The Historical Studies specialisation is dedicated to rigorous historical research in order to obtain a deep understanding of developments of the past and to help us evaluate the merits of modern reinterpretations.

Our views of events in the past shape and give meaning to the present. The Research Master’s programme in Historical Studies brings historians together with scholars of literature, art and visual culture to construct critical histories of both the past and the present. Historical enquiry has important transformative potential on not just our ideas about the past but also on present-day societies. In order to properly transform our interpretations, we have to look beyond borders and beyond our own discipline.

That is why our specialisation has an international element as well as a connection to the other disciplines in the Humanities. You will gain insight into general methods and theories of the Humanities as well as those specific to historical studies. This will enrich your own research and future contributions to scholarly and societal debates.

Something for you?

• A strong focus on research training in historiography methods and theory.
• Extensive freedom to design a large part of your curriculum.
• Individual supervision of your development as specialist in your field.
• Opportunity to gain experience abroad for a semester.
• Unique combination of disciplinary and interdisciplinary components helping you to develop research skills and knowledge beyond one academic discipline.
• A select and interdisciplinary cohort of peers.

Career prospects:

During the Master’s programme you will gain specialist knowledge in Historical Studies against the background of a broad spectrum of theories and methods in the humanities. Through your individual Master’s research, you will also have had the opportunity to concentrate on a very specific phenomenon in your own field. This combination of a broad view and a specific focus will open multiple doors for you.

Our graduates are much appreciated by employers for their research and analytical skills, and for their ability to master large quantities of data and view the results of their research in a larger context.

This Research Master’s prepares an international group of students for careers that require advanced research competences and skills. Alumni of this programme have found positions as PhD students, researchers, policy officers, editors, curators or critics at universities, museums, heritage institutions, archaeological agencies, publishing companies or text agencies.

Possible occupations:

• Researcher at a cultural or scientific organisation or research centre
• (Digital) archivist
• Lecturer at an institution for higher education
• Policy-making official in the fields of culture and science
• Editor in the field of historical or cultural scholarship
• Staff member of a publishing company or text agency, usually with regard to scientific, historical or cultural journals
• Curator of a cultural heritage institution or in the museological sector
• Consultant for a political party