This English‑taught MA builds directly on core anthropological training and offers research‑focused study across six thematic concentrations: Environmental Anthropology, Media and Museum Anthropology, Urban Anthropology, Anthropology of Globalisation and Alternative Economies, Political Anthropology, and Anthropology of Religion. Teaching and supervision are closely connected to the ongoing research projects of the department’s academic staff, many of which engage with practical and politically relevant issues. The programme emphasises advanced cultural theory alongside research methods to prepare students for comparative cultural investigation.
To close any gaps in prior undergraduate training, students can take several e‑learning modules offered in English—History of Anthropological Thought; Anthropology of Social Anthropology; and Economic Anthropology—which count toward the programme’s supplementary modules. Students may also choose regional specialisations, including Africa (with particular strength in East, West and Southern Africa), Asia (notably East and Southeast Asia), the Mediterranean, or “Ethnography at Home.” Practical skills are a core focus: the curriculum provides thorough training in ethnographic field methods and in crafting anthropological writing so students can design and carry out independent field research.
On completion, graduates will have strong intercultural competence, an informed grasp of socio‑political public debates, advanced analytical and critical thinking abilities, and a reflexive approach to cultural and social theory, ethnographic methods, and source materials.
Program components / key facts
The programme is built around three tiers of coursework: Advanced Modules (AM), Specialisation Modules (SM), and Supplementary Modules (EM). Students deepen disciplinary knowledge and methodological skills through three Advanced Modules and further concentrate in two Specialisation Modules. Supplementary Modules provide breadth and allow students to tailor their studies; at least two EMs must be taken overall, drawn from the pool EM1–EM8.
To ensure a mix of foundation and elective breadth, the curriculum requires that one of the chosen Supplementary Modules comes specifically from EM1–EM3. In addition, students must accumulate 12 credit points (CP) from the remaining Supplementary options (EM4–EM8), giving structured flexibility to pursue complementary topics or interdisciplinary interests.
This master's programme primarily admits students who hold a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in Social Anthropology and/or Cultural Anthropology. Applicants with degrees in closely related subjects can also be considered, but their applications are reviewed individually to ensure sufficient preparation for graduate-level work in anthropology.
Candidates from related fields must have gained substantive coursework in anthropology or equivalent topics — specifically at least 40 CP (credit points) in relevant subject areas — to be considered. Typical related backgrounds that may qualify include European ethnology or cultural studies (with roots in folkloristics or literary studies), social sciences such as (developmental) sociology, and regional/area studies like Asian, African, or Islamic studies.
Successful applicants should demonstrate a good grounding in contemporary social science theory and research methods, plus factual and regional knowledge relevant to modern anthropology. In addition to academic qualifications, applicants must meet a minimum Bachelor’s grade and the programme's English-language requirements.
Admission requirements (summary)
Winter Semester (International)
15 July 2026
Summer Semester (International)
15 January 2027
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 July 2026
Summer Semester (EU/EEA)
15 January 2027
Graduates are well prepared for careers that demand advanced qualitative research skills and intercultural competence. Typical pathways include academic research (leading into PhD programmes), positions in museums and cultural institutions, roles in international NGOs and development organisations, policy and advisory work, and professional research or consulting roles that require ethnographic methods and critical cultural analysis.
The programme’s emphasis on fieldwork, international partnerships and applied vocational practice also suits students aiming for work in cultural management, heritage institutions, media-related research, and transnational project coordination. Links with ongoing externally funded projects and partner universities provide practical networks that can support entry into both academic and non-academic job markets.