Faculty of Humanities

Degree Programs

Master's in Islamic Studies and Oriental Literatures

The program provides students with qualifications and skills needed for careers in various fields. The ability to understand Islam and Middle Eastern issues is very important to both government agencies and the private sector, and the demand for professionals with a corresponding academic background is therefore very high. Students acquire the skills they need in an attractive research environment at the Institute for Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies. Research is conducted here in both complex major projects and subject-specific individual projects.

The combined research-teaching approach enables students to begin examining problems and issues in Islamic and Middle Eastern research at an early stage of their studies. Because programs in Islamic and Middle Eastern studies no longer automatically and exclusively lead to an academic career, but instead enable students to pursue a wide range of careers, the question as to how academic knowledge can be transferred into the non-university professional environment has become much more important. The expertise and skills taught in the program are always applicable to potential professional careers as well. For example, courses are also taught in which students learn how academic knowledge can be successfully transferred to a non-academic environment, such as the media, for example. There are four basic components for any professional career here: the ability to properly conduct academic work, the language proficiency acquired through the program, the professional qualifications attained through the same, and the ability to transform academic knowledge into expertise that can be used in a wide range of professions.

Master Islamwissenschaft und Orientalische Literatur
Basic information
Degree: Master of Arts in Islamic Studies and Oriental Literatures, Universität Bern
Number of credits: 120 ECTS credits
Degree programs:
  • Major Islamic Studies and Oriental Literatures 90 ECTS credits

 

Offer for other degree programs:

  • Minor Islamic Studies and Oriental Literatures 30 ECTS credits
Combination possibilities: several
Duration: 4 semesters
Language: German
Beginning studies: Fall or spring semester

Details of program

Both Master programs at the Institute for Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies expand the knowledge acquired in the Bachelor program in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies or in an equivalent course of study. The Master program generally takes two years to complete. The Master program in Islamic Studies and Oriental Literatures addresses the establishment of and differentiation between various Islamic traditions and their social and cultural significance up to the present day. The focus is on three main subject fields: "Islamic Religion and Science History" (SF1), "History and Culture" (SF2) and "Linguistics and Literature" (SF4).

Scheme of program

Electives / Course type ECTS 90 30
* Number of courses   *   *  
MA seminar Type 1 7 3 21    
MA seminar Type 2 5 1 5 2 10
Reading list 5 1 5 1 5
Project paper 5 1 5    
MA / Doctoral Colloquium 4 1 4    
Language module III-IV 10 1 10    
Language course: Expansion of knowledge I 5 1 5 1 5
Language course: Expansion of knowledge II 5 1 5 1 5
Master thesis 30   30    
Small academic paper 5       5
Summe     90   30

 

Combination possibilities

The Master program in Islamic Studies and Oriental Literatures consists of a major with 90 ECTS credits and a minor with 30 ECTS credits.

Any subject taught in a sufficient scope at the University of Bern can be chosen as a minor. However, students are not permitted to have a major and minor in the same branch of study.

To complete a minor at another Swiss university, students must submit a written request for permission to the Dean's Office of the Faculty of Humanities.

Structure
Major ECTS Minor ECTS
90  30        

Deadlines

Requirements

Individual academic requirements

The following academic qualifications are required for admission to the master’s degree program in Islamic Studies and Oriental Literatures (major):

a) Bachelor's degree from a Swiss university with a major in Oriental Studies with no additional requirements
b) Bachelor's degree from a recognized university with a minor in Oriental Studies amounting to 60 ECTS credits. Additional requirements of up to 60 ECTS credits must be fulfilled.
c) Students from the field of study Islamic Studies and Oriental Literatures with a BA minor degree of 30 or 60 ECTS credits obtained in Switzerland are admitted to the MA program in Middle Eastern Studies Minor (30 ECTS credits) without any conditions.
d) Students with BA degrees in other fields of study may apply for admission to the MA program in Islamic Studies and Oriental Literatures (90 ECTS credits or 30 ECTS credits). In this case, conditions (to be fulfilled before starting the Master's program) or additional requirements (to be fulfilled during the Master's program) may be demanded (e.g. catching up on language skills). This admission is not subject to a blanket regulation. It is determined on a case-by-case basis.

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

Swiss bachelor's degrees/programs

from the University of Bern

that allow admission to the desired master's degree program without any assessment:

  • Bachelor of Arts in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies

from other Universities

that allow admission to the desired master's degree program without any assessment

Islamic Studies and Oriental Literatures (IOL) (PDF, 45KB)

 
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 Islamic Studies and Oriental Literatures, 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
CHECKLIST - Documents for your application / Important information
Steps from application to registration

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

After completion of the Master's degree

The demand for academicians with qualifications and skills as regards the four basic components of this program has risen continually over the last few decades. These qualifications can best be acquired in a research environment that also incorporates the latest theories and research methods. Such an environment also enables students to pursue their own individual research interests.