germanic languages who want to familiarise themselves with Old Frisian.
It is expected that the participants have a sufficient command of the English language to actively participate in the discussions and to present their own work in English. There is no requirement to be able to speak Frisian.
There is a (mandatory) hybrid one-day introductory course (6 hrs) on Friday 4 July 2025, for applicants with a non-linguistic background, in order to get up to speed on terminology and the basics of Old Germanic languages.
Course schedule
A typical OFSS day consists of two lectures in the mornings and one in the afternoons, followed by a translation workshop. The programme will cover Old Frisian grammar as well as topics in the field of history or linguistics. The lectures will be held by internationally acknowledged experts in the field. Students will read Old Frisian texts in the afternoon workshops (led by experts on Old Frisian) with the help of modern handbooks, and learn about the Old Frisian text corpus.
By the end of the week, students should be able to translate a medium level Old Frisian text with the help of handbooks and have gained a good level of knowledge of the place and importance of Old Frisian within the Old Germanic language family and of medieval Frisia as a Western European region. Also they will have seen a large portion of all Old Frisian manuscripts that have survived.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the week, students should be able to translate a medium level Old Frisian text with the help of handbooks and have gained a good level of knowledge of the place and importance of Old Frisian within the Old Germanic language family and of medieval Frisia as a Western European region.
Workload
Preparation: 0 hours (6 hours for non-linguistic students)
Lectures: 18 hours
Workshops: 10 hours
Upon successful completion of the programme, the Summer School offers a Certificate of Attendance that mentions the workload of 28 hours (corresponding to 1 ECTS). Students can apply for recognition of these credits to the relevant authorities in their home institutions, therefore the final decision on awarding credits is at the discretion of their home institutions. We will be happy to provide any necessary information that might be requested in addition to the certificate of attendance.
Introduction to lecturers
Prof Arjen Versloot, University of Groningen & University of Amsterdam (specialist in Old Germanic Languages & Old Frisian)
Prof Henrike Lähnemann, University of Oxford (specialist in Medieval (Low) German Literature)
Dr Oebele Vries, Frisian Academy (specialist in Old Frisian & Frisian History)
Prof em. Rolf Bremmer, Leiden University & Frisian Academy (specialist in Old Frisian & English Philology)
Dr Kees Dekker, University of Groningen (specialist in older English Language & Literature)
Dr Ann-Kathrin Reinders, Fachhochschule Altenholz (specialist in Old Frisian Law)
Prof Nelleke IJssennagger-Van der Pluijm, Frisian Academy & University of Groningen (specialist in Early Medieval History & Archaeology)
Dr Johanneke Sytsema, University of Oxford (specialist in Old Frisian & Middle Dutch)
Anne Popkema MA, Groningen University & Tresoar (Specialist in Old Frisian & Book History)
More names to be announced in 2025.
Application procedure
To apply, kindly fill out the online application form. Please include the following documents with your application:
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CV incl. current academic programme/affiliation
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Letter of motivation
Apply before:
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1 April 2025 early bird deadline (online and in-person)
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1 May 2025 for in-person participation
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1 June 2025 for online attendance
Selection will take place on a rolling basis.
| Last modified: | 24 June 2025 11.41 a.m. |