Medieval and Renaissance Studies
Medieval and Renaissance Studies (M.A.)
Our interdisciplinary Master’s degree program in Medieval and Renaissance Studies is based on a broad concept of epochs that encompasses the diversity of these historical periods. Whether you are interested in late antiquity, the beginning of the early modern period, or the cultures of Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, or the Far East, this is the place for you! We offer you a unique opportunity to intensively explore the history and culture of Christian Latin Europe in Late Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance. Jewish, Islamic, and Byzantine cultures, as well as non-European cultures in the Orient and North Africa, are also considered in depth in our program.
- Degree
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Duration of studies in semester
- 4
- Start of degree program
- Winter semester
- Study location
- Erlangen
- Number of students
- 1-50
- Subject group
- Language and Cultural Studies
- Teaching language
- completely in German
- Admission Requirements
- Qualification assessment
What is the degree program about?
The interdisciplinary Master’s program in Medieval and Renaissance Studies is based on a broad concept of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Depending on the subject, this includes phenomena of late antiquity as well as developments of the early modern period. In addition to the history and culture of Christian-Latin Europe in Late Antiquity, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the degree program covers phenomena of Jewish, Islamic and Byzantine cultures and lifeworlds in Europe as well as non-European cultures in the Orient, North Africa and the Far East. Intercultural comparison is an important heuristic method of the Master’s degree program.
The focus is on cultural phenomena of the European Middle Ages. It offers students who have already obtained a university degree (Bachelor) in a subject related to the Middle Ages or the Early Modern Period the opportunity to deepen and expand their knowledge and expertise from a cross-disciplinary and cross-epochal perspective.
The aim of the degree program is to impart in-depth subject knowledge and working techniques that enable graduates to work independently on scientific issues. It prepares its graduates primarily for a subsequent doctorate, for academic work in research and/or teaching or in museums, archives or libraries.
The following subjects are currently actively involved in the program: Art History, Christian Archaeology, Medieval German Studies, Medieval History, History of Medicine, Medieval Latin Philology, Bavarian and Franconian Regional History, Didactics of History, Islamic Studies, Romance Studies and Digital Humanities. Other subjects can be chosen as a Master’s subject in individual cases, upon application and after prior consultation with the respective subject representatives.
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The Master’s degree program underscores interdisciplinary approaches: Students combine two different subjects. Possible subjects are: Bavarian and Franconian Regional History, Christian Archaeology, German Medieval Studies, Art History, Medieval History, Medieval Latin Philology. In the main subject, the curriculum consists of four modules totalling 35 ECTS credits and the Master’s module (including the Master’s thesis) totalling 30 ECTS credits. In the second subject, two modules with a total of 20 ECTS credits are required.
The double focus, which is also reflected in the interdisciplinary orientation of the Master’s thesis, is supplemented in the compulsory curriculum (three modules with a total of 15 ECTS) by methodological specialisation in Medieval Latin, Middle High German, historical auxiliary sciences, basics of the visual arts in the Middle Ages and early modern period as well as digital humanities.
Further compulsary elective modules (a total of 20 ECTS) may be chosen from the broad range of subjects of the IZEMIR (www.mittelalter.phil.uni-erlangen.de) as well as neighbouring disciplines from the three categories “Language and Literature”, “Archaeology, Art and Media” and “History and Philosophy”. Potential subjects are (among others) by the subjects German Linguistics, History of Medicine, Ancient and Modern Church History, English Studies, Romance Studies, Philosophy, History of Law, Islamic Studies and Arabic Studies, Sinology, Digital Humanities and Didactics of History.
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The open structure of the degree program allows students to set personal focal points right from the start and thus to develop an individual qualification profile. Students are free to choose one Master’s subject and one profile subject individually. This structure allows students to continue and deepen their existing study focus, but also to study a subject not yet studied in the Bachelor’s degree program. Both subjects chosen are shown on the degree certificate. In both subjects, students acquire the formal qualification for a subsequent PhD program. In addition, compulsory elective modules allow for further individual profiling.
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In addition to interest and enthusiasm for the history, art and culture of pre-modern eras, important prerequisites for successful study are:
- Interest in current research in the fields of humanities and cultural studies
- Ability and willingness to deal intensively and extensively with texts
- Good oral and written expression in German
- Knowledge of at least two modern foreign languages as well as Latin (can be acquired during the course of study)
- Ability to work independently and to organise oneself
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The degree program “Middle Ages and Early Modern Period” at FAU is characterised in particular by its high level of interdisciplinarity and the large number of participating subjects. The basic concept as a two-subject Master’s degree program allows to develop this interdisciplinarity in one’s own qualification profile up to the formal level of doctoral qualification in both chosen subjects. Close institutional connection to the Interdisciplinary Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies (IZEMIR) makes the degree program highly research orientated: in individual cases, the degree program offers the possibility to participate in ongoing research projects.
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The degree program aims primarily at the scientific qualification of its graduates and qualifies them for independent research in the two chosen subjects in a subsequent doctoral program. The program aims primarily at the scientific qualification of its graduates and qualifies them for independent research in the two chosen subjects within the framework of a subsequent doctoral program. In addition, graduates are offered a broad spectrum of professional activities, e.g. in the following areas
- Archives and Libraries
- Publishing houses
- Museums and Exhibitions
- Cultural heritage
- History Marketing and public relations
- Communal consulting
- etc.
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- Admission requirements (first semester)
- Qualification assessment
- Application deadline winter semester
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15.07.
- Content-related admission requirements
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Admission requirements are a Bachelor’s degree in at least one of the main subjects active in the programme (History, German Studies, Art History, Medieval Latin, Christian Archaeology) or proof of at least 35 ECTS credits in modules clearly related to the epochs of the Middle Ages and/or the Early Modern Period.
Language skills
- German language skills for international applicants
- DSH 2 or equivalent
- General language skills
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Proof of knowledge in two modern foreign languages (of at least level B1) as well as knowledge of Latin is obligatory. Missing language skills may be acquired and proven during the course of study, though certain conditions apply.
Do you need help or more information?
Our Student Advice and Career Service (IBZ) is the central point of contact for all questions about studying and starting a degree programme. Our Student Service Centres and subject advisors support you in planning your studies.