The invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine, in which the exhaust gas generated by the internal combustion engine is returned to the internal combustion engine by means of an exhaust gas recirculation device having at least two cooling devices which are each associated with a bypass, the exhaust gas being cooled in the exhaust gas recirculation device as a function of the load state of the internal combustion engine. The operation of the internal combustion engine is divided into at least four load states, and as a function of the instantaneous load state the exhaust gas is returned to the internal combustion engine via a flow path in the exhaust gas recirculation device specifically assigned to this load state. The invention further relates to an internal combustion engine having an exhaust gas recirculation device.