The MA programme in "History and Culture of the Baltic Sea Region" is designed for students who want to specialise in the culturally and historically complex Baltic Sea region. It consists of interdisciplinary seminars and lectures that train students for various fields of activity, e.g. cultural exchange or working for companies and NGOs in the Baltic Sea region. The focus of the programme lies on the humanities, especially on history, cultural studies, literature and linguistics.

In order to study this Master's programme at the University of Greifswald, the applicants must hold a BA degree or equivalent academic qualification (successfully finished three-year full-time study programme) and have sufficient proficiency in English. As the focus of the course programme is on history and cultural studies (including languages and literatures), we invite applicants from these fields of study. However, application is also possible for students from other disciplinary backgrounds.

Knowledge of English (B2 level, testified by certificates such as FCE, TOEFL (CBT) 213, TOEFL (IBT) 80, TOEFL (PBT) 550, TOEIC 785, IELTS 6.0 or at least seven years of classes in English as a foreign language at school) is a necessary requirement.

Basic knowledge of German (A1) is desirable, but not a necessary precondition to enrol in the study programme. Students with no or limited knowledge of German are advised to take courses in German as a foreign language as part of their study programme (modules language skills I and II). Students with advanced skills in German (B2 or higher) can also take courses in other languages of the Baltic Sea region, including Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Estonian, Lithuanian, Latvian, Polish or Russian.

The first part of the programme consists of an introduction to cultural studies as well as to current interdisciplinary research on the Baltic Sea region.

The second part of the programme consists of language courses. Students can choose from a wide range of languages of the Baltic Sea region, including German (for students who have no command of German or who want to improve their skills in German as a foreign language), Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, Russian, Polish, Estonian, Lithuanian and Latvian. Courses are offered from beginner to advanced levels (A1 to C1).

The third part of the programme is made up of lectures and seminars on the history as well as on languages and literatures of the Baltic Sea region from a comparative perspective.

Furthermore, there is an optional studies segment in which students can choose from lectures and seminars taken from other Master's programmes at the Faculty of Humanities and Arts, including but not limited to courses on Lower German, History, Art History, Music, German, Baltic, Finnish, Scandinavian or Slavonic studies.

Last but not least, the programme includes an obligatory semester abroad. Students can study at partner universities throughout the whole Baltic Sea Region. This international study unit can be used to specialise further in a single culture or field of study or to widen the individual scope of study by adding disciplines with a focus on the Baltic Sea region that are not part of the curriculum in Greifswald.

• Degree: Master of Arts (M.A.)
• Start of studies: Winter and summer semester
• Study fees: None
• Regular length of study: 4 semesters
• Total credits: 120 credits (ECTS)
• Teaching language: compulsory courses in English, some elective courses can be in German or other languages depending on the field of study
• Admission requirements: A bachelor’s degree or equivalent academic qualification in the humanities (e.g. history, cultural studies, literature and linguistics)
• Admission procedure: local admission procedure, 15 January for the following summer semester, 15 July for the following winter semester