European Interdisciplinary Master African Studies

Overview

Profile of the Master’s Programme

The framing concept of the European Interdisciplinary Master African Studies programme of the University of Bayreuth is “Global Africa”. Current concepts of African Studies focus on a concept of Africa in itself, or as the object of outside influences. The Global Africa Approach takes Africa and Africans as global players and enhances previous concepts by adding this perspective. The EIMAS provides an integrated approach, focusing on the nexus between Identity, Territory and Sustainability, designed to transcend the limitations of both conventional area studies and global studies, while acknowledging alternative narratives and encouraging active involvement cooperation in and with Africa.

The EIMAS programme has been built on the following academic subjects: Demography, Development Studies, Economics, Environmental Studies, Geography, Geopolitics, History, Linguistics, Literary Studies, Media Studies, Political Science, Study of Religion, Sociology and Urban Planning.

Students' mobility

On the structural level, the EIMAS will offer students a four-step mobility scheme from the Universidade do Porto (1st semester) to the Universität Bayreuth (2nd semester) and the Université Bordeaux Montaigne (3rd semester) before they carry out an Africa-based or Africa-related fieldwork or internship, which will result in the writing of a thesis at the university of their choice.

Joint Degree Programme

In the first semester, the University of Porto will provide a comprehensive introduction to interdisciplinary African Studies. During the second semester, the University of Bayreuth will widen the students’ perspectives towards development and cultural dynamics, whereas the Université Bordeaux Montaigne will introduce analytical approaches and provide tools for a practical involvement in contemporary political, ecological and economic challenges in the third semester.

At the end of their studies, all successful graduates will receive an EMJMD diploma.

Future Career Opportunities

Through its innovative training programme, EIMAS will enable the students to acquire a wide range of practice-oriented knowledge of Global Africa, to enhance their analytical and communication skills and to strengthen their ability to work independently, which will significantly increase their employability. The consortium’s wide range of already existing collaborations with academic and non-academic partners such as government representatives, NGOs, corporate and diplomatic protagonists in Europe, Africa and beyond ensures the best possible connection to the global job market. After the successful completion of the Master’s degree, students have the option to pursue a doctorate, for example, within the Bayreuth International Graduate School of African Studies (BIGSAS) at the University of Bayreuth.