Courses are held in English.
International applicants: 15 June for the winter semester and 15 November for the summer semester
German applicants: mid-March for the summer semester and mid-September for the winter semester
Students from EU and EEA countries only pay the semester contribution; they do not need to pay tuition fees for their first Master's degree at Heidelberg University.
The tuition fee for international students from non-EU/EEA countries is 1,500 EUR per semester plus the semester contribution: https://www.uni-heidelberg.de/en/study/management-studies/tuition-fees/.
Students of this programme engage with historical, social and current political and economic developments and events as well as natural processes in the countries of South Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
The core aim of the programme is to introduce the students with interdisciplinary approaches of studying different fields of social science, as well as enabling them to work independently and self-reflectively in multicultural environments. For this, the students choose at least one focus area in which they acquire advanced scientific expertise and apply this expertise by writing the Master's thesis in the final semester.
The programme covers the following disciplines:
The governments of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka also sponsor three guest professorships, which complement and enrich the curriculum.
A highlight of the programme is the student conference that takes place each summer semester, which is offered as a mandatory course. The aim of this conference is to equip the students with practical tools of the academic arena: programme design, project management, various methods of presentations, moderation, and publications.
Additionally, open talks by professors/writers/social and cultural activists are organised all over 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 the one hand, the Master's programme offers many possible combinations, but on the other hand, it emphasises on a specific disciplinary education for specialisation (study focus).
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, (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; they do not need to pay tuition fees for their first Master's degree at Heidelberg University.
The tuition fee for international students from non-EU/EEA countries is 1,500 EUR per semester plus the semester contribution: https://www.uni-heidelberg.de/en/study/management-studies/tuition-fees/.
Approx. 172 EUR
Expect to spend at least 750 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 to 500 EUR. The semester ticket, which allows students to use almost all forms of public transport in the Heidelberg area free of (further) charge during the semester, costs 175 EUR (for six months).
Funding opportunities within and in cooperation with the university
Applicants should hold a Bachelor’s degree in or related to one of the above mentioned disciplines. Other backgrounds are also welcome if the applicants can provide their proof of knowledge in the mentioned disciplines acquired from outside their regular academic experience like extra curricular activities / job(s), etc.
Evidence of English language proficiency
If your first language is not English, you have to provide evidence of your proficiency in English. You may supply evidence in the form of an IELTS (overall score 6.5), Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE 67), or TOEFL (Internet-based 95) certificate. If your Bachelor's degree was obtained in an English-speaking country (Australia, Canada, Ireland, Malta, New Zealand, UK, USA), proof of English proficiency is not necessary.
Evidence of German language proficiency is not needed
You do not need proficiency in German to complete the study programme. All modules can be completed in English. However, there are some courses that are offered in German (for elective modules only). 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.
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.
International applicants: 15 June for the winter semester and 15 November for the summer semester
German applicants: mid-March for the summer semester and mid-September for the winter semester
International Students
Universität Heidelberg
Akademisches Auslandsamt
Zulassungsstelle Masterprogramme
Seminarstr. 2
69117 Heidelberg
Germany
German Students
via e-mail: suedasienstudien@sai.uni-heidelberg.de
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.
To find student residences or rooms on the private accommodation market, please have a look at our website: http://www.stw.uni-heidelberg.de/en/.
The university offers a comprehensive career planning service.
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.
