History (Master)

In the Master’s programme in History, you will be guided to graduation in four semesters that consistently build on each other. The fourth and final semester is reserved for writing the Master’s thesis. The three preceding semesters are each divided into two modules that teach the knowledge, competences, qualifications and skills required to complete the Master’s thesis and thus complete the studies successfully.

Theory and methods module

In the first semester, you will be introduced to selected theories from the field of history, basic historical concepts and ways of thinking, questions in the history of philosophy, aspects of the history of historical science and fundamental problems in the history of knowledge. In addition, you will train your skills in text and source analysis.

Epoch module

You will deal with different scientific topics and epochs, reflect on the designation and changeability of epochs over time and place them in greater contexts. In doing so, you get the opportunity to test out what type of learner you are: Do you rather enjoy clear pre-structuring or great freedom?

Orders of knowledge module

In this module you will gain institutional experience in archives, libraries and museums. You will be taught the basics and selected topics of the history of knowledge, explore questions of conception and development of historical projects, deal with original historical sources and dedicate yourself to the presentation of academic topics through media.

Practical module

In this module you will become familiar with the practice of salvaging, archiving, collecting and evaluating, with the theory of archiving, with questions of collection history, with opportunities and challenges of cultural property management, with cultural property preservation, archive research as well as with restorative and conservational practice. The module takes place in close cooperation with our non-university partners. Here, you will often work on site in the respective museums, archives or other collecting institutions during the practical seminars.

Internship module

As an alternative to the practical module, you can also complete an 8-week internship (full-time), which is accompanied by a tutorial. Through the internship, the practical relevance of the study programme is strengthened and you get to know possible future fields of work, their requirements and working conditions. In practice, you will learn to recognise, test and further develop your own qualifications and skills, sharpen your own profile and establish contacts with potential employers.

Specialisation module

The module serves to specialise in one of the following areas:

• ancient history

• medieval history

• modern and contemporary history

• history of technology and science

• history of knowledge

The aim of the specialisation module is to prepare you for the Master’s thesis in terms of methodology and content using concrete topics, knowledge and scientific results from one area of specialisation.

Reading module

In the reading module, you will develop an individual literary canon, write reviews/argumentative analyses, deal with historiographical genera, with forms and methods of critical and sustained reading and with the analysis of research controversies.

Master’s thesis

With the Master’s thesis, you demonstrate that you can write a complex paper presenting independent research on a historical or metahistorical topic and that you are able to scientifically present and justify your epistemological interests, methods, modes of argumentation and scientific results in written and oral form.

Gaining your own experience abroad is very important: be it during an excursion, in an internship or by studying at a partner university.

Thanks to the numerous international exchange programmes at TU Braunschweig, you can easily integrate semesters abroad into your studies: In the Master’s programme in History, the 3rd semester is ideal for a stay abroad. Equivalent achievements from abroad are recognised and your studies will ideally not be prolonged as a result.

These offers also provide excellent opportunities to learn a new language, to brush up existing language skills and to expand your specialist knowledge. Language acquisition and intercultural experience open up the best opportunities in an increasingly globalised labour market.

Studying abroad [in German only]

As a graduate of the Master’s programme in History, you will be able to work in a wide range of professional fields, ranging from academia and the cultural sector to politics and the economy.

The degree programme is therefore aimed at a broad spectrum of “classical” historical as well as other professional fields in which you will find career opportunities:

• museums

• archives

• memorial sites

• libraries

• universities

• academies

• agencies for historical research

• adult education centres

• foundations

• adult education

• public service

• arts and cultural management

• intercultural communication

• information procurement and processing

• publishing and editing

• science management

• diplomatic service

• political and international organisations

• scientific research

• media, press and public relations

The core competences of historians, which are in demand in many professional fields and sectors, include language, writing, analysis and research skills, working with historical sources, digital teaching and learning, intercultural skills as well as information processing in a knowledge-based globalised world. For a successful start of your career, it is crucial to gain an overview of the broad spectrum of professional activities, to develop key skills and to acquire the necessary work experience, if possible, already during your studies. The Master’s programme in History enables students to develop key skills, gain work experience through internships, to network with collecting institutions, as well as to work with new media and digital forms of knowledge. This will significantly increase career opportunities, not only in the Braunschweig area.