Admission requirements

Requirements for acceptance into this degree program are
(1) completion of a first degree in the humanities and social sciences at a university or vocational academy that is officially recognized in Germany and qualifies the degree holder for a profession,
(2) English proficiency at the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, and
(3) particular prior knowledge of digital methods, techniques of digital work and prior knowledge in subject areas of the humanities and social sciences. This particular aptitude is determined via an aptitude assessment procedure.

Aptitude assessment procedure

The participation in an aptitude assessment or selection procedure is a prerequisite for enrollment in this degree program. Please note that the deadline for submitting an application may be earlier than the application deadlines for the degree program (see above under application deadlines). The following links will provide you with information on all documents to be submitted within the specified deadline and on the relevant regulations.

• Information and documents to be submitted

German language requirements

International applicants and German applicants with a foreign university entrance qualification are kindly advised to read the requirements for German-language courses.

Notes on the application process

If, at the time of application, proof of the first degree qualifying the applicant for a profession is not yet available, the application will be considered under the precondition that 80% of the credit points attainable for the degree have already been achieved based on completed module examinations or the final thesis and the colloquium (if applicable). A certification from the awarding institute of higher education (examination office) serves as proof of the above-mentioned academic achievements. You can find the appropriate form on the Admissions Office website.

General information about the degree program

© Betty Baumann

The courses in the four-semester Digital Humanities master’s degree program are geared towards students of humanities and social sciences who would like to explore the opportunities offered by computer-supported teaching, research and transfer and how to apply them in practice.

The degree program follows the Digital Humanities core curriculum (based on Sahle 2013). It is structured to confer a broad range of fundamental knowledge with an emphasis on computer science and a subsequent specialization in elective compulsory fields. Students can choose from: Society and History, Art and Visual Studies, School and Education, or Language and Literature, supplemented by interdisciplinary topics such as Data, Law and Ethics.

The program includes a practical semester, in which students work together with partner institutions to develop professional prospects. Partner institutions include the Saxon State and University Library (SLUB), the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden (SKD), the Institut für Sächsische Geschichte und Volkskunde (ISGV), the Sorbian Institute (SI) and the Hannah Arendt Institute for Totalitarianism Studies (HAIT).

Study contents

The content of the degree program is centered on the acquisition of key skills and knowledge that will enable students to shape the knowledge-based society of the 21st century in a digital world of work and media.

Of particular note are the foundations of the Digital Humanities, applied computer science, and interdisciplinary as well as transdisciplinary project development. At the core of the curriculum are research and application-oriented methods in the humanities and social sciences in the fields of digital textual analysis, education, cultural studies, art history, visual studies and music. It is rounded off by specific legal foundations for working with digital media and content as well as transfer opportunities between different cultural, education and intermediary institutions.

The elective compulsory fields of Society and History, Art and Visual Studies, School and Education, as well as Language and Literature provide students with an in-depth look at the Digital Humanities at the intersection between the humanities and social sciences and representatives of cultural, education and intermediary institutions – such as museums, galleries, collections, libraries and archives.

The elective compulsory field Society and Historyfocuses on the interrelationship between digital transformations and historical sources. This includes the provision of source corpora and the indexing, modeling and analysis thereof using specifically digital methods and the subsequent public knowledge transfer.

In the elective compulsory field Art and Visual Studies, architecture and visual arts and cultures take center stage. In addition to computer-supported teaching and research, this refers in particular to forms of digital knowledge transfer, for instance in museums, virtual exhibitions etc.

In the elective compulsory field School and Education, students reflect on the relationship between digitalization and education on the basis of theoretical and empirical issues in education (e.g. school and class development).

The elective compulsory field Language and Literature zeroes in on topics of linguistics, literature and cultural studies with a view to digital methods. This comprises creating and exploiting machine-readable corpora, generating and developing digital editions, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary project networking, and transferring methods and findings from computer-supported linguistics, literature and cultural studies.

Stay abroad

Would you like to spend a semester abroad? Whether it is a semester, an internship or a language course abroad, you will definitely benefit from the international experience. You can improve your subject and language skills, establish new contacts, make friends, get to know other cultures, and much more. You can find more information on the International Office’s website.

Mandatory internship during studies

The third semester of the degree program is planned as a practical semester with a ten-hour-per-week internship. Together with the 100 hours for the portfolio (module examination), the total internship workload is credited with 450 hours. Students will receive comprehensive advice in consultation with the partner institutions prior to starting an internship.

Occupational fields

Graduates of the master’s degree program will be well positioned for a career in academic research, as they will be qualified to pursue a doctorate. Other career opportunities include coordination and curatorial work in museums, galleries, collections, libraries and archives, developmental and supervisory work with municipal and tourist information websites, and work in educational facilities. Close collaboration with the degree program’s partner institutions and the Academic Advisory Service aids students in finding the right career path.

Study documents

The official announcements of TU Dresden include all published regulations . Please use the search bar to find the document you need: Official proclamation

The regulations are also available on each institution’s website.

Contacts

Admissions Office

Bereich Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaften

International Office

Additional information