Regional studies: Asia/Africa (Bachelor of Science, B.Sc.)
Area Studies Asia/Africa is a multidisciplinary and multi-regional B.A. course dealing with the regions of Africa, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Central Asia.
Table of Contents
At a glance
Course structure and content
The Bachelor's programme in Regional Studies Asia/Africa at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin is multidisciplinary and multiregional, covering the regions of Africa, East, South, and Southeast Asia, as well as Central Asia. Students acquire fundamental knowledge in three key areas: language and communication (including linguistics, sociolinguistics, and philology), culture and identity (literary studies, religious studies, cultural studies, and ethnology), and society and transformation (historical, ethnological, and social science perspectives).
Mono-bachelor students can choose a regional focus.
They learn to analyze regional developments using sound methodologies, apply relevant theories, and form their own scholarly judgments. Furthermore, they develop skills in research, analysis, academic writing, and presentation. Gender studies issues are also integrated into the curriculum. Thus, the programme comprehensively prepares students for independent academic work and critical engagement with the cultures and societies of Asia and Africa.
You will acquire fundamental language skills to communicate fluently both orally and in writing and to develop strong reading comprehension.
Bachelor of Arts, B.A.
Important: Please note the respective admission restrictions.
Special features
Thanks to the Asian/African Studies bachelor’s course, Humboldt-Universität is the only university in Germany to offer a basic course combining a wide-ranging introduction with the ability for in-depth study in the field of regional studies for Asia and Africa.
The course at the Department of Asian and African Studies provides a theoretical and methodological foundation. It enables the study of relevant regional languages, providing the skills for the detailed treatment of a region and a subsequent, discipline-oriented master’s programme.
In the job market, it also opens up the opportunity to enter trans-regional fields and to specialise in a particular cultural area.
The course primarily targets theoretical and methodological approaches which are relevant for examining Asia and Africa. You should be interested in at least one of the regions of concentration and enjoy learning languages. You have knowledge of the regions or countries (e.g. geographic, cultural) or will find out about them during the course. Future students should also be prepared to critically question perceptions of non-European cultures and be open to new ideas.
Subject-specific admission and enrolment rules
Career opportunities & prospects
The institute offers a postgraduate Master's programme in Asian/African Studies.
Please also see the Master's programmes in Global History and Global Studies, and for further Master's programmes, see the overview of study programmes.
You can find additional degree programmes throughout Germany and Berlin in the Hochschulkompass database.
Your degree qualifies you for further academic training as well as for careers in international cooperation, journalism, business and political consulting, social and political organisations, and intercultural and cultural work.
More information on career prospects and alternatives can be found in the Berufenet database.
Department of Asian and African Studies
Institutsgebäude, Invalidenstraße 118, 10115 Berlin