Empirical Cultural Studies and European Ethnology, M.A.
The degree course teaches basic as well as advanced scientific knowledge, methods and working techniques of Empirical Cultural Studies and European Ethnology. At the center of the research-oriented study program is the analysis of contemporary European societies. Cultural, social, ethnic, gender and religious phenomena and conflicts are analyzed and interpreted in the context of historical, social and political developments. Major fields of study are the development and implementation of own research projects in study projects accompanied by lecturers as well as offers on topics of urban anthropology and work anthropology as relevant research directions of the institute. Further research focuses on Europeanization, cultural transfer, mobility and migration, tourism, transnationalization, gender, culture of remembrance as well as national identity constructions.
Programme facts
| Degree | Master of Arts (M.A.) |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 semesters, 120 ECTS |
| Language of instruction | German |
| Required German | C1 |
| Study mode | Full-Time |
| Start | Winter semester |
| Application | Directly to the university, winter semester until 15.07 |
| Admission | No admission restriction: every eligible applicant is admitted |
| Tuition fee | Set by the university for international students — the amount is on the programme's official page |
| Semester contribution | €152.30 per semester |
What the tuition fee consists of
Will I get in
Every applicant who meets the formal requirements is admitted — but places can run out before the deadline, so apply at the start of the window.
How the selection works and how strong the competition is — we go through it against your certificate when we select programmes for you.
Programme selection →About the programme
The study course teaches basic as well as advanced scientific knowledge, methods and working techniques of folklore / European ethnology. At the center of the research-oriented study program is the analysis of contemporary European societies. Cultural, social, ethnic, gender and religious phenomena and conflicts are analyzed and interpreted in the context of historical, social and political developments. Major fields of study are the development and implementation of own research projects in study projects accompanied by lecturers as well as offers on topics of urban anthropology and work anthropology as relevant research directions of the institute. Further research focuses on Europeanization, cultural transfer, mobility and migration, tourism, transnationalization, gender, culture of remembrance as well as national identity constructions.
What you study
The program is divided into four semesters. In the first semester, the basic module "Theories, Methods, Subject History" creates a common basis for discussion. This is supplemented by the module "European Societies". The second and third semester includes a two-semester study project as well as the two-part modules "Economies and Living Environments in Transition" and "City and Urban Everyday Cultures". The fourth semester concludes the study program with the master's thesis, which is accompanied by a master's colloquium.
The full curriculum and the programme's parameters are part of programme selection: we compare them with your profile.
Pick programmesCareer
The program does not train for occupational skills in a specific occupational position, but allows the employment in many different fields and occupational fields, the graduates due to their ability to abstraction and transfer and the knowledge of scientific methods as well as the ability to methodical, systematic, theoretical ask for guided works. Thus, the degree program qualifies the graduates to master a wide range of complex tasks within a short period of training in their professional practice. Individual interests and personal commitment ultimately decide on the career path.
Cost of study
| Semester contribution | €152.30 |
|---|
Requirements and application
| Previous education | The prerequisite for enrollment in this master's program is the proof of a university degree or equivalent degree from the home or abroad of the field of folklore / European ethnology or a related subject, as well as the successful participation in a aptitude test. |
|---|---|
| Language | German C1 — confirmed by a certificate when you apply |
| Application | Directly to the university, winter semester until 15.07 |
The procedure and the set of documents depend on your certificate. We check the university's requirements against your documents and give you a list: what to submit, how to certify and translate it, where and when to apply.
Check the requirementsHow to get into this programme
- 1Check your certificate and its recognitionDirect admission, a year at a university at home, or Studienkolleg first — this decides the whole plan.
- 2German up to C1 and a certificateDSH or TestDaF has to be passed before you apply.
- 3Documents and translationsCertified translations of the certificate and transcript, an APS if required. 3–4 weeks.
- 4Application directly to the university until 15.07Send the documents well before the deadline — an incomplete application cannot be completed after it.
- 5Admission, visa, movingPlan 2–3 months for the visa and the blocked account in parallel.
How to apply
You can submit the application yourself or with our help — the university decides on admission in both cases.
Applications go through the university's portal or uni-assist. Typical mistakes:
- ×incorrectly made certified copies and translations
- ×a wrong set of documents
- ×the application submitted the wrong way
- ×errors or gaps in the application form
- ×the application submitted at the wrong time — too early or too late
An incomplete or incorrectly prepared application is excluded from the selection — it can no longer be corrected after the deadline.
StudyInFocus does not represent the university and does not influence the admission decision. We do not sell study places and do not guarantee admission — this is a service for preparing and submitting documents on the applicant's side.
If your level is not enough yet
The two most common stoppers are a language level below the requirement and a certificate without direct admission. Both can be solved, but they take months — plan them now, not after a rejection.
Questions about this programme
How much does the programme cost?
What language level do I need?
When do I need to apply?
Don't postpone the application
The deadline is 15.07.2027 (274 days left). Language, translations and the document check take months, not weeks. In 30 minutes we will build a plan backwards from the deadline and tell you honestly whether you can make it.