The master programme in Religionswissenschaft offers a two year academic education with a particular focus on research. After graduation the programme's participants shall be qualified to pursue their own research projects and get admission to a Ph.D. programme in Religionswissenschaft.

The programme contains two areas of studies: (1) The history of religions and (2) the systematic study of religion.

Religionswissenschaft at Leipzig University features the inclusion of Asian religions and a particular emphasis on theoretical and comparative approaches.

The participants of the programme will be introduced to both areas of Religionswissenschaft.

Furthermore, they will enrol in particular research modules. Those modules enable them to define and pursue their own research interests. According to their qualifications the participants are free to choose fields of specialization within one of the institute's main research areas, which are:
 

Religions

• Religions of Eastern Asia (China and Japan)
• Religions of (early) modern Europe and North America
• Islam
• Buddhism
• Judaism
   

Topics

• Dynamics of religions
• Religion, state, and politics
• Religious nonconformism, heterodoxies, and religious conflicts
• Sociological theories of religion
• Method and theory in the study of religion
   

Admission to the Master programme in Religionswissenschaft requires a Bachelor degree (or a comparable academic degree) in Religionswissenschaft or any other field from the humanities or the social sciences.

Applicants should have acquired the knowledge and skills necessary to enable them to specialize within one of the institute's research areas listed above. They must have a good proficiency of German, English and of another modern language.

The master programme Religionswissenschaft requires a high degree of independent work, self-discipline and commitment from the participants. Students must be outstandingly motivated in order to meet their reading and writing assignments, to engage in class discussions and to advance their own research.

The programme also offers an enormous degree of individual freedom. Apart from two mandatory modules students are free to select from the programme's offers according to their own interests.

Participants at the programme are supported by personal supervisors who advise them about the planning and advancing of their studies. This intense care provides that the students are promoted most effectively according to their interests and qualifications as it helps them to graduate in time.

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