• A passion for history and global connections
• An interest in medieval research and Byzantium
• A desire to study in three countries with students from different countries of origin
• Good English skills: Knowledge of at least one additional language relevant to Byzantine studies – such as Greek, German, Italian, French, Turkish, Russian or Arabic – can also be an advantage.

Entrance requirements for the master’s degree program Byzantine Studies: Perspectives on the Global Middle Ages are:

Proof of a bachelor’s degree of at least 180 credit points in one of the following subjects

• History
• Classical Philology
• Archaeology
• Art History

or in a related subject at a university, or a degree that is not substantially different from this.

Qualifications that were not part of the bachelor’s degree program may also be recognized. The examination committee is the responsible deciding authority.

Proof of English language skills corresponding to at least level B2.

If you have not yet received your bachelor’s degree certificate by the application deadline, but have earned at least 135 credits in your bachelor’s program, you must apply by the set deadline with a transcript (certified copy issued by your university) of all coursework and exams completed to date, including your average grade to date.

Applications for the program are submitted through the University of Cyprus Student Administration. Applicants must submit the application and required supporting documents in the specified form and by the deadline.

Good to know: The legally binding basis for selection, admission and enrollment is the text of the entrance requirements as specified in Section 2 of the currently valid examination regulations and, where applicable, in the appendix.

The examination regulations provide further details.

Program structure

1st semester in Cyprus

• Byzantine Culture
• Byzantium and the Latin West
• Practice and Employability I (internships e.g. at UNESCO)

2nd semester in Venice

• Byzantium in the Religious Landscape of Western Eurasia
• Byzantium in the Material Landscape of Western Eurasia
• Practice and Employability II (internships in cultural heritage institutions such as the Biblioteca Marciana, the Archivio di Stato, etc.)

3rd semester in Mainz

• Byzantium and the Islamicate World
• Beyond Byzantium: Transregional Encounters and Dynamics of Reception
• Practice and Employability & Academic Writing (internships offered by, among others: Leibniz Center for Archaeology (LEIAZA), Icon-Museum Frankfurt)

4th semester at the partner university where the master’s thesis is written

• Master’s thesis
• Final oral examination

Internships

Employability plays a major role in the degree program. Internships at all three locations are therefore an integral part of your program of study, with placements offered by renowned institutions such as the Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO, the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana Venice, the Leibniz Center for Archaeology (LEIZA) Mainz, and the Icon Museum Frankfurt.

This program of study does not include a mandatory internship. However, voluntary internships are a great way to gain insight into a professional field.

An internship allows you to discover whether everyday life in a particular occupation suits your career expectations and interests. You can gain qualifications for a professional field and acquire important professional and personal skills to start a career. An internship helps you both shape your career path, and mold the remainder of your course sequence – in particular by selecting specializations that suit your practical experience.

You can find further information and relevant internships on the Career Service website.

Stays abroad

Byzantine Studies: Perspectives on the Global Middle Ages (M.A.) is a transnational and interdisciplinary degree program offered jointly by the University of Cyprus, the Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia, and the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. You will study successively at all three institutions and ultimately choose one at which to write your master’s thesis.

The degree program prepares you for both an academic career and a range of professional opportunities beyond academia. This includes the following areas:

• Museum work
• Communicating history in various media
• Archival and library work
• Academic publishing
• Cultural management
• Active involvement in NGOs

In addition to the internships firmly anchored in the degree program, you will acquire a set of four key skills for your professional career as part of your studies:

• Methodological competence: in-depth knowledge of the history of the Byzantine Empire and its interconnections within the medieval world, historical theories and methods, scientific writing and presenting, methods of digital humanities
• Social competence: Collaboration is fundamental in science and beyond. The degree program promotes teamwork, effective communication, and negotiation skills.
• Intercultural competence: By studying at a different partner university each semester, students immerse themselves in different academic traditions and cultural contexts.
• Self-competence: Self-awareness and self-discipline (Assessment formats prepare students for independent work. The practical modules allow them to select partner institutions according to their own talents and interests.)

Not sure what to do after graduation? Don’t worry!

A university degree generally does not prepare you for a single profession but qualifies you for a wide range of career paths – for example, in research, in a typical profession related to your field of study, or in one of many other academic fields.

This is why career orientation is also part of your studies. Gaining practical experience is key, and you can do so through internships, working student positions, part-time jobs or voluntary work, for example.

JGU’s Career Service will support you throughout the entire process with information, advice, workshops and numerous events – from career orientation and working on your profile and skills to finding your dream job and successfully applying for it.