Manuscript Cultures University of Hamburg

The programme is fully taught in English.
Knowledge of German is not required.

The Master's programme in Manuscript Cultures conveys central topics in the field of general manuscript research combined with specific skills. The degree programme promotes independent, critical, and analytical work with manuscripts. Students learn how to conduct cultural and scientific examinations of the texts, images, notes, and diagrams contained in the manuscripts (including the scientific material analysis). They develop creative approaches to answering complex scientific and scholarly questions. The manuscript cultures covered are from all regions in Asia, Africa, and Europe.

The Master's programme is fostered by the Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures (CSMC). Students benefit from the extensive range of guest lectures, conferences, and workshops offered in this research environment.

Please note: The "Manuscript Cultures" programme is currently being restructured and will be offered as a four-semester programme in the future.

Updates about this timeline will be posted on the programme website: https://www.csmc.uni-hamburg.de/study-at-csmc/master.html.

We teach in presence only. There are no online components in this programme, and it is not possible to study remotely.

Applications will be opened in the summer for a beginning of studies in April of the following year.

Module MC-1 Manuscript Cultures in the Humanities introduces students to the terms, methods, and concepts of manuscript research on the basis of selected examples from prominent manuscript cultures in various typological, geographical, and chronological forms.

Students gain insight into the relevant fundamentals of codicology, palaeography, textual criticism, and cataloguing; students develop a comprehensive view of the materiality, production, transmission, and interaction of manuscripts in their respective cultures.

Module MC-2 Manuscript Cultures in the Natural Sciences deals with the relevant fundamentals of physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science; it introduces students to the theoretical fundamentals and methods of scientific materials analysis of manuscripts. Students practise the functional experimental application of methods of scientific materials analysis in a fully equipped manuscripts research lab.

Assessments in both modules include the following:

• giving oral presentations
• writing seminar papers
• writing reports on selected research activities at the Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures (workshops, conferences, lectures)

In the free elective area (6 ECTS credits), students select elective courses from the degree programme as well as studium generale courses of the university's Faculty of Humanities according to their own interests. The elective area thus serves to reinforce interdisciplinary expertise, and it enables students to strengthen their interdisciplinary skills, allowing them to gain knowledge in other subject areas and to think outside the boundaries of their specialisation. Students have the option of choosing introductory language and/or specialist courses in order to acquire the required methodological knowledge to pursue a specialisation or greater knowledge of an individual topic.

"Manuscript studies" is an MA programme taught in an international and culturally diverse research environment. Case studies and literature about different manuscript cultures of various regions of the world in Asia, Africa and Europe are analysed in comparison. In the elective area and by choosing their individual topics, each student can set his or her own focus to this programme according to language skills, the qualifications obtained in his or her undergraduate study programme, and personal interest.

No tuition fees

Students have to pay a semester contribution of approx. 343 EUR per semester. They receive a semester ticket covering public transport in the Hamburg metropolitan area.

Without additional costs for further insurances, private vehicles, etc., you ought to expect the following expenses:

• housing: approx. 400 to 700 EUR per month
• living expenses: approx. 500 to 700 EUR per month

A first qualifying degree (BA/Magister Artium/Diplom) from a German or recognised foreign university in one of the subjects taught in the programme (African Studies, Ethiopian Studies, Ancient History, Art History, Assyriology, Austronesian Studies, Classical Archaeology, Coptology, Greek Studies, Historical Musicology, Indology, Iranian Studies, Islamic Studies, Japanese Studies, Jewish Philosophy and Religion, Medieval and Modern History, Sinology, Thai Studies, Turkology, Vietnamese Studies), or a related one.

We also welcome applications from candidates with a background in the natural sciences or computer sciences and an interest in manuscripts/inscriptions.

Please see this website for further information.

Applicants have to prove English language skills (level B2 or higher). 

An official language certificate has to be submitted along with the application.

Knowledge of German is not required, but students are encouraged to learn German for their daily life in Hamburg. An extracurricular German language course for beginners is offered each semester.

Applications will be opened in the summer for a beginning of studies in April of the following year.

1. Candidates for the Master's in "Manuscript Cultures" can apply for a one-year qualifying fellowship of 934 EUR per month. For details, please see: https://www.csmc.uni-hamburg.de/study-at-csmc/master.html
2. International full-time students may apply for merit scholarships or exam grants granted by Universität Hamburg. For more information, please use the provided link. We also recommend contacting our colleagues in the Department of International Affairs for further guidance. http://www.uni-hamburg.de/internationales/studieren-an-der-uhh/finanzierung-des-studiums_e.html

Are you looking for a part-time job? Stellenwerk, Hamburg's cross-university job platform posts attractive job and internship advertisements every day.

Part-time work, an internship, or self-employment—the Counselling Centre for Social & International Affairs (BeSI) advises you on all aspects of social security.

Students from countries outside the EU, the EEA, and Switzerland are subject to special regulations for part-time work when studying. Contact the Counselling Centre for Social & International Affairs for more information.

There are several job opportunities in diverse areas of Universität Hamburg. Many of these jobs are offered exclusively to students enrolled at the university. For job ads of this kind, check out departmental bulletin boards, departmental websites, www.stellenwerk.de (wanted ads for Hamburg’s universities), or ask directly in your department.

• tutors
• student assistants (in the academic area) and student employees (in the administrative area)
• library assistants
• test subjects for studies conducted in the fields of psychology or in the social sciences

Are you searching for an apartment or a room? Although affordable housing in Hamburg is rare, please do not despair. Patience and luck will help you find suitable accommodation.

Start looking for accommodation as soon as you can. For more information on how to find accommodation, please visit: Finding accommodation in Hamburg.

For more information on how to find accommodation and how to plan your first steps in Hamburg, please see: https://www.uni-hamburg.de/piasta/beratung/doc/willkommen.pdf.

Being part of a research centre with a large international network, the Master's programme can serve as a bridge and starting point for students wishing to embark on a PhD in a discipline concerned with manuscripts and other written artefacts, be it in the humanities or in the natural sciences.

For those who would like to pursue a career in other fields, the university operates a Career Centre with an ample offer of courses, workshops, and training (in both English and German).

The Department of International Affairs offers comprehensive international student support. In addition to professional advising and counselling during all stages of the course of study, there is close cooperation with other advisory and counselling services at Universität Hamburg. International students will thus receive the necessary support and advice at any point during their studies.