Historical Studies
Bachelor of Arts (Major subject)

Admission requirement is the general or relevant Abitur (high school graduation).

History as part of an BA study programme as major or minor subject. Fundamental historical knowledge about ancient, medieval and modern periods as well as Eastern European History will be imparted in six semesters along with the possibility to specialise on a certain field. Method training, a praxis module and a four week internship is mandatory when studying history as a major subject.

The main goal of the study programme is to enable students to analyse political, cultural and economical phenomens of the past and present them in a scientific manner.

History students at HHU benefit from many professional contacts, an international internship programme and many partnerships with European universities.

At Heinrich-Heine-University History can be studied within a broad range: from the beginning of classical civilization in Ancient Greece to the modern information society, from political, economical and social history to cultures and mentalities of the past.

In the first year of study students get an overview on the four focus areas Antiquity, Middle Ages, Modern Period and Eastern Europe as well as the methodological basis. In the second year the historical toolkit will be trained with concrete case examples. The third and concluding year leads to an autonomous scientific work with historical topics.

The Department of Historical Studies is made up of two chairs for older epochs, three chairs for the modern period and one for Eastern European History. Additional workspaces exist for economical and global history. Topics in teaching and research include among others: European and Regional Studies, Historiographie in Antiquity, German-French relationships, First World War, Jews and Anti-Semitism, Economical and Cultural History, History of East Central and South Eastern Europe, History of the Germans in Eastern Europe, Digital History.

The study of history prepares for a wide variety of possible jobs in media, education, information processing and public or private institutions. Imparting practical competence with project seminars and internships is an integrated part of the study programme.