What you can expect in our master's program

The master's degree program in European Culture and History of Ideas offers you the opportunity to study Philosophy or History or a combination of both at master's level. Studying in small seminar groups allows you to have close contact with the lecturers. The standard period of study is four semesters and you earn 120 ECTS credits. The aim of the in-depth master's degree program is to provide you with comprehensive expertise in the content-related and methodological aspects of the subjects of philosophy and/or history.

The program is divided into disciplines: the compulsory subject Humanities Interdisciplinary and five compulsory elective subjects from the fields of philosophy and history, two of which you choose and thus set your individual focus. You can find out which subjects are offered in the module handbook. Each compulsory elective subject comprises two modules.

Philosophy

In philosophy, the focus is on practical and theoretical philosophy. In the field of theoretical philosophy, research focuses on the philosophy of science, the philosophy of technology, argumentation theory and questions of decision theory. In the area of practical philosophy, the main focus is on political philosophy, philosophy & economics, legal and social philosophy and ethics. Courses are often organized jointly with lecturers from other disciplines, e.g. German studies, computer science, physics and biology.

History

In history, the focus is on three cross-epochal subject areas: firstly, political history with a focus on the new and modern history of the 19th and 20th centuries; secondly, the history of ideas, concepts and discourses; and thirdly, the interactions between humans and technology. The courses therefore analyze how the political framework of human action, the conceptual foundations of social communication and the way we deal with technology and the environment have changed over the course of time. The aim in each case is to relate the knowledge gained from the historical analysis to current social debates.

Program structure

Internship

The degree program includes a compulsory internship of 8 weeks. You can complete the internship at any private or public institution where there are jobs for graduates of a humanities degree program. You contact suitable institutions yourself, have the internship approved and submit a final report.

Make your studies international

You have various options for integrating a stay abroad into your master's degree course. For example, you can study at a foreign university of your choice for one or two semesters via Erasmus+ or as a freemover. You can also do an internship abroad. In addition, selective mobility is possible via Eucor - The European Campus: KIT students can flexibly attend individual courses in addition to courses at KIT or study full-time for an entire semester or year at an Eucor partner university.

The EPICUR University Alliance also offers low-threshold international experience via a virtual campus, sometimes on site or in blended learning.

Master's thesis

At the end of your studies, you will complete your master's thesis (30 CP), an academic paper that allows you to apply and deepen the knowledge and skills you have acquired. It deals with a specific topic from your field of study and requires independent research, analysis and the preparation of a written thesis. The master's thesis takes 6 months to complete. You can start it as soon as you have achieved 50 CP. Upon request, the master's thesis can also be completed in a company or at another KIT Department.

With a good master's degree and academic ambitions, it is possible to plan a doctorate and a subsequent career at a university or research institution in the subjects of philosophy or history.

Master's graduates often take up positions in cultural administration, the cultural departments of large companies or curatorial activities in museums and memorials; furthermore in media and public relations as well as in publishing, in scientific policy advice or in various areas of the public service.

In addition, a variety of professional fields are open to you in which you can profitably apply the skills you have acquired in independent work and the critical analysis of comprehensive information on individual topics. Which path you take depends largely on your own initiative and your choice of internships or the focus of your master's thesis.

Characteristic features of European Culture and History of Ideas M.A. at KIT

• comprehensive range of courses with different course topics each semester
  
• the program contains many practical elements with close links to the research projects of the participating departments
• very good supervision ratio, often small seminar groups, experienced and committed lecturers
• eight-week compulsory internship during the degree program as an introduction to professional practice
• numerous opportunities to specialize in philosophy and history
  
• integration into the EUCOR university network enables participation in courses at the universities of Freiburg, Basel, Strasbourg, Colmar and Mulhouse
  

What KIT has to offer

• central campus close to the city forest and right next to the city center
  
• 24-hour library offering single and group working places
  
• wide range of inexpensive catering options (dining hall, cafeteria, Koeri and Pizzawerk)
  
• numerous interdisciplinary offers for personal and professional development, e.g. Lernlabor, Schreiblabor and Perspektivenlabor
  
• study abroad, e.g. via Erasmus
  
• excellent university sports facilities with a large selection of sports
  
• comprehensive cultural offerings with university orchestras, choirs and theater groups
  
• extensive support for career entry and self-employment
  
• internationally oriented degree programs and diverse exchange programs
  
• modern laboratories and practical teaching methods
  
• Lernraum app
  
• diverse student initiatives, clubs and opportunities to actively participate in campus life
  
• stay in touch after graduation via the alumni network
  

Admission requirements

The requirements for admission to the master's degree program in European Culture and History of Ideas are based on the current admission regulations:

• bachelor's degree
  a successful bachelor's degree (or at least an equivalent degree) in European Culture and History of Ideas or a degree program with a humanities profile at a university, university of applied sciences, university of cooperative education or at a foreign university. The course must have been completed within a standard period of study of at least three years and with a minimum number of 180 ECTS credits.
  
