Program Profile

The M.A. program Islamwissenschaft / Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies is a Cultural Studies program characterised by thorough language training in at least two languages of the Islamic world.
Our Master’s program is closely tied to current research. We provide our students opportunities to work in close and active exchange with their lecturers and to build international networks and collaboration. Work with primary sources in the original languages is combined with methodological approaches.
Teaching and research in Tübingen focus on a range of areas, especially the history of literature, culture and science, and numismatics. While premodern Islamic cultural heritage features prominently, modern debates are also addressed extensively. The program also offers a Digital Humanities profile.

Overview

At the heart of the program is the study of the languages and cultures of the Islamic world, both past and present, with a focus on Arabic, Persian and Turkish (including Ottoman Turkish).

At the beginning of the program, students take foundational modules that provide a shared methodological and linguistic basis for working with primary sources and integrating diverse disciplinary approaches.
In specialisation modules, students deepen their knowledge according to their own choice from the wide range of courses offered. Courses focus on the analysis of a wide range of textual genres — from medieval manuscripts to modern media.
The “Contexts and Encounters” module allows students to explore their academic interests in interdisciplinary settings and to situate them within broader research frameworks. These modules may be taken in related programs such as Anthropology, Religious Studies, Islamic Theology , History, Jewish Studies, Political Science, etc.
Through the project and intership module, students gain practical experience in various professional fields relevant to their interests. While a semester abroad is not mandatory, students have access to a wide range of opportunities for study and internships abroad through Erasmus+ and the CIVIS alliance, including language courses, exchange semesters, and placements. More information is available on the university’s website or via the Erasmus coordinator.

Qualification and Prospects 

Students develop advanced skills in applying cultural science methodologies to the study of the Middle East and Islamicate societies — including transregional and comparative approaches. Graduates are equipped to further develop their research-oriented expertise using advanced academic methods and benefit from the department’s broad academic and professional networks.

This opens up career opportunities in a wide range of fields, including:

• Academic research and teaching
• Work in educational institutions, foundations, international organisations, museums, and specialist libraries
• Public sector, governmental agencies, diplomacy and think tanks
• Fields such as integration, cultural mediation, and interreligious dialogue
• Journalism, media, and publishing
• Consulting
• Tourism