Interdisciplinary Studies of the Middle East (ISME)

English-taught interdisciplinary master's programme that brings together Arabic, Iranian, Islamic, Jewish, Kurdish, Ottoman, Semitic, and Turkic studies to examine the Middle East through languages, literatures, histories, religions, and cultures.

Academic requirements

Acquired equivalent qualifications in addition to the first university degree (e.g. education other than a university programme, professional experience, knowledge of relevant languages).

Minimum GPA

No fixed minimum GPA is published.

English requirements

English at C1 CEFR is required.

German requirements

No German language proficiency is required, though it is recommended (and possible) to learn German during the programme.

Accepted bachelor fields

Requires a bachelor's degree of at least 180 ECTS with at least 60 ECTS in Middle East-related studies, such as Arabic, Iranian, Islamic, Jewish, Semitic, Turkish or Ottoman studies, or related humanities and cultural-studies fields with a strong Middle East focus.

APS Certificate

Yes

Thesis required

Yes

Tuition fee

None

Semester contribution

358.80 EUR per semester for new enrollments in Summer Semester 2026, according to Freie Universitat Berlin's current fees page.

ECTS credits

120

Funding info

Tuition: None Semester contribution: 358.80 EUR per semester for new enrollments in Summer Semester 2026, according to Freie Universitat Berlin's current fees page.

Graduates are prepared for doctoral study and for work in universities, research institutes, museums, archives, journalism and media, international organizations, NGOs, migration and integration work, cultural exchange, publishing, consulting, and related internationally oriented roles.

• 1

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• 2

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• 3

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• 4

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• 5

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