• minimum knowledge and minimum achievements in the areas of
  • philosophy and history to the extent of 100 CP
    
  • upon application, other achievements can also be recognized, provided they demonstrate in-depth knowledge of humanities content and methods that enable the study of historical and philosophical content.
    

Important: If minimum credits amounting to a maximum of 30 CP are missing, admission may be granted on condition that certain credits are completed within the first three semesters of the master's degree program.

Language requirements and certificates

For the master's degree program in European Culture and History of Ideas, you need sufficient knowledge of the German language. Your German language skills must correspond to at least level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Important: you must provide proof of the required language skills regardless of your citizenship and by the end of the enrollment period at the latest, but preferably at the time of application.

In what form do I have to provide the language certificates? Please read the following chapters on this website carefully. If you have any further questions, please contact

• Students Office if you are applying as a German, German national or a person with German equivalent status
• the International Students Office if you are a non-EU national

Proof of sufficient German language skills

As proof of your German language skills, your higher education or master's entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur, university degree or a professional qualification that entitles you to study) is sufficient if you have acquired it at a German-speaking institution with German as the language of instruction.

In concrete terms, this means that you do not have to submit additional proof of German if you

• have obtained your Abitur at a German-speaking school in Germany or abroad,
• are a graduate of a bilingual secondary school in Germany or abroad and have passed a bilingual German examination, such as the AbiBac or the Gemischtsprachiges International Baccalaureat (GIB) or
• you graduated from a foreign school, but there is another official agreement with the respective country regarding the recognition of your school-leaving certificate or language certificate as proof of language proficiency for university studies in Germany.

A complete list of foreign school-leaving qualifications and language certificates that are recognized as proof of sufficient German language skills can be found on the website of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Laender (KMK) in the Federal Republic of Germany.

If you have already completed a German-language degree at a German university, this can also count as proof of German language proficiency - but only if the diploma supplement, transcript of records or degree certificate clearly states that German was the sole language of instruction and examination.

If, on the other hand, you did not obtain your higher education or master's entrance qualification at a German-speaking institution with German as the language of instruction, you must provide proof of German language proficiency at least at DSH-2 level. This corresponds to CEFR level C1.

Only the following certificates are accepted in accordance with the KIT admission and enrollment regulations:

• passed German section of the Feststellungspruefung (assessment test)
• passed German language test for university admission (DSH) with overall result DSH-2
• passed Test of German as a Foreign Language (TestDaF) with level 4 in all four parts of the exam
• German Language Diploma of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs - second level (DSD II)
• Goethe certificate C1 or higher
• passed telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule exam
• Austrian Language Diploma C1 or higher

Note: The above-mentioned tests are accepted as proof of language proficiency for an unlimited period of time, even if the provider specifies an expiration date.

What if I cannot provide suitable C1 proof of German at the time of application?

If you are unable to provide any of the C1 certificates listed above for your German language skills by the application deadline, admission is still possible if you can present a provisional document proving that you have at least B2 language level. Proof of B2 level only includes

• passed German language test for university admission (DSH) with an overall result of DSH-1
  
• passed Test of German as a Foreign Language (TestDaF) with level 3 in all four parts of the exam
  
• passed telc German B2 exam

But please don't forget: you still have to submit the C1 certificate by the end of your enrollment period at the latest, which is stated in your admission letter.

Therefore, check early on whether you can provide the necessary language certificates by the deadline and, if necessary, plan to take a recognized language test.

In justified cases, you can apply for an extension of the enrollment deadline to provide proof of your language skills, but this extensvion can only be granted up to the day before the start of the lecture period. Please contact the Student Office or the International Students Office - depending on who is named as your point of contact in your letter of admission.

Weitere Ansprechpersonen:

• KIT-Fakultät für Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaften
• Studiengangsseiten EUKLID
• Fachstudienberatung
• Prüfungsausschuss
• Anerkennung von Studienleistungen
• Informationen zum Auslandsstudium
• Fachschaft GeistSoz

Teaching calendar

Course catalog

• Course catalog current term
• Course catalog current term PDF (English)
• Archive of previous catalogs