Degree program Ancient Cultures (Master)
accredited

Admission requirements

Candidates must have
- completed a Bachelor’s degree program in History, Classical Latin, Classical Greek, Protestant Theology, Catholic Theology or a comparable degree program. Candidates must also
- provide proof of English competency at the B2 level - Proof of the required English language skills is provided by means of a relevant examination certificate or language certificate. This can take the form of:
- Certificate of general or subject-specific university entrance qualification that serves as evidence of having learned English as a foreign language from grades 5-12,
- Certificate of higher education entrance qualification taken entirely in English or certificate of higher education entrance qualification taken entirely in English or
- Proof of a recognized English test e.g. IELTS: 5.5; TOEFL: 72; UNIcert II)
- as well as competencies in Latin, Greek or Hebrew amounting to 120 hours or one semester with 8 hours of study per week.

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

When and where did democracy originate? Why did the European world become Christian in a comparatively short period and to what extent has this contributed to a uniquely European historical experience? Why was the beginning of classical literature with Homer instantly one of the high points of world literature? How were people able to accurately calculate the circumference of the earth in the 3rd century B.C. only to later believe the earth is flat? Why did classical art serve as the exemplary standard for so long? Why did the Roman Empire last so long, and why did their subjects identify with them instead of rejecting them as foreign rulers? The interdisciplinary Master’s degree program in Ancient Cultures addresses these and many more fascinating questions.
Graduates of this Master’s degree program distinguish themselves with their deep and extensive knowledge of classical cultures. But most importantly, they acquire the methodological and analytical tools needed to delve into scattered and incomplete information, as is characteristic of the ancient world in general. They are able to draw logical conclusions from this information and to develop plausible reconstructions and concepts. Philological, historical and theological questions are examined during the degree program.

Study contents

The Ancient Cultures Master’s degree program provides in-depth historical, philological, exegetical and religious-historical knowledge for understanding the classical cultures of the Mediterranean region.
The program is interdisciplinary and jointly coordinated by the Institutes and Chairs involved in the program (Ancient History, Biblical Theology, Classical Philology).
As students bring with them varying degrees of previous knowledge from these three areas, two fundamental modules serve to align the different prerequisites. Students choose the modules of the two subjects that they did not study as part of their BA program. In the language module, students acquire fundamental and specialized philological knowledge and skills (Latin, Greek, Hebrew).
The compulsory module “Sources and Source Types” provides an overview of the various literary and material sources to which we owe our knowledge of the ancient world.
In an interdisciplinary collaboration, the three compulsory modules “Identity and Difference,” “Cult and Culture,” and “Tradition and Innovation” address the topics that are crucial for understanding the classical cultures of the Mediterranean world. For their specialization, students choose between a research-oriented, a practice-oriented and a professional skills-oriented module.

View the module descriptions

Structure

A total of 120 credit points can be earned in the Ancient Cultures Master’s degree program. Of these, 64 are earned through compulsory modules. The remaining 28 are split between the elective compulsory modules and the Master’s thesis.

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 knowledge of 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.

Occupational fields

The methodological and hermeneutic competences as well as the interdisciplinary, specialized knowledge qualify students for careers in the following professional fields: Cultural management; work in cultural organizations and businesses as well as in institutions oriented towards cultural policy (e.g. museums, journalism, publishing); travel support for cultural and study trips; university as well as extramural research in the field of ancient civilizations.

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

Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Science

International Office

Additional information