Course content and focus areas 

The Frankfurt Master’s degree programme in the History of Art offers a multiplicity of options for individual scientific specialisation. The study course encompasses the whole European history of art and architecture. The Art-historical Institute of Goethe University excels due to its methodical advanced research profile. Special areas of focus lie in the area of theory and media as well as methodology and the history of the subject. Research and teaching profit from the firmly established cooperations of the institute with the internationally renowned Frankfurt museums.

The research-oriented Master’s degree programme promotes individual research interests which can lead to a scientific career in the university and in museums. Excellent students will be encouraged to strive to obtain a doctorate. The programme of study enables the student to make critical assessments based upon profound specialist knowledge. In this way he is also qualified for a wide spectrum of demanding activities in journalism, exhibition practice, collections and archiving work, monument preservation, education and mediation. Each of these areas also requires intensive engagement with the objects and theory concepts of other disciplines. That is the only way to open up the diverse inter-relationships of art and architecture to political, social, cultural and philosophical discourses. The programme of study is particularly focused on this requirement in a particular way: It provides specialised specialist knowledge and opens up interdisciplinary perspectives.

The four semester programme of study is subdivided into four subject-specific modules, an excursion module and three modules for transdisciplinary deepening of one’s own areas of focus. The areas of focus are selected oneself in the art history modules. The methodical orientation of these modules allows the central perspectives of art history research to be developed: Image and space concepts, mediality as well as theories and contexts. The research-oriented focus is productively supplemented by the transdisciplinary modules.

Detailed information

Information from the department
Study regulations
Subject-specific regulations

Degree

Master of Arts in Art History

Duration

The standard length of study for the Master of Arts is 4 semesters. 

Languages of instruction

German

Start of the programme

The study programme starts at the beginning of the winter and summersemester.
 

Student advisory service

All professors and assistant lecturers of the department.
You can get further information here

Admission requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or comparable degree in a similar subject
• letter of motivation (showing your motivation and your professional perspective (500 up to 700 words)
• Proof of language skills in three languages: English (B1), another modern language (B1) and Latin. 
  The Latin language skills can be replaced by either French or Italian. Latin should be chosen though if one is planning to specialize in medieaval or early modern art history.
• Applicants who do not have a German university entrance qualification, nor do they have a degree from a German higher education institution, are obliged to submit proof of adequate German language skills.

Provisional admission

Provisional admission is possible if at least 80% of the required CP for the bachelor's degree have been completed and the Bachelor's dissertation has been finalised or is about to be submitted. Provisional admission is valid until the end of the first semester of the master’s program. The bachelor’s degree must thus be handed in by March 31 (winter intake) or September 30 (summer intake) the latest.

Mode of admission

Admission is not restricted. Students will be directly admitted if the admission requirements are met in full.

Documents to be submitted

• if you are not already enrolled at Goethe-University Frankfurt:
  university entrance qualification (e.g. A-Levels)
• Bachelor’s degree certificate (and translation)
• if the Bachelor's degree has not yet been completed:
  - a transcript of records or equivalent document listing the content of the study programme and average grade (signed and stamped of tan examination authority) 
  - a letter of recommendation from your supervisor of your bachelor thesis (Download)
• Letter of motivation
• Proof of foreign language skills 
• if the first degree was obtained at an international higher education institution:
  certificate of German language skills. See here for more information about the required German language skills
• APS certificate for applicants from India, Vietnam and PR of China (original)

Application period

01.05. - 30.06. for the winter semester
01.12. - 15.01. for the summer semester

Address for applications