Course content and focus areas 

The Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology at the Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main and the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) in Paris offer students a bi-national academic education supported by the Deutsch-Französische Hochschule/Université franco-allemande (DFH/UFA).

The Master's programme "Anthropology and its Franco-German perspectives" offers students:

• a one-year stay at each of the two institutions (Goethe University Frankfurt and EHESS Paris), with financial support during the phase in the partner country (approx. 300 Euros per month),
• the acquisition of ethnographic competencies in both languages in both countries,
• intensive supervision of the individual research topics as well as
• a degree from both participating institutions of which the excellent standard of the training is certified by the Deutsch-Französische Hochschule/Université franco-allemande (DFH/UFA).

At Goethe University, the MA "Anthropology and its German-French Perspectives" is an alternative option to the MA "Social and Cultural Anthropology". In addition to its contents and aims, participants in the Franco-German programme study two semesters each at the two participating universities in Frankfurt and Paris, acquire research techniques and ethnographic skills in both languages and gain in-depth knowledge of the scientific and cultural traditions in Germany and France. At both locations, the students receive an intensive supervision with respect to their chosen research topics.

Goethe University students complete the second and third semesters at EHESS/Paris or carry out research in the third semester abroad. Students receive a partial scholarship from the DFH/UFA for the duration of their stay abroad and continuous support from the programme officers (Frankfurt: Prof. Dr. Hans Peter Hahn).

Graduates of the programme master the scientific content of their discipline from a Franco-German perspective, have the ability to apply methods and in-depth knowledge of both ethnological and anthropological traditions, and have the ability to work independently in order to begin doctoral studies if desired. Graduates receive a degree from both participating institutions with certification from the Deutsch-Französische Hochschule/Université franco-allemande (DFH/UFA) of the excellent standard of the training.

The programme "MA Anthropology and its German-French Perspectives" attaches special importance to the bi-national training of young researchers in the field of Ethnologie/Social and Cultural anthropology and sees itself as interdisciplinary and embedded within Ethnologie/social and cultural anthropology. In this spirit, it refers to the cultural and scientific traditions of Germany and France and aims to bring the two Master's programmes of the respective institutions closer together.

Detailed information

Information of the department
Study regulations (see Appendix 4)
Information about the Deutsch-Französische Hochschule/Université franco-allemande
Information about the École des hautes études en sciences sociales/Paris

Degree

Master of Arts in Social and Cultural Anthropology, Anthropology and its German-French Perspectives

Duration

The standard length of study for the Master of Arts is 4 semesters.

Languages of instruction

German and French

Start of the programme

The study programme starts at the beginning of the wintersemester.

Student advisory service

Institut für Ethnologie
Nobert-Wollheim-Platz 1
60323 Frankfurt/Main
Tel.: 069/798-33064
Fax: 069/798-33065
Email: ethnologie@em.uni-frankfurt.de

Programme Officer: Prof. Dr. Hans Peter Hahn (hans.hahn@em.uni-frankfurt.de)

Admission requirements

Admission for students of the Franco-German M.A. is subject to the same requirements as for students of the Master of Social and Cultural Anthropology at Goethe University. In addition, they must have a very good knowledge of French. Proof of French language proficiency, which should correspond approximately to level C1 (DELF), is provided in the form of an oral language test of approx. 15 minutes, before the start of the semester, with the participation of an IFHA representative at Goethe University.

General entry requirements for the Master's programme are:

• a) BA with main subject Ethnologie/Social and Cultural Anthropology (min. 120 CP) or minor subject Kulturanthropologie und Europäische Ethnologie (min. 60 CP) or
• b) BA with main or minor subject Cultural Anthropology and European Ethnology from the Goethe University or
• c) (for the following, if applicable subject to further conditions) an equally recognised academic degree in the same or related subject area with a standard period of study of at least 6 semesters (e.g. history, cultural studies, regional studies, political science, religious studies, social sciences, law).
  The Examination Board decides on the recognition and comparability of qualifications.
  Applicants must not have finally failed a Master's examination in the same or related subject area at another university or otherwise lost the Right to Examination

Proof of language skills in French, corresponding to level C1; proof is provided by an oral language test of approx. 15 minutes as part of the application procedure.

Proof of language proficiency in English at level B1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), to be demonstrated by:

• a) school reports proving English studies for at least four years. For the English language, proof of three years English at school is sufficient if it was a part of the Curriculum for the final three years of schooling prior to the school leaving certificate entitling the holder to admission to higher education being attained. The final grade or the average grade of the last two years of the language course must be at least the German grade 4 (sufficient) or 5 points;
• b) certificates proving successful completion of language courses from German and/or foreign universities at a language level of B1.  
• c) expert assessment or lector examinations on language skills acquired during stays abroad, university language courses or self-study; d) evidence of English proficiency: TOEFL test (English: 72+), an IELTS test (English: 5.5-6.5), Cambridge Certificate (English: FCE (A-C)) or UNIcert test (English: UNIcert II);
• e) other evidence recognised by the Examination Board.

