Courses are held entirely in English and/or Spanish. Other languages such as Portuguese or German are possible within the elective course offer and if the student meets the language requirements. Students can choose to write their Master's theses in English or Spanish (other languages are permitted after previous consultation).
Lectures begin in October.
International applicants with a previous degree from a non-German university: 15 June
German applicants/international applicants with a previous degree from a German university: 30 September
The Master's programme in Communication and Society in Ibero-America critically examines the current social, political, economic, and environmental debates in Ibero-America by studying their reflection in social and public communication. The programme provides its students with area-specific knowledge on Ibero-America, a macro-region consisting of Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula at its core as well as those regions with which there are close historical, cultural, political, or socioeconomic ties.
The programme builds upon the students' previous work and broadens their knowledge with complementing perspectives from a variety of disciplines, focusing on the current challenges being faced by Ibero-American societies. At the same time, the programme strengthens the students' methodological skills by combining approaches from both the humanities and the social sciences.
The course work is organised into five sections:
1. Fundamental Competencies
Students are provided with fundamental and specialised knowledge organised into three major thematic areas to address the complex relationships between communication and society in Ibero-America:
2. Methodology
The courses highlight the diversity of methodological approaches in humanities and social sciences and provide a comprehensive understanding of specific goals and application contexts in order to tackle societal and communication-related phenomena.
3. Advanced Competencies
Students acquire further, in-depth knowledge on the dynamics of communication and societies in Ibero-America. This is combined with interdisciplinary perspectives.
4. Key Transversal Skills and Mobility Window
Students have the possibility to gain and expand language and methodological knowledge and application-oriented skills. They flexibly configure their course programme according to their academic and professional interests. During the mobility window, they apply these skills and gain insights into professional fields.
5. Graduation Modules
The study programme concludes with a Master’s thesis and an oral final exam. During the five-month preparation of the thesis, each student is advised by two mentors representing different knowledge areas. The student participates in a colloquium in which he or she will present an outline of the thesis and discuss it with fellow students and researchers from Heidelberg and abroad.
The Master's programme offers a flexible course of study, integrating a mobility window that allows students to further build their individual qualification profiles. Students can seize the opportunity for a change of scenery by combining the mobility window with a study stay abroad at one of our partner institutes.
Students can choose between orienting their profiles towards research in academic institutions tackling current questions related to communication and society in Ibero-America from an interdisciplinary perspective, or they may sharpen their professional skills in environments outside academia where they may utilise their knowledge on communication and their regional expertise on Ibero-American in the private or public sectors.
Approx. 190 EUR per semester
Applicants require an above-average undergraduate degree in humanities or social sciences.
International applicants with a previous degree from a non-German university: 15 June
German applicants/international applicants with a previous degree from a German university: 30 September
Heidelberg University's online application platform:
https://heico.uni-heidelberg.de/heiCO/ee/ui/ca2/app/desktop/#/login
Generally, all students are permitted to work a maximum of 20 hours per week during the lecture period. During semester breaks, students are entitled to work more. Restrictions may apply for students from non-EU countries. Please inquire at the foreigners' registration office in this regard.
Heidelberg University offers student dorms open to all Heidelberg students. Additionally, information on rooms and flats on the private market is provided.
Heidelberg University's Career Service provides students and graduates with events and information for professional orientation. The HCIAS academic programme coordinator advises you during the application period as well as during the whole course of study (advice in English, Spanish, or German).
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