Master of Arts in Religious Studies University of Erfurt

The core curriculum will be taught in English. Participants can choose to write their exams, semester papers, and Master's theses in either English or German.

Students from abroad who are unable to understand German should study German before and during their studies so that they can benefit from additional courses that may be taught in German.

The Master's in Religious Studies provides the opportunity to study the plurality of past and present religious traditions in Europe. This programme combines methodological tools from history, religious studies, and cultural studies to analyse the role of religion in Europe's complex and pluralistic societies as well as their global entanglements from a postcolonial perspective. It is possible to focus on General Religious Studies, Jewish Studies, Islamic Studies or the Cultural History of Orthodox Christianity. Each major is represented by a professor and a team of young researchers. The Department of Religious Studies is part of the research area of Religion – Society – Self-World Relations at the University of Erfurt.

For further information about the department, see: Department of Religious Studies of the University of Erfurt.

Please note that this is not an online MA programme, so we expect you to be present in Erfurt. Nevertheless, some of our seminars may be taught online. For details, please contact the programme adviser in advance.

The application period for non-EU applicants starts on 1 January and ends on 15 July. Applications will be continually processed during this period.

Please note that because of time-consuming visa application procedures, an early application is strongly recommended for international applicants!

EU applicants can apply until 1 September.

This two-year MA in Religious Studies combines a systematic approach with a specialisation in one religious tradition.

Two obligatory modules and three other modules must be completed. Each of these modules consists of two seminars, each of which are 9 ECTS credits.

During the first three semesters students:

• attend the obligatory core module A01: Theory and Methodology of Religious Studies (= 18 ECTS)
• attend the module C01: Religious Pluralism (= 18 ECTS)
• attend two modules (a-b) in the chosen religious tradition (= 36 ECTS)
• attend one of the other optional modules (= 18 ECTS)

During the fourth semester, students work on their Master's thesis of approx. 80 pages in length (= 30 ECTS).

Part-time option: six semesters of classes plus one semester for the Master's thesis

No tuition fees

Approx. 270 EUR per semester

Living costs are currently estimated to be 934 EUR per month (11,208 EUR per year as of 1 January 2023). 

Some students must provide relevant proof that this sum of funds will be available to them during their stay in Germany. Detailed information can be found on the DAAD website as well as the International Office of the University of Erfurt.

A Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline (either as a major or a minor) such as Religious Studies, Jewish Studies, Islamic Studies, Classical Philology, Byzantine Studies, Theology, Cultural Anthropology, History, Social Sciences, or in related languages (Hebrew, Classics, Arabic, Urdu, Russian, etc.)

Proficiency in English and preferably some knowledge of German are required. Moreover, each specialisation requires reading proficiency in at least one other relevant language on a B2 level. Relevant languages include (but are not limited to):

• Judaism: Hebrew
• Latin Christianity: Latin and preferably German
• Religions of Antiquity: Ancient Greek or Latin
• Orthodox Christianity: Ancient or Modern Greek, Russian or another Slavic language
• Islamic Studies: Arabic, Persian, Turkish or Urdu

The application period for non-EU applicants starts on 1 January and ends on 15 July. Applications will be continually processed during this period.

Please note that because of time-consuming visa application procedures, an early application is strongly recommended for international applicants!

EU applicants can apply until 1 September.

No

Students have the opportunity receive financial support by partaking in research projects. 

On- and off-campus accommodation is available through the Student Services Organisation ("Studentenwerk"). For detailed information, see http://www.stw-thueringen.de.

Research and Graduate Services

The University of Erfurt's long history dates back to the 14th century. Reopened in 1994 as a university with a focus on humanities and cultural studies, the University of Erfurt was the first German institution of higher education to introduce Bachelor's and Master's degrees in all of its faculties. Since 2007, every course offered has been awarded the seal of quality from the accreditation commission. Today about 5,500 students are enrolled in our four different faculties.

Erfurt is a compact university town and the faculties, lecture halls, student services as well as residence halls are located ten minutes from Erfurt's city centre. University of Erfurt's campus is easily accessible via public or private transport and offers a cafeteria, a student club, computer labs and sports facilities. The new university library currently holds over 1,000,000 volumes and new media resources.

Erfurt, the capital of the federal state of Thuringia, is located right in the heart of Germany and can easily be reached by plane, train or car.
Erfurt's historical city centre is one of the most beautifully preserved medieval city centres in Germany. Cafés, bars, clubs, a new opera house, museums and galleries characterise the multifaceted cultural life of the city with its approx. 200,000 inhabitants.