Humboldt University (Universität zu Berlin) is a university in Berlin and one of Berlin’s oldest universities, founded in 1810 as the University of Berlin (Universität zu Berlin). Since 2004, the historic center of the university has been located in the former Stadtschloss building on Linden Boulevard, adjacent to the modern campus of Humboldt University, which is located in the quarter of Wilmersdorf. The university is widely regarded as a research institution that offers excellent graduate programs and attracts an international academic staff. The university historically had close associations with other institutions in Berlin, especially with its sister-institution Humboldt University of Frederiksberg (based on an agreement signed between Humboldt University of Berlin and Frederick William III on 11 November 1811). Find out more about humboldt university of berlin phd admission requirements, humboldt university of berlin art in this article.
humboldt university of berlin phd history
History of the Department
| The field of history has been an important component of the Humboldt Universität zu Berlin since the university’s founding in 1810, having been represented by prominent figures such as Barthold Georg Niebuhr, Leopold von Ranke and Johann Gustav Droysen, as well as political antipodes Heinrich von Treitschke and Theodor Mommsen. | |
| While an autonomous history department was not officially established until 1885, Leopold von Ranke had begun overseeing the field’s affairs and cultivating academic growth already in 1824. Following a politically checkered past, the Department of History – along with five additional ideologically indoctrinated departments – was “liquidated” shortly after German Reunification in 1991/92. By means of a restructuring and hiring committee, the department was completely reconstituted under the direction of professor Gerhard A. Ritter. This re-structuring plan, although only partially implemented, saw to the formation of five “primary professorships” and ten “specialty professorships”, which were designed to strengthen the regional and methodological profile of the department. The plan also called, unsuccessfully, for the establishment of professorships for Information Technology as well as for North and South America. Today the Department of History is one of the largest and most diverse centers for historical studies and research in Germany. Approximately twenty professors, eighty research fellows and one thousand five hundred students are affliated with the department over the course of an academic year. | One of the most prominent representatives of History in Berlin: Johann Gustav Droysen. |
| The department’s diversity can be, in part, attributed to its intense international focus; at present the department cultivates Eurasmus partnerships with 36 non-German universities in 15 countries. As a result of these partnerships every year over 50 foreign students are provided with the chance to study or carry out historical research in Berlin. The Department of History also strongly encourages its own students to study abroad; roughly 25 Humboldt Universität zu Berlin students take advantage of this opportunity annually and organize a stay at one of our partner universities. The introducation of UNICA’s (European Capital City Universities Program) highly anticipated International Master’s Degree will soon provide our students with yet another opportunity to strengthen their academic qualifications in an international setting.Docent-targeted exchange programs, such as the University of Bologna Exchange Program, help foster further cooperation between the Humboldt Universität zu Berlin and external universities. Foreign staff and faculty members are regularly invited to serve as guest speakers, visiting research fellows or fill teaching roles. With so much to offer its students and staff, we invite you to take a look and see what the Department of History can offer you. |
Doctoral Studies
Office hours and procedures in the field of Academic Affairs:
Applications, certificates and other documents should be submitted electronically via our HU-Box. Please contact Sarah Affenzeller or Kerstin Ludwig for further details before submitting your documents.
- If you have queries or want to arrange an appointment, please send us an e-mail. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
- Please send signed documents as a scan. Sending by post can lead to an extended processing time.
- If you need certificates or other documents, you will receive them by email in urgent cases, provided this is possible under the current conditions.
We wish you all the best!
Last update 21 July 2021
Contact persons
Sarah Affenzeller
(responsible for the Departments of Archaeology, Asian and African studies, Musicology and Media Studies, Rehabilitation Sciences)
E-Mail: sarah.affenzeller(at)hu-berlin.de
Sitz: Georgenstr. 47, Raum 1.25
Tel.: 030 2093 66135
Fax: 030 2093 66151
Kerstin Ludwig
(responsible for the Departments of Education Studies, Cultural History and Theory, Art and Visual History, Social Sciences, Sports Sciences and the Centre for transdisciplinary Gender Studies)
E-Mail: k.ludwig(at)cms.hu-berlin.de
Sitz: Georgenstr. 47, Raum 1.32
Tel.: 030 2093 66153
Fax: 030 2093 66151
postal address:
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Kultur-, Sozial- und Bildungswissenschaftliche Fakultät
Akademische Angelegenheiten – Promotionsbüro
Unter den Linden 6
10099 Berlin
Doctoral degrees committee
Doctoral degrees committee meeting dates are
- 22.02.2021 (deadline for the submission of documents: 11.02.2021)
- 19.04.2021 (deadline for the submission of documents: 08.04.2021)
- 31.05.2021 (deadline for the submission of documents: 20.05.2021)
- 19.07.2021 (deadline for the submission of documents: 08.07.2021)
- 20.09.2021 (deadline for the submission of documents: 09.09.2021)
- 18.10.2021 (deadline for the submission of documents: 07.10.2021)
- 29.11.2021 (deadline for the submission of documents: 18.11.2021)
humboldt university of berlin phd admission requirements
This university offers two types of master’s programs, including the Consecutive Master’s courses and the Career-based master’s courses. The Career-based master’s courses generally require work experience. These courses last between two to four semesters.
