Global Studies (also known as Area Studies) focus on the history, economy, political organization, and culture of a certain region and its global relations. In Germany, many Master's programs in this field usually focus on (North) America, Europe, or different regions in Asia. With institutions such as the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA), the biggest of its kind in Europe, Germany provides a vibrant and unique research landscape for students of this field.

Area Studies pursue the goal to link different aspects of a region. The programs reflect this in their interdisciplinarity, relating historic development to current issues, political organization and economy, and often deal with questions of global relations or postcolonialism. For students with more specific interests, there are programs which focus explicitly on aspects such as economy or culture and society.

Area Studies programs in Germany often include a study abroad component or offer double degrees in cooperation with other (international) universities. Therefore, they are ideal for students looking to research a region of the world while experiencing different cultures and higher education landscapes first hand.

The options within one program are often manifold. We encourage you to check out the results in our Study Finder and find the program that best matches your interests.