All modules can be completed in English. However, there are some courses that are offered in German (for elective modules only).
Lectures and seminars usually start in the third week of October in the winter semester and in the third week of April in the summer semester.
If you require a visa to enter Germany, please verify in advance with the German embassy or consulate responsible for you regarding the duration of the visa application process. Therefore, plan your application early enough to allow sufficient time for applying to the degree programme, visa application, travel arrangements, and "arriving in Germany" so that you can be in Heidelberg in time before lectures start. If you arrive late, you may not be able to attend courses in the first semester. Please contact us well in advance of the start of the lecture period and inform us of your arrival date in Heidelberg and whether you need help with programme registration.
Winter semester: 1 April to 30 September
Summer semester: 1 October to 31 March
Students from EU and EEA countries only pay the semester contribution.
The tuition fee for international students from non-EU/EEA countries is 1,500 EUR per semester plus the semester contribution. The tuition fee ordinance is currently under review for elimination by the federal state.
https://www.uni-heidelberg.de/en/study/management-studies/tuition-fees/
This two-year degree programme is one of three Master's programmes offered by the South Asia Institute of Heidelberg University, Germany. The classes are taught in English, in small groups comprising students from all over the world.
Students can choose from a large selection of classes to support a research-oriented programme that engages with historical, social, and current political and economic developments and events as well as geography and environment in the countries of South Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
The goal of the programme is to familiarise students with interdisciplinary approaches from various fields in the humanities and social sciences and to enable them to work independently and self-reflectively. Students choose a focus area, which they can supplement with other courses, including languages.
The following focus areas can be selected:
The governments of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka also sponsor guest professorships, which complement and enrich the curriculum.
Additionally, open talks by professors, writers and social and cultural activists are organised throughout the year.
Students who are interested in learning a South Asian language or continuing their language studies can choose among regularly offered courses of eleven languages: Bengali, Dari, Hindi, Classical Tibetan, Nepali, Pali, Sanskrit, Sinhala, Tamil, and Urdu. The languages are part of in-house minor programmes, which can be flexibly combined with the major.
On one hand, the Master's programme offers many possible combinations, but on the other hand, it emphasises on a specific disciplinary education for specialisation (focus area).
The MA programme, in which each student will earn 120 credit points (CP) in total, is divided into (i) a compulsory module offering courses that must be taken by students irrespective of any focus area (18 CP), (ii) a study focus module in which the students opt for one of the offered disciplines for specialisation (36 CP), (ii) elective modules in which the students are free to choose courses from all other disciplines (36) CP, and (iv) the Master's thesis (25 CP) and an oral examination (5 CP) in the final semester.
Students from EU and EEA countries only pay the semester contribution.
The tuition fee for international students from non-EU/EEA countries is 1,500 EUR per semester plus the semester contribution. The tuition fee ordinance is currently under review for elimination by the federal state.
https://www.uni-heidelberg.de/en/study/management-studies/tuition-fees/
Approx. 151 EUR
Expect to spend at least 800 EUR per month for general living expenses, accommodation, health insurance, public transport, etc. For example, medical insurance premiums are currently approx. 70 EUR per month. At present, the monthly rent for a room or a small flat is approx. 250 EUR to 500 EUR. A ticket for the entire local public transportation system costs 30 EUR (statewide) or 49 EUR (nationwide) per month.
Funding opportunities within and in cooperation with the university
Applicants must hold an above average Bachelor’s degree in one of the focus areas or a related discipline. Other applicants may be eligible if they can demonstrate proficiency in these disciplines (e.g. through extracurricular activity / work).
Evidence of English language proficiency
If your first language is not English, you have to provide evidence of your proficiency in English (Level C1: ≳7 [IELTS]; ≳180 [Cambridge C1 Advanced]; ≳95 [TOEFL]; ≳115 [Duolingo]). Regulations on exemptions can be found on our website.
Evidence of German language proficiency is not needed
You do not need proficiency in German to complete the study programme. If you want to enjoy the full variety of courses, the university's student services, and your stay in Germany, you should acquire at least a passive knowledge of German.
Winter semester: 1 April to 30 September
Summer semester: 1 October to 31 March
Information about admission: https://www.sai.uni-heidelberg.de/sasweb/admission/
Online application portal: https://heico.uni-heidelberg.de/heiCO/ee/ui/ca2/app/desktop/#/login?$ctx=lang=en
Students from EU countries enjoy the same rights as German students. They are permitted to work a maximum of 20 hours per week during the lecture period as well as full-time during the semester breaks. Students from outside the EU have to inquire at the foreigners' registration office; up to 120 work days per year may be granted.
Generally all students are permitted to work a maximum of 20 hours per week during the lecture period. Students are entitled to work more during the semester breaks. Restrictions may apply for students from non-EU countries. Please inquire at the foreigners' registration office in this regard.
Once you have submitted your application for one of our degree programmes online, please also immediately apply for residence hall accommodation or start looking for a room/apartment on the private housing market (general information about how to find accommodation in Heidelberg). An admission letter is not required when registering for a place in a residence hall. You can submit an admission letter at a later stage.
The university offers a comprehensive career planning service.
Every summer semester, the South Asia Institute offers a free German language course for its international students (level A1 or A2). Students will also be assisted in identifying suitable language courses provided by private institutions, Heidelberg University, and/or South Asian-based German institutions and private tutors. We also arrange a "tandem" language exchange for new students in which you are paired with a German student for a mutually beneficial language learning experience.
Heidelberg University is a comprehensive university integrating the natural and social sciences with the humanities. It is one of Germany’s top universities (Germany’s leading university in QS World University Ranking) and one of the oldest in Europe, with approximately 30,000 students from 130 countries. The South Asia Institute is Europe’s leading centre for South Asian Studies, with departments of Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Classical Indology, and modern South Asian Languages and Literatures. Affiliated professors teach Art History, Buddhism, and Media Studies. The South Asia Institute regularly offers courses in eleven South Asian languages, cooperates with other summer schools in Germany and India, and has one of the world's largest libraries in South Asian Studies as well as branch offices in different South Asian countries.
Established in 1386, Heidelberg is Germany's oldest university, and the town is a classic "university town" dominated by students, with a very active nightlife and cultural scene. The major cities of Mannheim, Stuttgart, and Frankfurt are quite close (between 15 minutes to 45 minutes). Visitors come from all over the world to see Heidelberg's castle and other medieval monuments, and there are a wide range of concerts, theatres, galleries, and sporting events.
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