Studying Languages and Cultures of Southeast Asia (M.A.)

in Hamburg

Universität Hamburg is Germany’s first democratically founded university. In 1919 the university opened it’S doors. In 1911, businessman Edmund Siemers donated what would become the University’s main building. His motto, “To research, to teach, to educate” may still be read above the main door and Universität Hamburg remains committed to these principles today. Accordingly, the University sees research and teaching as inseparable spheres of activity. It is their interaction which makes sustainable education possible.

We look forward to seeing you in the East Wing of the main building, the Asia-Africa-Institute of the University.

Admission Requirements

Application Period for the winter semester: February 15th to March 31st and June 1st to July 15th.
Application Period for the summer semester: December 1st to January 15th

If you choose to apply for the M.A. program you should have:

• a university degree: this may be a Bachelor’s degree, a Master’s degree or a Licentiate (“Staatsexamen”) in Southeast Asian Studies
• knowledge in the fields of Linguistics, Literature, History, Society or Religion of Southeast Asia.
• Language skills: in Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian and Malay Studies), in Thai (Thai Studies) or Vietnamese (Vietnamese Studies)
• evidence for proficiency in English

For more information on the application procress, please click here.

Program objectives

The M.A. program targets German and European students, particularly graduates of B.A. programs in Southeast Asian Studies, as well as students from overseas, particularly from Southeast Asia. Besides imparting intercultural skills, this program focuses on the languages, cultures, histories and societies of an important, culturally diverse Asian region undergoing rapid development. In accordance with Universität Hamburg’s traditionally high academic standards, students receive rigorous training in one of the program’s three areas of concentration: Indonesian and Malay Studies, Thai Studies and Vietnamese Studies.

The M.A. prepares students for both academic and practical careers as well as for doctoral programs in Southeast Asian Studies.

MA Program

The M.A. program consists of two compulsory modules, “Southeast Asian Languages and Literatures” and “Southeast Asian History and Society.”  Our research spectrum includes such diverse fields as manuscript cultures, modern literature, history, religion and society. Graduate research should contribute to departmental research. The compulsory “Southeast Asian Studies: Theories and Methods” module forges a link between instruction and research.

The standard period of study is four semesters (two years) and the main teaching language is English.

Study abroad

M.A. students can spend a semester (worth 30 credit points) at one of our European partner universities, including the INALCO Paris, SOAS London or the University of Leiden, or they can spend a semester in Southeast Asia. We have partnerships with ten academic and research institutions in Southeast Asia, such as the University Gajah Mada in Yogyakarta, Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok and the National University of Ho Chi Minh City.

Final module

The final module consists of a compulsory colloquium, a master’s thesis and an oral exam.