European Studies — Governance and Regulation

The Master's programme in (Extended) Ecumenical Studies (MESt) aims to familiarise students with the three major Christian traditions (Protestantism, Orthodoxy, and Catholicism) and to facilitate their involvement with the challenges of and possibilities for inter-traditional dialogue and cooperation.
Students will be introduced to key aspects of biblical and theological interpretation, as well as to poignant developments in church history, in order to equip them with the tools necessary to make advances in the interest of ecumenism. Lecturers will devote special attention to the insights and methodology of German theology, owing to the singular influence of German-language research on theological scholarship worldwide.
The MESt is offered by the Faculty of Protestant Theology in cooperation with the Centre for Religion and Society (Zentrum für Religion und Gesellschaft - ZERG) at the University of Bonn. Professors and lecturers from the Faculties and Departments of Protestant and Catholic Theology, Philosophy, and Law, from the Seminary of Old Catholic Theology, and from the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Germany contribute to the teaching of the programme.

Educational organisation

The Master's programme in (Extended) Ecumenical Studies consists of lectures and seminars, an internship, and a Master's thesis.
The programme includes a combination of both compulsory and elective modules.
Since the academic year 2013/14, the Master's programme in Ecumenical Studies has been offered in two formats. Students who hold a three-year Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS) will enrol in the two-year programme "Extended Ecumenical Studies", while students who hold a four-year Bachelor's degree (240 ECTS) or a Bachelor's and a consecutive Master's degree may enrol either in the one-year programme "Ecumenical Studies" or in the two-year programme "Extended Ecumenical Studies".

Modules in both programmes are:
BHA Biblical and Historical Aspects of Ecumenical Studies
ESS Educational, Sociological and Systematic Aspects of Ecumenical Studies
LBC Looking Beyond Christianity
ESR Ecclesia Semper Reformanda: The Christian Denominations Past and Present
ETP Ecumenism in Theory and Practice
CSS Church, State and Society

In the one-year programme, students study BHA and ESR and may choose one from ESS and LBC and one from ETP and CSS. In addition, they take part in a six-week internship and submit a Master's thesis (15 ECTS credits). In the extended two-year programme, students study all modules, including additional extensions to ESS and LBC. In addition, they take part in a nine-week internship and submit an extended Master's thesis (30 ECTS credits).
In the one-year programme, the internship takes place between the winter and the summer semester (i.e. in February and March), whereas in the two-year programme, the internship takes place between the first and the second year (i.e. July to September).
International students are encouraged to complete their internship in Germany. German students are encouraged to complete their internship abroad.
Students are required to submit a Master's thesis.
For further information, please visit: http://www.ecumenical-studies.de

Study abroad unit(s)

International students are encouraged to complete their internship in Germany. German students are encouraged to complete their internship abroad.

Internships

In the one-year programme, the internship takes place between the winter and the summer semester (i.e. in February and March), whereas in the two-year programme, the internship takes place between the first and the second year (i.e. July - September).
International students are encouraged but not obliged to complete their internship in Germany. German students are encouraged to complete their internship abroad.

Forms of assessment

Oral exams, written exams, seminar papers, reports, internship report, Master's thesis

Course objectives

Students should learn to grasp complex problems and to solve them using academic methods, even if they are beyond the scope of the current state of knowledge. The interdisciplinary orientation of the programme should provide students with an overview which combines the perspectives of various academic disciplines, and should equip them to employ academic methods and knowledge independently.
During the MESt, students should acquire the necessary, subject-specific, academic knowledge, competence and methods, as well as key interdisciplinary skills - giving due consideration to demands and developments in the professional world and in interdisciplinary dialogue - to equip them to undertake further academically based work, to critically coordinate and utilise academic knowledge and methodology in their jobs, and to operate independently and responsibly.

Language requirements

English proficiency in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) with a minimum level of B2, or comparable accomplishments in one of the following language tests: TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English. Applicants are exempt who can show that they have achieved the matriculation standard for a university from an English-speaking school and/or the completion of a university degree in a programme conducted at least partially in the English language. Exceptions are brought before the examination board.
Documented evidence of proficiency in German is not required.
MESt students have the option of supplementing their studies with free German language courses offered at the University of Bonn.

Academic requirements

Applicants to the Master's programme in (Extended) Ecumenical Studies must hold a first, recognised university degree in theology, history of religion, Islamic studies, Jewish studies, philosophy of religion, religious education, religious studies, sociology of religion, or another related field.
The following documents are required for admission:

• MESt Application Form (completed and signed)
• documented evidence of academic and/or professional qualifications
• documented evidence of proficiency in English
• curriculum vitae (résumé) with details of higher education
• documented evidence of completion of secondary school (e.g. high-school diploma)
• writing sample, e.g. extract from Bachelor's thesis (8 to 10 pages/max. 4,000 words)

Enrolment fees

Approx. 270 EUR per semester will be charged as a "social fee" (Sozialbeitrag) which includes a semester pass valid for unlimited travel on all regional public transport within North Rhine-Westphalia ("NRW-Ticket").

Costs of living

A monthly budget of at least 800 EUR is recommended to cover expenses for accommodation, health insurance, etc. Accommodation in a residence hall costs between 140-300 EUR per month.

Job opportunities

The Centre for Religion and Society (ZERG) and the Faculty of Protestant Theology do not typically offer employment to MESt students during the course of the MESt programme.

Funding opportunities within the university

One full or two partial faculty MESt scholarship(s) are available.
Admission to the MESt programme by no means guarantees an offer of the faculty scholarship.
The closing date for scholarship applications is 31 May.
http://www.ecumenical-studies.de

Arrival support

Upon request, in cooperation with the International Office of the University of Bonn

Services and support for international students

The MESt Coordinator and the International Office of the University of Bonn offer assistance to incoming international MESt students.

Accommodation

There are several residence halls run by the Studentenwerk (an organisation that provides social support and offers various cultural activities for students in Germany), which are available for rent at a reasonable price to students of the University of Bonn who are under the age of 30.
In addition, the "Ev.-Theol. Studienhaus Adolf Clarenbach e. V." (also known as "Goebenstift") is a 40-room facility run by the Diakonisches Werk, a non-profit association of the Protestant Church. It is dedicated to supporting students of theology and will therefore gladly take applications from prospective MESt students. Further information will be supplied by the MESt Coordinator. Homepage (in German): http://www.goebenstift.de/
More accommodation opportunities are presented on the MESt homepage.