Faculty of Humanities

Degree Programs

Master's in Central Asian Studies

The Central Asian Studies program addresses the languages and cultures of Central Asia. Central Asia encompasses both Islamic and Buddhist regions and cultures in inner Asia.

Master Zentralasiatische Kulturwissenschaften

The Central Asian Studies program in Bern focuses on the Buddhist regions of Central Asia. The Bachelor program (BA) therefore provides students with basic knowledge about the social, cultural and religious history of Tibet and Mongolia up to and including the present, and also offers language instruction in Classical Tibetan or Uiguro-Mongolian script. Language skills are intensified in the Master program (MA) and supplemented with the study of a second language from the region (Tibetan, Mongolian, Chinese, Persian, Uighur, Uzbek etc.). During the Master program, students are also introduced to current scholarly debates and encouraged to develop and critically evaluate their own points of view.



Basic information
Degree: Master of Arts in Central Asian Studies, Universität Bern
Number of credits: 120 ECTS credits
Degree programs:
  • Major Central Asian Studies 90 ECTS credits

 

Offer for other degree programs:

  • Minor Central Asian Studies 30 ECTS credits
Combination possibilities: several
Duration: 4 semesters
Language: German or English
Beginning studies: Registrations for the Master Central Asian Cultural Studies are only possible up to and including fall semester 23. This study program will be discontinued thereafter.
For students already enrolled, continuation will be until the end of spring semester 25.

Details of program

Combination possibilities

The Master's degree program in Central Asian Studies consists of a major with 90 ECTS credits and a minor with 30 ECTS credits.

The major in Central Asian Studies can be combined with any minor subject taught in a sufficient scope at the University of Bern, with the exception of Central Asian Studies and Inter-Religious Studies.

Structure
Major ECTS Minor ECTS
90         30        

Requirements

Individual academic requirements

The following academic qualifications are required for admission to the master’s degree program in Central Asian Studies (major):

a) Bachelor's degree from a recognized university with a major in Science of Religion and an empirical focus on Buddhist Central Asia​
b)

 Bachelor's degree from a recognized university with a major in:

  • Tibetology
  • Mongolian Studies
  • Central Asian Studies
c) Bachelor's degree from a recognized university with a major in another branch of studies, provided that the master's degree can be successfully completed with an additional maximum 60 ECTS credits and that you can demonstrate proficiency in a Central Asian language.
Additional attainments can either be admission requirements which must be fulfilled in order to complete the master's degree program or admission requirements which must be fulfilled before admission to the master's degree program. The ECTS credits will be listed separately in the diploma supplement as extracurricular attainments.

Please consult the admission requirements for the minor as presented in the plan of studies.

The bachelor's degree may not be more than ten years old. Exceptions are possible where justified.

Language requirements

At the time of application, you must provide evidence of language proficiency (degree from a university or equivalent institution) in one of the languages below. Or, if you are a native Mongolian or Tibetan speaker, you must successfully complete a four-hour examination:

Languages:
a) Tibetan
b) Mongolian
c) Chinese
d) Uighur
e) Uzbek and other Central Asian Turkic languages
f) as an academic language for research: Reading ability in Russian

 
For questions regarding application and admission, please contact the Admissions Office.

Application and admission

Current UniBE students

Apply for a change to the M A in Central Asian Studies, Universität Bern by self-service as part of the re-registration for the next semester.
Renewal of semester registration → Self-service
Recognition of academic achievements
Procedure and timing of the renewal of semester registration
   

Application with a Swiss degree

Online application
Assessment
Steps from application to registration
 

Application with an international degree

Online application
Steps from application to registration

 
For questions regarding application and admission, please contact the Admissions Office.