Description
This research-oriented Master’s programme, taught in English, offers an interdisciplinary and reflective approach to the study of Africa. Drawing on methods and findings from the humanities, cultural studies and social sciences, it trains students to engage with claims about Africa independently and critically, using the standards of relevant academic disciplines. The programme emphasizes understanding such claims as parts of temporally situated knowledge systems, so you learn to locate statements in their historical and intellectual contexts.
Students deepen their ability to evaluate both the research potential and the practical implications or limitations of different approaches to African topics. Course content and methods concentrate on several complementary fields—history, culture, language, literature, society, politics and business—enabling cross-disciplinary analysis and comparative perspectives. The curriculum is designed to strengthen methodological skills and analytical reflection, preparing graduates to pursue research-oriented work or application-focused projects that require nuanced regional expertise.
Requirements
This two-year, 120‑credit curriculum combines interdisciplinary coursework, language training, a semester abroad and an independent MA thesis. Core modules introduce interdisciplinary frameworks for studying Africa, while a range of optional courses lets you specialise in politics, society, culture, development, urban studies, migration, peace and security, or technology. Practical research training and communication skills are built into the programme so you graduate able to design and carry out independent research and to present results to academic and non‑academic audiences.
Key learning outcomes include: mastery of interdisciplinary perspectives on African regions and issues; advanced research design and methodological skills; competence in reporting and communicating research findings; and language competence in Hausa or Swahili if you choose the language pathway. The semester abroad offers field experience, language immersion and international networking, and the MA thesis demonstrates your ability to conduct sustained, original research.
Core modules anchor the programme: 03‑AFR‑2101 (Introduction to African Studies) provides foundational knowledge across disciplines; 03‑AFR‑2108 (Planning and Researching) develops research design, methods and ethics; and 03‑AFR‑2121 (Reporting and Communicating) trains academic and public dissemination skills. Optional modules let you deepen topical expertise (for example: Politics in and around Africa; Society and Economy in Africa; Culture and Technology; Peace and Security; Urban Africa; Debates about Development; Migration and Language; Lifeways and Livelihoods). Language-for-research courses in Hausa and Swahili are offered at introductory and follow‑up levels, and there are BA‑level language course options for more intensive study. The MA thesis (20 credits) is the capstone that integrates theory, method and empirical work.
Requirements (concise)
This programme is aimed at students with a university-level first degree in the humanities or social sciences. Applicants must hold a degree awarded by a state or state-recognised institution — this includes degrees from state-recognised universities of cooperative education.
In addition, applicants need to demonstrate substantive prior engagement with Africa-related topics. That can be shown by academic coursework totalling at least 30 ECTS, or by equivalent practical experience in Africa-related settings (for example internships in Africa or with organisations focused on Africa). International applicants should be prepared to document their credits or experience so the admissions office can assess equivalence.
Requirements (bullet points)
Winter Semester (International)
31 May 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
1 September 2026
Graduates acquire strong interdisciplinary research and communication skills applicable to academic research and further doctoral studies. The programme’s emphasis on fieldwork, internships and language-for-research prepares graduates for roles that require regional expertise and applied research methods.
Typical career paths include work in research and higher education, international and non-governmental organisations, cultural institutions, media and policy advisory roles, as well as positions in businesses and public administrations with Africa-related portfolios.
Trier University of Applied Sciences — Birkenfeld
Technische Universität Braunschweig — Braunschweig
Furtwangen University — Villingen-Schwenningen
University of Siegen — Siegen