History – Master of Arts

Symbolbild

The Graduate study programme History requires a first university degree, e.g. Bachelor of History. You will profit from the combination of research-oriented and practice-related elements, an outstanding students/lectures ratio and very wide possibilities to choose seminars and specialisations according to your personal interests.

Historians draw attention to the similarities and differences between present-day and past ways of living and horizons in thought. They work mainly with research literature and historical source materials which form the foundations of their subject. In our master’s programme in history you will be able to select your own focus areas and pursue your preferred areas of interest. At the same time you will gain a comprehensive view and a broad perspective of historiography. The master's programme is based on our  undergraduate bachelor's programme in history. Other degrees may be recognized as equivalent.

Overview

Degree Master of Arts
Programme start Winter semester & Summer semester
Period of study 4 semesters
Application period 9.5. - 15.7. | 29.11. - 15.1.
Admission restrictions no
ECTS 120

Why study History in the University of Konstanz?

  • Individual supervision: We will systematically support you on an individual basis. A professor will accompany you from the start of the first semester and advise you on your choice of courses. In addition to this, you will be in a group of students from start to finish, thus enabling you to join in regular exchanges about your studies with your fellow students.
  • Innovative teaching methods: The historians at Konstanz are characterised by their original methodology, their cultural-theoretical approach and their lively exchanges amongst themselves. We encourage our students to visit lectures and seminars in other subjects, or classes in additional languages, and to import those credits into their master’s degree.
  • Path to doctoral projects: We not only teach in close contact with research and support practical research. We are also here to help you as future historians to develop doctoral projects during the master’s phase, and we support you in the acquisition of external funding.


Content

Prospects and opportunities

Career prospects

The practical orientation of our Master's Programme in History will proficiently prepare you for your future career. As a professional historian you will have access to a great variety of openings, such as

  • in archives, libraries or museums
  • in organisations and companies (e.g. in corporate history and communications)
  • in education and the cultural sector
  • in politics
  • in journalism and in creative professions (e.g. in marketing, management)
  • in the field of research

In addition to this, you also have the option of following up your master’s degree with doctoral programme. This would then qualify you for a career at a university or other scientific institutions. The department supports prospective doctoral students already during their master's programme in developing their doctoral projects and helps them get funding.

You can find out more about career entry in the interview series #dreamjob and in the film on career prospects in the subject.

Programme structure

Programme start

Winter semester & Summer semester

Academic structure

In Konstanz you will benefit from a broad spectrum taught by internationally recognised teaching staff. In addition to traditional epochs (classical antiquity, the Middle Ages, the early modern age, contemporary history) students can also choose thematic, epoch-spanning areas of concentration. For your focus area of study you can choose one of the following fields in the first semester:

  • History of classical antiquity
  • The Middle Ages
  • History of the early modern age (16th - 18th century)
  • Contemporary history 19th -21th century)
  • Archaeology/material culture
  • Exhibitions
  • Global history
  • Eastern European history
  • Economic history

You can find an exemplary course of study in this table.


Please check the Exam regulations (partly in German) for more information about the programme structure.

Internship and study abroad

Internships

During your period of study you will be expected to complete an internship of at least 8 weeks. The Departmental Internship Office and the university Career Service will help you to find a suitable internship.

Study abroad

Studying abroad is always highly recommendable. You can spend semesters abroad at numerous European and non-European partner universities. You will benefit from the great variety of international contacts maintained by the department staff. In addition to this, the university promotes study abroad via Erasmus+ and numerous other exchange programmes.

Impressions from students and lecturers

Hear from students and lecturers
In our interview series, students talk about their subject, teachers explain the department's research and tell you what topics they cover in seminars and lectures.

Get an impression
Discover online lectures and websites with more information about your prospective subject.

Requirements

What interests and skills should I have?

  • Solid foundations in the knowledge of history
  • Curiosity and the desire to inquire into the most diverse topics, questions and problems
  • Creativity
  • An independent and conscientious approach to work
  • Readiness to read extensively throughout your studies

Language skills

Foreign language skills
Qualification in Latin (Latinum) and two other foreign languages. You can catch up on missing language skills during your studies.

German language skills

International applicants need documentation of their German language skills, level DSH-2 or TestDaF 4. Alternatively, other language tests or school certificates recognized as equivalent can be used as proof of the required German language skills.

Language(s) of instruction

The language mainly used in class is German. Courses may also be held in English or another foreign language.

Admission requirements

  • Above-average degree in a history study programme or an equivalent programme
  • Qualification in Latin (Latinum) (You can also complete your Latinum during the first 2 semesters)
  • Documentation of your knowledge of another two foreign languages
  • International applicants need documentation of their German language skills, level DSH-2 or TestDaF 4, or a language test recognised as equivalent.

For details, please see the admission regulations.

Fees

Semester fee

All students enrolled at the University of Konstanz are charged a semester fee each semester, similar to all other German universities. Here you can find the current semester fee and its individual components.

Tuition fees for first degree studies for certain international students
Since winter semester 2017/18, the state of Baden-Württemberg has required some international students to pay tuition fees for their first degree studies. The following students are not required to pay tuition fees: citizens of a country within the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), doctoral students and certain “Bildungsinländer” (e.g. non-EU citizens with a German “Abitur”). More detailed information can be found here.

Each year, the University of Konstanz grants exemptions to a limited number of particularly gifted international degree-seeking students in accordance with the university’s “Begabtenbefreiungssatzung” (statutes governing the exemption of gifted students). More detailed information can be found here.

Tuition fees for second degree studies for all students
All students are required to pay tuition fees for their second degree studies. More detailed information can be found here.

Application and application documents

This study programme has no admission restrictions.

An application is possible during the following period: 9.5. - 15.7. (winter semester) and 29.11. - 15.1. (summer semester). There may be other deadlines if you are applying for admission to a higher semester (for instance, if you are changing subjects or universities). For more information please consult the university website.

Application documents

To submit your online application you are required to upload the following supporting documents as PDF-files:


  • Documentation of your academic degree including details on course work. If you have not received your degree certificate by the end of the application deadline, please attach documentation of all your examination results so far.
  • Documentation of your qualification in Latin (Latinum) (can be submitted within the first two semesters of the MA programme).
  • Documentation of your knowledge of another two foreign languages
  • Current certificate of enrolment or proof of exmatriculation (if you have studied at a German university, please indicate your 'Fachsemester’ and ‘Hochschulsemester’)

Important note: Please note the information provided under the tab "Admission requirements".

International applicants please also provide:

  • If your documents are not available in German or English, you will need to have them translated. Please submit a German or English translation of your documents along with the original versions
  • Documentation of German language skills, level DSH-2 or TestDaF 4, or a language test recognised as equivalent
  • Applicants from China, India and Vietnam: APS certificate (original) issued by the German Embassy of your home country
ajaxPopupLoader