Social Studies: Crises, Culture, Critique

You can pursue the Social Studies: Crises, Culture, Critique programme entirely in English, but a significant number of courses are also offered in German.

This programme sharpens your international profile, benefiting from Viadrina’s strategic position at the interface of Eastern and Western Europe, and thus providing a distinctive pan-European perspective.

You have the option to select the interdisciplinary elective “Central and East European Studies,” gaining insights into the history, cultures, societies and literatures of Central and Eastern Europe. By choosing this elective for both elective modules, you develop an additional specialisation and receive a corresponding certificate upon graduation.

We offer extensive study abroad opportunities at over 290 partner universities worldwide. At Viadrina, nearly every second student is from abroad. This fosters an international community made of multilingualism, diverse perspectives and dynamic interaction.

The Social Studies: Crises, Culture, Critique programme will give you insights into different academic cultures, enhance your language skills and prepare you to navigate international contexts in a confident manner. During your studies, you will establish a valuable international personal and professional network.

We are committed to being a university defined by short distances and direct interactions. Our excellent study and learning conditions ensure that, as a student, you remain in personal contact with our researchers. Teaching and research are conducted in an open atmosphere within small learning communities. From the programme-specific student advisory service to the Career Center, a wide range of advisory services is available to support you with any questions and challenges you may encounter during your studies.

The Social Studies: Crises, Culture, Critique programme offers a solid theoretical foundation and empirical-practical skills to analyse and critically evaluate social challenges and conflicts, enabling you to contribute to constructive solutions in both research and practice.

This programme prepares you for a professional career as well as for pursuing further academic studies, such as a PhD.

Through cooperative teaching and learning methods and a practical orientation, you will develop skills that extend beyond professional qualifications and are crucial for shaping a successful future. You will learn how to introduce future-relevant topics into our society in a science-based and responsible manner.

The Social Studies: Crises, Culture, Critique programme equips you for a range of professional fields nationally and internationally, including:

• Cultural institutions and publishing houses
• Development cooperation
• Equality and anti-discrimination work
• Extracurricular and continuing education
• Media and journalism
• Non-governmental organisations, foundations, associations, political parties, and trade unions
• Political consulting
• Public relations
• Research and academia
• Social services and public administration

Academic requirements

To enrol in the Master’s programme in Social Studies: Crises, Culture, Critique, you will need:

• a first university degree comprising at least 180 ECTS credits
• evidence of at least 30 ECTS credits in subjects with a focus on Social or Cultural Sciences (e.g. Social and Cultural Anthropology, Economic and Social Geography, Sociology, Political Science or Philosophy)

Language requirements

You must demonstrate proficiency in English at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The following certificates are accepted:

• TOEFL (IBT): at least 80 points (before 21 January 2026) / at least 4.5 points (from 21 January 2026)
• Cambridge Advanced or Proficiency: at least 176 marks
• IELTS (IELTS for Study): minimum score 6.5
• UNIcert II

You do not need to provide proof of German language proficiency when enrolling; however, they are an advantage when choosing from the range of German-taught courses.

Additional information on the international double degree programme "Sciences sociales et culturelles"

To apply, in addition to your English language skills, you have to demonstrate proficiency in French at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The following certificates are accepted:

• UNIcert II
• DELF B2
• B2 certificates from university language centres
• Explicit B2 designation in French on the Bachelor’s certificate

Admission to this study course is unrestricted. You will be offered a place on the study course if you meet the requirements and enrol within the deadlines.

Application for the first subject semester is possible in both the winter and summer semesters.

If you obtained your school-leaving qualification abroad, you are classified as an educational foreigner. In this case, your eligibility for admission will be assessed by uni-assist e.V. and shorter deadlines apply. Our step-by-step guide will help you with your application. Once uni-assist has reviewed your application, your documents will be forwarded to us. You will receive your login details for our viaCampus portal and further information on enrolment from the Admissions Office.

If you have obtained your school-leaving qualification in Germany or hold German citizenship, you enrol online directly in viaCampus. There, you will upload the required documents.

Application for a higher subject semester is possible in viaCampus for both the winter and summer semesters. Please note that you will need a placement certificate to enrol in higher subject semesters. You can find information on the classification confirmation here. If you have any questions regarding credit recognition or planning your studies, your Student Advisory Service will be happy to assist you. For further information on enrolment, please visit our website Application and Enrolment.

If you are coming to Viadrina as a visiting student for a semester abroad, or if you have decided to complete your entire degree programme at Viadrina, you will find additional information for incoming students here.

Admissions Office: Advice on the application and enrolment process
Central Student Advisory Service: further advice on starting your studies (housing, financing, arriving)
Viadrina International Affairs: specific information and advice for prospective students from abroad

The introductory module provides a foundation in social science theories and familiarises you with the methods of empirical cultural and social research.

Subsequently, you will select two specialisation modules (“topics”) from the following options:

• Borders and Migration, Racism and Authoritarianism
• Capitalism, Social Inequality, Ecological Crises
• Theory, Culture, Critique

During the course of your studies, you will enhance these specialisations by selecting two elective modules. You have the following options:

• specialise in one of your topics from the core curriculum
• the third topic from the core curriculum
• the interdisciplinary electives:
• Central and East European Studies
• Cultural History
• Gender and Queer Studies
• Philosophy and Arts in Times of Crises
• the Language and Practice module, in which you can enhance your practical experience and/or foreign language skills. You have the opportunity to learn a modern European foreign language, with all language courses at Viadrina Language Centre offered free of charge. Alternatively, you can build practice-related skills by completing an internship, attending courses on practical skills, or obtaining additional certificates.

A research project is a key component of your studies. In the project module, you will develop a research question based on one of your topics from the core curriculum and conduct your own research project under supervision of our teaching staff – this includes devising the research design as well as the application and analysis of data. Cultural-theoretical and philosophical teaching research projects are also possible. To experience practical implementation, field trips and collaboration opportunities with various external institutions are also on offer.

In the final phase of your studies, you will complete a Master’s thesis on a topic of your choice, followed by an oral examination (final colloquium).