The International Graduate Study Programme in Cultural Sociology is a full-time master's programme. The programme is organised as a Joint Programme and offered by four universities. You can choose one of the degree-awarding universities as your entrance university where you will be enrolled and one of the degree-awarding universities and mobility partners in the consortium as your mobility university for the mandatory mobility semester.
The four partner universities involved belong among the leading academic institutions in their countries, and each of them offers a specific expertise in variety of fields. Thus, the programme offers the excellent opportunity to combine a high level university education with a unique experience in and of different social, cultural and academic environments in the heart of Europe.
The character of the Master's Programme makes it possible for students to design their study according to their specific interests as well as to remain flexible once on their way to the degree.
The International Graduate Study Programme in Cultural Sociology comprises 120 ECTS credits corresponding to a period of study of at least four semesters or two years. As a student of the Master’s programme you have to earn at least 60 ECTS at your entrance university (30 ECTS in courses and 30 ECTS for your Master’s Thesis) and you have to earn at least 30 ECTS at your mobility university during the integrated mobility semester as a mandatory requirement for graduation. The obligatory mobility semester can be spent at a partner institution of your choice.
Detailed information on the structure of the programme can be found in the section “Study Path”.
The programme offers the possibility to choose either the University of Graz or the University of Trento as the entrance university. The University of Masaryk and the University of Zadar can be selected as options for a mobility semester.
Admission requirements
If you hold a first cycle degree (bachelor’s degree or equivalent programme of at least 180 ECTS credits) in sociology, social sciences or the humanities with a solid background in qualitative and quantitative methods, theory of the social sciences, application of social sciences, you have all it takes to apply!
However, graduates from different forms and fields of studies can be admitted if the completed programme is judged to be equivalent in the regular admission procedure of the entrance university to which the student applies.
Since the language of instruction in the master’s programme is largely English, you should possess a high level of competence in English, proven through a language certificate.
Courses of the International Graduate Study Programme in Cultural Sociology are taught in the following languages (depending on the chosen entrance and mobility university):
English, Italian, German, Croatian and Czech!
All examinations can be done in English even if the course language is another one depending on the professor’s prior consent. Because large parts of the programme are conducted in English, you are required to present proof of your proficiency in English at the time of application.
You must therefore demonstrate a high level of competence in English by producing evidence in a form of a language certificate in English at an advanced level from an authorized body. English-native-speaking applicants and those who successfully completed a bachelor programme completely taught in English do not have to take this test.
Depending on which entrance university you wish to choose, you will have to take additional language requirements into consideration!
Language Requirements Graz
1) German proficiency:
When choosing Graz as your entrance university you need also to provide proof of German proficiency on the level C1. German language knowledge on level C1 (according to CEFR) can be provided by:
- an Austrian secondary school leaving certificate (Matura) or
- an equal secondary school leaving certificate from abroad with German as language of instruction on Matura Level (Austrian or German school abroad) or
- 8 consecutive years of at least 2 subjects taught in German in High School or
- 4 consecutive years of at least 2 subjects taught in German on the secundary level in High School with additional final exam (Matura) in at least one of the English taught subjects or
- completed study programme taught in German or
- Ergänzungsprüfung Deutsch (EPD)at Vorstudienlehrgang der Grazer Universitäten und Hochschulen (prerequisite for participating in the EPD is an admission at the University) or at another Austrian Vorstudienlehrgang or
- ÖSD C1 (Österreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch) or
- Goethe-Zertifikat C1 or
- DSH2 (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang) or
- DSD2 (Deutsche Sprachdiplom der Kultusministerkonferenz) or
- Telc C1 or
- Test DaF C1 (TDN 5)
The certificates 7. - 12. must not be older than 2 years at the time of the application.
2) English proficiency:
- TOEFL iBT (score of at least 95) or
- IELTS Academic (score of at least 7) or
- Cambridge Proficiency English CPE or
- Cambridge Advanced English CAE (score of at least 180/ Grade C or better) or
- Telc C1 or
- Pearson Test of English Academic PTE (score of at least 76) or
- Completion of 8 school years at a secondary school with English as a subject at a school within the EU/EEA, Switzerland, Great Britain, USA, English-speaking provinces of Canada, Australia or New Zealand, or
- Completion of 4 school years at a secondary school with English as a subject and additionally completion of the school-leaving examination in English as a subject at a school within the EU/EEA, Switzerland, Great Britain, USA, English-speaking provinces of Canada, Australia or New Zealand or or
- Completion of studies in English as the language of instruction (the Diploma Supplement needs to show that the studies were taught in English)at a university within the EU/EEA, Switzerland, Great Britain, USA, English-speaking provinces of Canada, Australia or New Zealand or
- Certificate of completion of an Austrian Vorstudienlehrgang course on English-C1 level
The certificates/diplomas 1. - 6. must not be older than 2 years at the time of the application.
Language Requirements Trento
1) Italian proficiency:
Students applying for the University of Trento as their entrance university need Italian language skills that allow them to follow the courses that are taught in Italian. A certificate is not required in this case.
2) English proficiency:
For the admission to the SSR Master's Degree a good knowledge of the English language, i.e. at least a B1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, has to be attested with an international certification from among the following:
- IELTS: 4.5 (with no band less than 4.0) gained not before 2 years
TOEFL iBT (or computer-based tests or equivalent): minimum score of 11 (no skill lower than 11) gained not before 2 years
another certification recognized at European level gained not before 5 years
candidates who obtained their degree (bachelor or master) from a university where tuition is entirely in English in an EU country or in Australia, Canada, Japan, Norway, New Zealand, Russia, the USA, South Africa or Switzerland, are not required to submit an English Language certificate.
In case of missing English certificate, as above indicated, the Admission Committee may interview the candidate or evaluate further uploaded documents.
During the course, students are requested to reach a B2 level.
Partner universities
The universities in the consortium, University of Graz, Masaryk University, University of Trento, and University of Zadar, work together to guarantee a high-quality international curriculum with regional aspects. Each university offers the possibility of specialized academic training in the field of cultural sociology.
Learn more about the partner universities of this Master's Programme:
