Intercultural Theology (MA)

Overview

This Master’s programme examines how Christianity has changed in the age of globalisation and studies theology as a trans- and intercultural discipline. You will explore the cultural diversity of Christian traditions, analyse interactions between Christianity and other religions, and develop a reflective, comparative approach to theology that responds to contemporary global change. Teaching and discussion take place in an international, interreligious classroom designed to encourage direct intercultural exchange.

What you will gain

The curriculum combines theological and religious-studies methods with practical intercultural skills. Students acquire academic research and analytical abilities in theology while engaging in a lively international learning environment. The programme explicitly rejects discriminatory practices (including gender- and LGBTIQ-based discrimination) as incompatible with effective intercultural learning. Language training is integrated: English is the language of instruction, students are expected to learn basic German, and there are opportunities to study relevant historical languages such as Biblical Hebrew and Biblical Greek.

Structure and mobility

The full programme runs over two years of full-time study and includes options for mobility: students may spend several months or a full semester at one of the university’s partner institutions abroad. The combination of disciplinary training, intercultural communication skills and language learning is intended to prepare graduates for further academic work or for roles requiring intercultural and interreligious expertise.

Key facts / Requirements

• Duration: 2 years (full-time)
• Language of instruction: English
• Basic German study is required/expected as part of the programme
• Opportunity to learn Biblical Hebrew and Biblical Greek
• International and interreligious classroom setting
• Study-abroad option: a few months or one semester at partner institutions worldwide
• Programme policy: discriminatory practices (e.g., gender or LGBTIQ discrimination) are not accepted

This MA program is a two-year, 120 ECTS course that combines taught modules with an independent research thesis. To meet the credit requirement, students take lectures and seminars throughout the program and complete a Master’s thesis in their final phase. The curriculum is designed to build both methodological foundations and advanced, research-oriented competence in intercultural theology.

In the first year you concentrate on core interpretive and contextual skills: Biblical Exegesis, Hermeneutics, and Contextual Theologies. You will also examine Christianity from perspectives of transcultural exchange and postcolonial critique, learning to read texts and traditions against complex cultural and historical backdrops. These modules develop capacities for close textual analysis, reflective interpretation, and critical engagement with cultural difference.

The second year shifts toward depth and application, offering advanced work in Systematic and Practical Theology while training you in intercultural research methods. You will design and carry out an individual research project and produce the Master’s thesis, demonstrating the ability to plan and execute independent scholarly work that integrates theological theory, practice, and cross-cultural insight.

Requirements and key elements

• Total: 120 ECTS
• Attendance and active participation in lectures and seminars across both years
• Core first-year modules: Biblical Exegesis; Hermeneutics; Contextual Theologies; Christianity in transcultural exchange and postcolonial perspectives
• Second-year focus: advanced Systematic Theology; Practical Theology; intercultural research methods; development of an individual research project
• Completion and submission of a Master’s thesis as the capstone research project

Learning outcomes you can expect

• Competence in exegetical and hermeneutical methods for biblical texts
• Ability to situate theological claims within transcultural and postcolonial contexts
• Skills in designing and conducting intercultural theological research
• Capacity to synthesize systematic and practical theological perspectives in independent scholarly work

Graduates are prepared for careers that require advanced theological knowledge and intercultural competence. Typical pathways include academic research and further doctoral study, teaching and education in faith-based or secular institutions, roles in churches and religious organisations, and positions in NGOs or international organisations engaged in intercultural dialogue, development or peacebuilding.

The programme’s focus on research methods, language skills and practical intercultural experience also suits careers in cultural mediation, community engagement, and public institutions that work at the intersection of religion and society.