Application Portal: Uni-Assist
Application Fee: Free
Additional Documents:
- Official Transcripys
- Letters of recommendation
- Resume
- Language Proficiency Score
| Course | Semester | Academic Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Economics (M.Sc.) | Winter | Degree in agricultural sciences or a related subject |
| Biophysics (M.Sc.) | Winter and Summer | Degree in biology or related subject |
| Business Studies (M.Sc.) | Winter | Degree in business studies or related subject |
| Chemistry (M.Sc.) | Winter and Summer | Degree in chemistry or related subject |
| Economics (M.Sc.) | Winter | Degree first academic qualification with knowledge of at least 60 CP in economics |
| Information Science (M. A.) | Winter | Degree in library and information science or a related subject |
| Mathematics (M.Sc.) | Winter and Summer | Degree in mathematics; other degrees can be admitted on application |
Admission in the Humboldt University of Berlin is a selective process. Students must submit their application on time. The university does not have any particular timeline for admission notifications. Therefore, the students are advised to stay in contact with the admissions office.
humboldt university of berlin art
Degree
Combined bachelor, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). Please refer to the ‘Bachelor’s and Master’s courses at the HU’ FAQs.
Standard time for completing course
6 semesters
Start of study and Entry Restriction
Cf. course catalogue
Combinations and course structure
Art and Visual History can be studied as:
- Core subject: 120 CP*, with a second subject to be selected (not available with German Sign Language);
- Second subject: 60 CP, with a bachelor’s core subject without teacher training option (not available with the core subjects Biology or Deaf Studies).
* One credit point (CP) is calculated to equal a workload of 25 to max. 30 hours for preparation, follow-up and attendance at teaching sessions.
Content and objectives of studies
The combined bachelor’s course Art and Visual History aims to provide fundamental knowledge of the history of the forms and functions of artistic design from the Early Middle Ages to the present day. This includes the history of architecture and urban planning, sculpture, painting and graphic art, arts and crafts, photography and film, electronically generated imagery, scientific visualisations and installations.
Besides the interconnection of Art History and Visual History, which is specific for this degree course, special foci in research and teaching at the IKB (Institut für Kunst- und Bildgeschichte) of Humboldt-Universität are the history of architecture and urban planning, exhibitions and museum displays, the relationship between art, sciences and technology, gender studies as well as the history of Central and Eastern European art. A non-program-specific emphasis is placed on the use of technical media for work organisation, research, presentation and scientific analysis.
Students will have the opportunity to gain insights into fields of practice such as museum work, monument conservation, the art market, journalism, etc. Training objectives also include knowledge of the history of the discipline and reflection on its methods, as well as the ability to analyze visual artefacts in a variety of historical contexts.
The training offered by the Art and Visual History bachelor’s course qualifies for activities in the fields of art exhibitions and conservation (such as museums, galleries or departments of monument preservation), public relations, museum education, the art market and the media. Furthermore, the bachelor’s course provides the prerequisites for continuing university education with the Art and Visual History master’s course.
The best way to find information about the exact course content is using the annotated university calendar. Module descriptions, the course curriculum and other details are available in the Course and examination regulations, online at www.amb.hu-berlin.de, no. 75/2014, correction no. 23/2017, 2nd correction no. 17/2019.
Why study Art and Visual History at HU?
The subject Art and Visual History at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, with its wealth of teaching areas and research facilities and a variety of methodological approaches, is distinctive in its combination of art history and visual history. The department’s location, right by Museum Island and close to numerous galleries and other exhibition spaces, also provides a direct connection to relevant institutions. This creates opportunities for scholarly qualifications as well as initial professional experiences, e.g. through internships.
What special skills and interests do you need for this subject?
Prospective students should be proficient in German and have skills in English and another modern foreign language in order to be able to consult international research literature and to have the opportunity to specialize in specific fields of art and visual history. The course requires a fundamental interest in art and images in all their forms, as well as a willingness to visit libraries, museums and galleries on a regular basis.
Art and Visual History as a core subject with 120 CP
Mandatory Modules (80 CP)
Module I: Introduction to Art and Visual History I, 10 CP
Module II: Introduction to Art and Visual History II, 10 CP
Module III: Middle Ages, 10 CP
Module IV: Modern Era, 10 CP
Module V: Modern and Contemporary Art, 10 CP
Module VI: Visual History / Methods / History of Science, 10 CP
Module VII: Field Trip, 5 CP
Module XI: Bachelor’s Thesis Module, 15 CP
Mandatory elective modules (20 CP)
Either module VIII or IX has to be selected.
Module VIII: Practice-oriented courses, 10 CP
Module IX: Period of practical work, 10 CP (Sprungbrett provides students with support)
Module X: Specialisation, 10 CP
General elective modules (20 CP)
In addition to specialised study, Students acquire subject-specific, non-specialist and interdisciplinary key qualifications of 20 CP. The general elective modules can be chosen from the module catalogues of other subjects or central institutions (see: hu.berlin/agnes).
Art and Visual History as a second subject with 60 CP
Mandatory Modules (60 CP)
Module I: Introduction to Art and Visual History I, 10 CP
Module II: Introduction to Art and Visual History II, 10 CP
Module III: Middle Ages, 10 CP
Module IV: Modern Era, 10 CP
Module V: Modern and Contemporary Art, 10 CP
Module VI: Visual History / Methods / History of Science, 10 CP
General elective course offerings for students coming from other courses of studies
Module XII: Perspectives of Art and Visual History, 10 CP
Master’s degree
You can apply for the Art and Visual History master’s programme at HU (www.amb.hu-berlin.de, no. 76/2014). Information concerning this and other MA programs, including specific entrance requirements, are provided by the course catalogue.
