Research - Projects - Methods - Theory - Global Mobility

What distinguishes the program?
Study Program
International Mobility
Admission Requirements
How to Apply

What distinguishes the program?

The Master in Ethnology (Social and Cultural Anthropology) program features a very close supervisory relationship between student and teacher, as well as offer a wide selection of methodical, theoretical, and regional courses. Each year 15 students are accepted to the program. Because all spots are regularly allocated, the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Hamburg is one of the largest in Germany.

Ongoing research focus carried out by the Institute (Migration Studies, Queer- and Gender Studies, Sustainability and Climate Change, among others) provides important content to the masters program. The application of these topics can be found in several students' research projects, which are prepared, escorted, and evaluated in the duration of the course (eg. in Ghana, Turkey, Poland or Mexico).

In preparation for their own research projects, students learn and deepen knowledge in advanced methods of social and cultural anthropology (eg. Network Analysis, Discourse- and Content Analysis, computer-assisted Data Analysis using MAXQDA). The institute's regional diversity (Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia and the Arctic) not only offers MA students a large regional variety and comparative perspectives during studies, but also in the mentorship of their MA research projects.

The research and project orientation in combination with international mobility provides optimal preparation for our students' further professional careers in many different and exciting fields, eg. in Academia, Migration work, or development cooperation. Further information about career perspectives after completing the Masters of Social and Cultural Anthropology can be found on the page Berufsorientierung (english: career guidance, momentarily only in german).

Study Program

1. Semester: Analysis of current social- and cultural anthropological theories, the institute's research foci, and the fundamentals of research design.
2. Semester: Start of own research project; study of advanced methods of practice (data collection and data evaluation); preparation and realization of a research internship.
3. Semester: Choice between (I) sojourn abroad for a deeper ethnographic field research or (II) handling of a comparable culture-theoretical topic; foreign exchange semester possible; evaluation of data.
4. Semester: Ethnographic writing workshop; Masters Colloquium; writing of masters thesis; final oral examination

The following diagrams provide an example of the progression of the MA program. 

• Diagramme M.A. before WiSe 20/21 (PDF) (momentarily only in german)
• Diagramme M.A. since WiSe 20/21 (PDF) + Module Structure since WiSe 20/21 (PDF) (momentarily only in german) 

For further information visit MA-Studiengänge  (German only)

While not obligatory, the depicted order of study is recommended. Within the subject-specific requirements, students have free room to adapt their own interests and needs to the program (eg. Language courses).

International Mobility

The institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology is part of a large network of international partners working in the field of Research and Education. Students are mentored and assisted by employees of the Institute in the planning and realizing of international mobility for their research projects. Among other available programs at the University of Hamburg, students can take part in the Erasmus+ Program and study abroad for a semester at the Stradiņš University of Riga, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, or the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki. Students can also apply to any of the Faculty of Humanities' 187 partner Universities for a semester abroad. 

Additionally, close cooperation exists between the institute and universitites in Namibia, Ghana, Mexico, Russia, Great Britain and the USA, to name a few. These cooperative partners take part in the supervision of field research in their respective regions. Further options for support and funding for mobility worldwide is provided through Hamburglobal (Field research, Internships, Summer School, Academic- and Language sojourns) and the Central Exchanges (german: Zentralaustausch), through which students can apply to study abroad for a semester at one of the 19 international partner universities (eg. USA, Russia, China, Japan and South Africa).

Admission Requirements

Prerequisites: Bachelor of Arts in Ethnology (Social and Cultural Anthropology) or a comparable subject with an evaluation equivalent to "good" or higher, good knowledge of the english language (to be confirmed with one of the following or comparable certificates: TOEFL-internet based: 70, Language placement test level B2 or Abitur/Credit course: 12 Points).

Applicants who have not acquired university entrance qualification from a german-language institution, or have not acquired a previous university degree at a german-language university, or have not successfully completed at least one year studying social and cultural anthropology at a german university, must certify sufficient knowledge of the german language through the Deutsche Sprachdiplom der Kultusministerkonferenz – Zweite Stufe – or a language certificate recognized as equivalent by the Kultusministerkonferenz.

How to Apply

Please be informed of the application deadlines before preparing an application.

1. Applications are completed directly online through the University of Hamburg
   
   
2. In addition to the online application, all documents must be sent directly to the Institute for Social and Cultural Anthropology via e-mail (not via post) no later than the application deadline: IFE@uni-hamburg.de
   
   The following documents must be enclosed:
   
   
   1. Compelling cover letter
   2. STINE application print-out (see above)
   3. Certification of previous University diploma (see above). Should you be finishing your Bachelor studies in the current semester, it is possible to provide this certification after it becomes available, no later than the end of the first MA-Semester.
   4. Transcript of Records
   5. English Language Certificate (see above)
   6. Curriculum Vitae (incl. completed studies and final grades)