Proof of language skills in another, preferably modern, foreign language at level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), to be proven by:

• a) school reports proving studies of the other foreign language for at least three years. The final grade or the average grade for the last two years of the language course must be at least the German grade 4 (sufficient) or 5 points;
• b) certificates of language courses successfully completed at German and/or foreign universities which prove that the A2 language level has been achieved. If Latin is entered as a second foreign language, the proof of language skills can be provided by submission of the Latin language examination can be provided;
• c) written expert opinions or lector examinations on language skills acquired during stays abroad, university language courses or self-study;
• d) other proof recognised by the Examination Board.

Evidence of a degree of special suitability, namely: Bachelor’s degree (60%), letter of motivation (20%) and application colloquium (20%) . The application must be accompanied by a letter of motivation of at least 500 and at most 700 words, which should provide information about the motivation to study, relevant practical experience, the desired professional perspective as well as the envisaged research project for the Master's programme.

Applicants with a foreign higher education entrance qualification must also prove that they have sufficient knowledge of German in accordance with the DSH regulations.

Provisional admission

Applicants who do not have a first degree in Ethnologie/Social and Cultural Anthropology as a major or minor from any university or a first degree in Kulturanthropologie und Europäische Ethnologie from Goethe University must provide evidence of a total of at least 60 CP in academic achievements and module examinations in subjects related to ethnology. If evidence cannot be provided, they may be provisionally admitted subject to the condition that, at the latest by the end of the first academic year, they provide the missing CPs through academic achievements and module examinations from the Bachelor's programme in Ethnology (scope of requirement: max. 60 CP). The student receives ongoing supervision during the period of fulfilment of the requirements. Depending on the extent to which the requirements are to be fulfilled, the standard period of study may be exceeded.

Applicants who, at the time of application, have not yet completed their studies in the Bachelor's programme, have registered their Bachelor's dissertation, but have not yet received a Bachelor's certificate, may also be admitted to the Master's programme, subject to the proviso that the Bachelor's degree is verified by the Examination Board within the first semester of the Master's programme. For provisional admission, applicants must submit proof of enrolment in the Bachelor's programme, a recommendation from the supervisor of the Bachelor's dissertation and a special certificate from the examination office. This must be based on examination achievements amounting to at least 80 percent of the CPs required for the Bachelor's degree and must include a provisional average grade calculated on the basis of these examination achievements in accordance with the respective regulations.

Provisional admission is valid until the end of the first semester of the master’s program. The bachelor’s degree must thus be handed in by March 31 (winter intake) or September 30 (summer intake) the latest.

In unclear cases, the Examination Board decides on admissions, exceptions and any other uncertainties

Mode of admission

Admissions to the programme are not limited. If the conditions for approval are met in full, approval will be granted directly.

Documents to be submitted

• If you are not already enrolled at the Goethe University:
  copy of your university entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur)
• Bachelor's certificate with an overview of achievement (for foreign certificates: please also provide a certified copy in English or German)
• Proof of sufficient language skills in English (B1) and another, preferably modern foreign language (A2)
• Letter of motivation (at least 500 to a maximum of 700 words), which should provide information about the motivation to study the subject, relevant practical experience and the desired professional perspective.
• Declaration of Right to Examination (Download)
• Only for applicants who do not have a BA in Ethnologie/Social and Cultural Anthropology as either the major or minor subject of any university or a BA in Kulturanthropologie und Europäische Ethnologie from Goethe University: Transcript of Records or a comparable document with a list of the completed study contents of the degree in a related subject area
• Only for students whose BA certificate is not yet available:
• Transcript of Records or a comparable document with a list of the course contents completed and a proven average grade - Letter of recommendation from the supervisor of the bachelor dissertation (download) - Proof of enrolment
• Only for applicants who did not obtain their first undergraduate degree at a German university: Proof of knowledge of German (DSH-2). You can find more information about the required knowledge of German here.
• APS certificate for applicants from India, Vietnam and China (original)

Application period

Anticipated: 01.06. - 15.07.
In addition, an application to the Deutsch-Französische Hochschule/Université franco-allemande is required by 30.09.

Address for applications

Online application portal for Master's study programmes

NOTE: Applicants for this Master's programme should select the programme "MA Social and Cultural Anthropology" in the application template. In the application process, the selection between the "MA Social and Cultural Anthropology" and the "MA Anthropology and its German-French Perspectives" will follow at a later stage.