Program overview The World Heritage Studies MA was the first master’s programme worldwide built around the UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. It combines practical training with theoretical foundations so students learn to identify, protect, manage and present both cultural and natural heritage sites. The course encourages critical reflection on how heritage is understood and used in different societies, and on the changing roles heritage plays in contemporary life.
An explicitly interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral curriculum brings together perspectives from the humanities, architecture, conservation, ecology, management, tourism, marketing and related fields. The programme stresses links between culture and nature, tangible and intangible values, and the relationship between conservation and sustainable development. It also foregrounds present-day challenges—such as shifting demographics, environmental vulnerability and economic inequality—and explores how heritage protection can respond from multiple viewpoints.
The WHS Online option (established in 2021) delivers the same high-quality content to students who cannot or prefer not to relocate to Cottbus/Germany because of visa, financial, professional or family commitments. This format is intended for learners who need flexibility while still aiming for careers in heritage practice, policy, management and presentation, and for those who want to rethink and recontextualise heritage for future generations.
Key facts & entry considerations
This fully online Master’s option reproduces the content, scope and standard study period of the original on‑campus World Heritage Studies programme — the first degree worldwide organised around the UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Taught in English, WHS Online is delivered entirely remotely using contemporary e‑learning methods. Most teaching is asynchronous so you can study largely at your own pace and schedule; digital learning materials and support from the university’s e‑learning team help you engage independently with course content.
The programme is explicitly interdisciplinary: seven departments across three faculties (Environment and Natural Sciences; Business, Law and Social Sciences; Architecture, Civil Engineering and Urban Planning) contribute to the curriculum. Modules blend perspectives from the humanities, architecture, archaeology and conservation with practical fields such as finance, management, tourism, marketing and law. Expected learning outcomes include a solid command of the UNESCO Convention framework and core concepts in world heritage, the ability to analyse and manage conservation and policy issues from multiple disciplinary angles, project design and implementation skills, and advanced research capability for the master’s thesis. The online format also builds independent study skills and familiarity with digital collaboration and teaching tools.
Programme structure and key components emphasise both foundational knowledge and applied practice. Core mandatory modules establish the programme’s body of knowledge and context (including a Germany‑focused module), while a set of elective modules allows for thematic specialisation. Two project modules provide hands‑on experience in research or applied tasks, and the 30‑ECTS master’s thesis consolidates independent research competence. Note that, compared with the on‑campus option, WHS Online offers fewer choices among non‑compulsory electives.
Requirements (ECTS and key modules)
If you want, I can expand on typical skills you’ll gain from each mandatory module or suggest how to plan electives to match particular career goals (e.g., conservation management, heritage law, sustainable tourism).
Applicants must hold a recognised master’s entrance qualification (for example a Bachelor’s or “Diplom”) in cultural studies or a closely related discipline. Relevant fields include humanities and social sciences, architecture, archaeology, art history, conservation, environmental sciences, geography, cultural management or tourism. The admissions board assesses each application to ensure academic excellence, integrity, and to encourage cultural and professional diversity in the cohort.
All applicants must provide proof of English language proficiency. A panel of examiners reviews eligibility and suitability of candidates on a case-by-case basis, taking academic records, recommendations and motivation into account.
You will need to submit a set of core documents with your application. If any document is not issued in English or German, you must supply a certified translation. Depending on whether you apply via uni-assist or the myBTU portal, additional paperwork may be requested—check the relevant website carefully before submitting.
Required documents (bullet points)
Notes
Winter Semester (International)
15 August 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 August 2026
Graduates acquire the specialist knowledge and practical skills needed for careers in heritage management, conservation and presentation. Typical professional pathways include roles in cultural and natural heritage organisations, museums, archives, conservation agencies, tourism and cultural policy, non-governmental organisations, and consultancy related to site management and sustainable development. The programme also provides a solid foundation for further research or doctoral studies in heritage-related fields.
Because the course stresses interdisciplinary problem-solving and international perspectives, alumni are equipped to work in national and international institutions, collaborate on transboundary projects, or take on advisory and project-management positions that bridge culture, nature and development agendas.
Trier University of Applied Sciences — Birkenfeld
Technische Universität Braunschweig — Braunschweig
Furtwangen University — Villingen-Schwenningen
University of Siegen — Siegen