History and Societies of the Islamic World

Freie Universität · Berlin, Germany

Level
Master's
Award
Master of Arts
Language
English
Duration
4 semesters
Study mode
Full-time
Campus
Berlin
Apply by
Register by 15 January 2027 + 1 more
Starts
Winter and summer semester

Freie Universität does not publish a fee for this programme on its own. Its published rate for master's programmes is €0 a year for international students.

Entry requirements and how to apply

Entry requirements
For admission to the Master’s programme, applicants must fulfil the following requirements: A first university degree (e.g. a Bachelor’s degree) comprising at least 180 credit points (ECTS) A minimum of 60 ECTS must have been earned in courses relevant to the study of history and societies of the Islamic world. Of these 60 ECTS, at least 40 ECTS must have been earned in courses that impart written Arabic language skills up to and including the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and oral Arabic language skills at the level B1 or an equivalent. At least 20 ECTS of the requirement must have been earned in courses focusing on other (i.e. not language skills-focused) topics relevant to the study of history and societies of the Islamic world. The Arabic language requirement can also be fulfilled in other ways, for example by providing proof that the applicant has completed secondary or tertiary education in an Arabic-speaking country. In this case, the required 60 ECTS must have been earned in courses focusing on other (i.e. not language skills-focused) topics relevant to the study of history and societies of the Islamic world.
English language requirement
C1 required, please provide an official language certificate, e.g.: UNIcert® English: UNIcert® III PTE Academic: 76 TOEFL iBT (since 2026): 5 Reading: 5 Listening: 5 Speaking: 5 Writing: 5 Cambridge English Qualifications: C1 Advanced IELTS Academic: 7
German language requirement
No minimum language level required
Application period
The following is valid for applicants from: all countries For the summer semester: 1 December - 15 January The following is valid for applicants from: all countries For the winter semester: 20 April - 15 August
Apply through
• uni-assist • Website

About this programme

History and Societies of the Islamic World is a research-oriented Master’s programme at the Department of History and Cultural Studies with a focus on history, culture, religion, and the social sciences. It is a consecutive Master’s programme taught entirely in English. Admission to the programme requires a Bachelor’s degree in History and Cultures of the Middle East with a focus on Islamic Studies, or an equivalent degree in a closely related subject. The programme focuses on the history, politics, religions, cultures, knowledge formations, and normativities of Islamic societies from the beginnings of Islam to the present. The regional focus lies on West Asia and North Africa as well as on Europe, with special attention to global perspectives and interconnections. The Master’s programme offers an overview of the current state of research and central debates in the study of the history and societies of the Islamic world and trains students in various research approaches and methodologies. The inter- and transdisciplinary area of the programme provides students with the opportunity to specialise and deepen their professional focus. Unique features of the programme in the German academic context include the regional profile area “Islam in Europe” and a special emphasis on theory and methodology in the study of the Islamic world. Theoretical and methodological topics and approaches include gender dimensions in various contexts as well as constructions of difference and alterity;

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