European Culture and History of Ideas
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Information last verified July 2026
Program Overview
The master's degree program in European Culture and History of Ideas offers you the opportunity to study Philosophy or History or a combination of both at master's level. Studying in small seminar groups allows you to have close contact with the lecturers. The standard period of study is four semesters and you earn 120 ECTS credits. The aim of the in-depth master's degree program is to provide you with comprehensive expertise in the content-related and methodological aspects of the subjects of philosophy and/or history.
The program is divided into disciplines: the compulsory subject Humanities Interdisciplinary and five compulsory elective subjects from the fields of philosophy and history, two of which you choose and thus set your individual focus. You can find out which subjects are offered in the module handbook. Each compulsory elective subject comprises two modules.
In philosophy, the focus is on practical and theoretical philosophy. In the field of theoretical philosophy, research focuses on the philosophy of science, the philosophy of technology, argumentation theory and questions of decision theory. In the area of practical philosophy, the main focus is on political philosophy, philosophy & economics, legal and social philosophy and ethics. Courses are often organized jointly with lecturers from other disciplines, e.g. German studies, computer science, physics and biology.
In history, the focus is on three cross-epochal subject areas: firstly, political history with a focus on the new and modern history of the 19th and 20th centuries; secondly, the history of ideas, concepts and discourses; and thirdly, the interactions between humans and technology. The courses therefore analyze how the political framework of human action, the conceptual foundations of social communication and the way we deal with technology and the environment have changed over the course of time. The aim in each case is to relate the knowledge gained from the historical analysis to current social debates.
Key Program Features
- • comprehensive range of courses with different course topics each semester • the program contains many practical elements with close links to the research projects of the participating departments • very good supervision ratio
- often small seminar groups
- experienced and committed lecturers • eight-week compulsory internship during the degree program as an introduction to professional practice • numerous opportunities to specialize in philosophy and history • integration into the EUCOR university network enables participation in courses at the universities of Freiburg
- Basel
- Strasbourg
- Colmar and Mulhouse
Career Opportunities
With a good master's degree and academic ambitions, it is possible to plan a doctorate and a subsequent career at a university or research institution in the subjects of philosophy or history.
Master's graduates often take up positions in cultural administration, the cultural departments of large companies or curatorial activities in museums and memorials; furthermore in media and public relations as well as in publishing, in scientific policy advice or in various areas of the public service.
In addition, a variety of professional fields are open to you in which you can profitably apply the skills you have acquired in independent work and the critical analysis of comprehensive information on individual topics. Which path you take depends largely on your own initiative and your choice of internships or the focus of your master's thesis.
Program Curriculum
• compulsory module "Humanitites Interdisciplinary" containing
Theories and Methods in Humanities (15 CP)
Cultural Case Studies (15 CP)
• Theories and Methods in Humanities (15 CP)
• Cultural Case Studies (15 CP)
• Compulsory Elective Modules; you choose 2 modules (10 CP + 15 CP)
Theoretical Philosophy
Practical Philosophy
Ideas, Concepts and Discourses
Political History
Cultural History of Technology
• Theoretical Philosophy
• Practical Philosophy
• Ideas, Concepts and Discourses
• Political History
• Cultural History of Technology
Admission Requirements
The requirements for admission to the master's degree program in European Culture and History of Ideas are based on the current admission regulations:
• bachelor's degreea successful bachelor's degree (or at least an equivalent degree) in European Culture and History of Ideas or a degree program with a humanities profile at a university, university of applied sciences, university of cooperative education or at a foreign university. The course must have been completed within a standard period of study of at least three years and with a minimum number of 180 ECTS credits.
• minimum knowledge and minimum achievements in the areas ofphilosophy and history to the extent of 100 CPupon application, other achievements can also be recognized, provided they demonstrate in-depth knowledge of humanities content and methods that enable the study of historical and philosophical content.
• philosophy and history to the extent of 100 CP
• upon application, other achievements can also be recognized, provided they demonstrate in-depth knowledge of humanities content and methods that enable the study of historical and philosophical content.
Important: If minimum credits amounting to a maximum of 30 CP are missing, admission may be granted on condition that certain credits are completed within the first three semesters of the master's degree program.
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
No tuition fees (German public university — see fee_details)
Semester contribution ~€235 covers public transport (KVV) and student union services.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
No tuition fees at KIT (German public university). Semester contribution of approx. €235 covers public transport and student services. Funding available via DAAD, Deutschlandstipendium, Baden-Württemberg Stipendium, and KIT internal scholarships.
About Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Karlsruhe, Germany
The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is one of Germany's leading public research universities and among Europe's most prestigious institutions for science, engineering, and technology....
University Profile- Application Deadline EU/German nationals: September 30 | Non-EU nationals: September 30
- Language German
- Duration 4 semesters
- Credits 120 ECTS
