Master of Arts in Religious Studies

Master of Arts in Religious Studies - International Programmes - DAADREMOVE_JS Skip to main content International Programmes 2025/2026 © pagination Home Back Previous Next Master of Arts in Religious Studies Master of Arts in Religious Studies University of Erfurt • Erfurt Gallery Overview Course details Costs / Funding Requirements / Registration Services About the university Degree Master of Arts Religious Studies Course location Erfurt Teaching language English Languages The core curriculum will be taught in English. Participants can choose to write their exams, semester papers, and Master's theses in either English or German. Students from abroad who are unable to understand German should study German before and during their studies so that they can benefit from additional courses that may be taught in German. Full-time / part-time full-time Programme duration 4 semesters Beginning Winter semester Additional information on beginning, duration and mode of study Please note that this is not an online MA programme, so we expect you to be present in Erfurt. Nevertheless, some of our seminars may be taught online. For details, please contact the programme adviser in advance. Application deadline The application period for non-EU applicants starts on 1 January and ends on 15 July . Applications will be continually processed during this period. Please note that because of time-consuming visa application procedures, an early application is strongly recommended for international applicants! EU applicants can apply until 1 September. Tuition fees per semester in EUR None Combined Master's degree / PhD programme No Joint degree / double degree programme No Description/content The Master's in Religious Studies provides the opportunity to study the plurality of past and present religious traditions in Europe. This programme combines methodological tools from history, religious studies, and cultural studies to analyse the role of religion in Europe's complex and pluralistic societies as well as their global entanglements from a postcolonial perspective. It is possible to focus on General Religious Studies, Jewish Studies, Islamic Studies or the Cultural History of Orthodox Christianity. Each major is represented by a professor and a team of young researchers. The Department of Religious Studies is part of the research area of Religion – Society – Self-World Relations at the University of Erfurt. For further information about the department, see: Department of Religious Studies of the University of Erfurt . Course organisation This two-year MA in Religious Studies combines a systematic approach with a specialisation in one religious tradition. Two obligatory modules and three other modules must be completed. Each of these modules consists of two seminars, each of which are 9 ECTS credits. During the first three semesters students: attend the obligatory core module A01: Theory and Methodology of Religious Studies (= 18 ECTS) attend the module C01: Religious Pluralism (= 18 ECTS) attend two modules (a-b) in the chosen religious tradition (= 36 ECTS) attend one of the other optional modules (= 18 ECTS) During the fourth semester, students work on their Master's thesis of approx. 80 pages in length (= 30 ECTS). Part-time option: six semesters of classes plus one semester for the Master's thesis PDF Download International elements Projects with partners in Germany and abroad International guest lecturers Courses are led with foreign partners Content-related regional focus Course-specific, integrated German language courses No Course-specific, integrated English language courses No Tuition fees per semester in EUR None Semester contribution Approx. 270 EUR per semester Costs of living Living costs are currently estimated to be 934 EUR per month (11,208 EUR per year as of 1 January 2023). Some students must provide relevant proof that this sum of funds will be available to them during their stay in Germany. Detailed information can be found on the DAAD website as well as the International Office of the University of Erfurt . Funding opportunities within the university No Academic admission requirements A Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline (either as a major or a minor) such as Religious Studies, Jewish Studies, Islamic Studies, Classical Philology, Byzantine Studies, Theology, Cultural Anthropology, History, Social Sciences, or in related languages (Hebrew, Classics, Arabic, Urdu, Russian, etc.) Language requirements Proficiency in English and preferably some knowledge of German are required. Moreover, each specialisation requires reading proficiency in at least one other relevant language on a B2 level. Relevant languages include (but are not limited to): Judaism: Hebrew Latin Christianity: Latin and preferably German Religions of Antiquity: Ancient Greek or Latin Orthodox Christianity: Ancient or Modern Greek, Russian or another Slavic language Islamic Studies: Arabic, Persian, Turkish or Urdu Application deadline The application period for non-EU applicants starts on 1 January and ends on 15 July . Applications will be continually processed during this period. Please note that because of time-consuming visa application procedures, an early application is strongly recommended for international applicants! EU applicants can apply until 1 September. Submit application to Information on application deadlines and application modalities, admission, enrolment can be found at: Application for MA Religious Studies . Possibility of finding part-time employment Students have the opportunity receive financial support by partaking in research projects. Accommodation On- and off-campus accommodation is available through the Student Services Organisation ("Studentenwerk"). For detailed information, see http://www.stw-thueringen.de . Support for international students and doctoral candidates Welcome event Tutors Accompanying programme General services and support for international students and doctoral candidates Research and Graduate Services University of Erfurt University of Erfurt © University of Erfurt The University of Erfurt's long history dates back to the 14th century. Reopened in 1994 as a university with a focus on humanities and cultural studies, the University of Erfurt was the first German institution of higher education to introduce Bachelor's and Master's degrees in all of its faculties. Since 2007, every course offered has been awarded the seal of quality from the accreditation commission. Today about 5,500 students are enrolled in our four different faculties. Erfurt is a compact university town and the faculties, lecture halls, student services as well as residence halls are located ten minutes from Erfurt's city centre. University of Erfurt's campus is easily accessible via public or private transport and offers a cafeteria, a student club, computer labs and sports facilities. The new university library currently holds over 1,000,000 volumes and new media resources. University location Erfurt, the capital of the federal state of Thuringia, is located right in the heart of Germany and can easily be reached by plane, train or car. Erfurt's historical city centre is one of the most beautifully preserved medieval city centres in Germany. Cafés, bars, clubs, a new opera house, museums and galleries characterise the multifaceted cultural life of the city with its approx. 200,000 inhabitants. Activate map To activate the map, click on the "Show map" button. 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