Bachelor Master Doctorate

Contemporary History

Abstract

The University of Fribourg is one of the only universities in Switzerland to offer a Master's programme in Contemporary History. You will study the political, social and cultural history of the 19th and 20th centuries with a focus on post-1945. Geographically, the programme is centered around Swiss and European contemporary history. The Fribourg Master in Contemporary History is research based. The Master brings multi-disciplinarity together with bilingualism and includes approaches of neighbouring social and cultural disciplines, such as European Studies, Social Anthropology and Science of Religions. A large number of teaching staff and researchers cover a broad variety of topics. You can take the Master in German, French and bilingually in German and French with a «mention bilingue» in the diploma.

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    Profile of the study programme

    The Master in Contemporary History deepens your knowledge in Swiss and European Contemporary History, which are the objects of specific modules. Center stage are topics from the political, social and cultural history, analyzed from national and transnational perspectives. Your Master skills then allow you to conceptualize and write your Master's thesis, a process that is closely monitored and structured. Various ERASMUS contracts with foreign European universities allow you integrate your courses abroad into the Fribourg Master programme.

    Fribourg profile
    Characteristic for the Fribourg Master is its bilingualism. You can take the Master in German, French or bilingually in both languages, thereby earning a «mention bilingue» in your Master diploma. We offer bilingual seminars taught in both languages with each participant speaking in his language. Not only do you improve your language skills. You also get first hand experience of different academic cultures. The BENEFRI network allows you take courses in Bern and Neuchâtel and include them into your Fribourg Master. You also benefit from the activities and seminars of the Fribourg Institute for Contemporary Swiss History. A high number of teaching staff monitors your Master and thereby facilitates the compatibility of class room and work place.

    Learning outcomes and career openings
    The Fribourg Master in Contemporary History adds a historical dimension to your understanding of the present. The Master offers skills on various levels: you learn to adequately analyze complex historical matters, to present them properly, to investigate autonomously and reproducibly historical matters, to find the proper methods for investigation and to develop a critical relationship to your own work. The goal of this Master's programme is the development of independent research skills.
    The Master in Contemporary History qualifies you for careers in cantonal, federal and international organizations, NGOs, the media, cultural organizations, the diplomatic corps and public administration. The Master in Contemporary History also qualifies you to teach in upper secondary schools (Teaching Diploma for Academic Upper Secondary Education) and for doctoral schools in History and Contemporary History.

Studies organisation

Structure of studies

90 ECTS credits + 30 ECTS credits as an option in a minor study programme freely chosen, 3 to 4 semesters

Curriculum

http://studies.unifr.ch/go/WSTjs (French)
http://studies.unifr.ch/go/iaDtL (German)

Admission

Master's degree programmes are built on the knowledge and abilities that were acquired when obtaining a bachelor's degree.

Holders of a bachelor's degree awarded by a Swiss university are admitted to a master's degree programme without any preconditions if they have earned 60 or 90 ECTS credits – depending on the chosen master's degree programme – within the corresponding discipline. However, additional requirements can be required. The same applies to holders of a bachelor's degree awarded by a foreign university, provided that the bachelor's degree is recognised and considered equivalent by the University of Fribourg.

Holders of a bachelor's degree awarded by a Swiss or a foreign university, provided that the bachelor's degree is recognised and considered equivalent by the University of Fribourg, who do not fulfil this condition can be admitted to a master's degree programme with preconditions (which must be successfully completed before starting the master's degree programme) and/or additional requirements (which can be completed during the master's degree programme). The preconditions and/or additional requirements may not exceed 60 ECTS credits in total. The same applies to holders of a bachelor's degree awarded by a Swiss university of applied sciences, according to existing agreements.

The respective conditions of admission for each master's degree programme are reserved.

Alternatives

Also offered as a minor study programme and as a specialisation programme (30 ECTS credits).

Minor study programmes to be chosen

Key points

Degree conferred

Master of Arts in Historical Sciences: Contemporary History

Languages of study

Possibility to study in French, in German or in French and German. Some courses are offered in English.

Options

For information on the optional award of the distinction «Bilingual curriculum, French/German», please contact the relevant Department (see Contact).

Commencement of studies

Commencement of studies in the Autumn Semester (September) or in the Spring Semester (February)

Access to further studies

Ph.D.

Contact

Faculty of Humanities
Department of Contemporary History
conseil-histcont@unifr.ch (French)
http://studies.unifr.ch/go/fr-contemporaryhistory
Dr Maurice Cottier (German)
maurice.cottier@unifr.ch
http://studies.unifr.ch/go/de-contemporaryhistory

Apply for admission

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