Profile: Forming Society Design ∙ Build ∙ Preserve

Archival Sciences (MA)

After completing the degree programme, you will be able to take on an archival management position. They have competences in archive management and in project management in the archival specialist tasks, in particular preservation, digital long-term archiving, marketing and public relations, and reflect archival sciences findings in relation to their own professional practice. They are able to systematically and goal-orientedly record and manage archival tasks under changing professional and social requirements.

In cooperation with your fellow students, you will develop versatile interdisciplinary, professional and social skills. You can expect a constant comparison between theory and professional practice.

The master's programme in archival science is a scientific higher education programme in the sense of the TVÖD or TV-L and qualifies you for the higher archival service in public archives as a salaried employee. The provisions of the career regulations of the Federal Government and the Länder apply to civil servants.

If you have a subject-related education and work in an archive, the distance education in archives as a certificate course with the possibility of being classified in the bachelor's programme could be interesting for you.

Degree:

Master of Arts

Type:

Distance learning program (part-time)

Advanced Master's program

Course language:

German

Standard study period:

6 semesters part-time (start: winter semester of an odd-numbered calendar year)

Start of study:

Winter semester

Application deadline:

22/05 – 30/06/ in odd-numbered calendar years (admission restricted)

Admission requirements:

Successfully completed university studies, at least 12 months of professional experience in an archival institution, proof of work in an archival institution during the course of studies.

Credits:

120 ECTS credits

Module Manuals & Regulations

Profile

With the Potsdam model into the higher archives service

Eine Archiv-Studentin begutachtet ein historisches Foto

The degree programme in archival sciences is the only degree programme in Germany that offers you an additional archival qualification at a high level in three years. Complementing the "classic" internal archival training in Germany, it is characterised by the "Potsdam model" of an integrative information science degree with a high proportion of scientific and information technology skills.

Within a semester there are two lectures of three days each (Thursday, Friday and Saturday). We use the e-learning platform "Moodle" for optimal support of our students. In the first semesters, a predefined timetable with compulsory modules makes it easier for you as a professional to get started. From the 4th semester onwards, you can specialise with compulsory elective modules. You finish your studies with a master's thesis and its defence.

Is this degree programme right for me?

Do you enjoy the exciting work in the archives and want to expand your knowledge with this additional professional qualification for the higher archival service? To be able to start the master's programme, you need to have successfully completed your studies at a university in a non-archival bachelor's degree programme of at least six semesters or in a diplom or magister degree programme of at least eight semesters comprising at least 180 ECTS credit points. The requirements also include 12 months of professional experience to the extent of a usual full-time job, a current job in an archival institution that covers the range of tasks and topics of relevant practical archival work, as well as proof of a study-related job in an archival institution of at least 15 hours per week at the time of admission to the programme. The study achievements represent a high workload in addition to the professional activity, which should be taken into account when choosing a course of study.

information sciences department

Since its foundation, the information sciences department has made a name for itself among information experts in Germany. Learn more about projects, lecturers and the organisation of the department.

To the department

Contact

The colleagues at the student counselling service provide information to prospective students, first-year students, parents, teachers and students on all general questions about the degree programme. If you have specific questions or concerns about the part-time master's programme in archival sciences, please contact the student counselling service.

Student Counselling Service

zsb@fh-potsdam.de

+49 331 580-2070

+49 331 580-2071

House D

Room 102

Book an appointment online

Subject Counselling Service

Franziska Krebs

Staff member for further education and distance learning in the field of Archival Studies

franziska.krebs@fh-potsdam.de

+49 331 580-4542

House 2

Room 123

Project Management

Prof. Dr. phil. Susanne Freund

Professor of Archival Science

Project Manager Graduate Distance Learning Archive

Project Manager of the Degree Programme Archival Science (MA)

Project Manager of the Further Education Programme "Archive im Informationszeitalter"

susanne.freund@fh-potsdam.de

+49 331 580-4522

House 2

Room 128

These degree programmes might also interest you

More courses

Department	Degree programme	Teaching language	Start of study	Application deadline
	Archival Sciences (MA)	German	Winter semester	22/05 – 30/06/ in odd-numbered calendar years (admission restricted)
	Digital Data Management (MA)	German	Summer semester	Note: No enrolment for summer semester 2024

Career prospects

Upon completion of the master's programme in archival sciences, you can take on the tasks of an academic archivist and thus an archival management position.

Possible areas of application

Archives of the Federation, the Länder and the municipalities
Parliamentary archives

These degree programmes might also interest you

More courses

Department	Degree programme	Teaching language	Start of study	Application deadline
	Archival Sciences (MA)	German	Winter semester	22/05 – 30/06/ in odd-numbered calendar years (admission restricted)
	Digital Data Management (MA)	German	Summer semester	Note: No enrolment for summer semester 2024

Study Content

Course of studies

The master's programme starts every two years – in the odd-numbered years. Within a semester, there are two attendance dates of three days each. These attendance days are Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The standard period of study for the part-time degree programme in archival science is six semesters and concludes with a Master of Arts (M. A.). The programme consists of basic compulsory modules, subject-specific compulsory and elective modules and is completed with the writing of a Master's thesis and its defence.

Semester 1 – 3	Basic studies, compulsory modules
Semester 4	Compulsory elective modules, subject-specific specialisation
Semester 5 – 6	Compulsory modules, Master's thesis and colloquium

Study Content

In the currently valid module handbooks, study and examination regulations and statutes of the information sciences department you will find the module overview, a detailed description of the modules and study contents, the study plan as well as the statutes for the implementation of the selection procedure for the degree programme in archival sciences.

The degree programme is currently in the re-accreditation process. The course content is therefore subject to change.

Teaching formats

In the Master's programme in archival sciences, we work with different teaching formats. Since it is a part-time degree programme, there is a division between attendance dates, work in Moodle and self-study.

Seminars
Exercises
Projects

Compulsory modules

Information and Society
Methods of archival science
Archival typology and history
Archive Management
Records Management
Cataloguing in archives
Archival technology
Archival law/freedom of information legislation
Historical education and public relations
Ancillary historical sciences
Administrative History
Digital Archives
Digital long-term archiving
Project Management

Electives

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
Database archiving
Meta description languages
Organisational development and management techniques
Editing techniques
History project

Forms of examination

Term papers
Practical final papers
Written examinations
Presentations

Thesis

Writing a Master's thesis and defending it

Study content by semester

Application & Contact

Dates & requirements for your application

The most important deadlines, dates and admission requirements for the part-time Master's programme in archival sciences are compiled here. You can find out which steps you need to take for a successful application in the next section.

Please note: The semester fee and fees of 1,200 euros per semester apply.

Dates

by 30 June (in odd-numbered calendar years): Submit online application

Access requirements

Successfully completed university studies (at least 180 ECTS credits) in a non-archival bachelor's degree programme of at least six semesters or in a diploma or magister degree programme of at least eight semesters.
at least 12 months of professional experience in an archival institution to the extent of a full-time job covering the range of tasks and topics of relevant, practical archival work
Proof of work accompanying studies in an archival institution at the time of admission, contractually secured for the following 24 months (at least 15 h/week)

This is how you apply!

In the following, we explain which aspects you should pay attention to from the online application to enrolment (registration).

Further information

The following links provide you, and especially international applicants, with further information on the topics of application and enrolment at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam.

International applicants

You would like to apply for studies from the first or a higher semester and have acquired your school-leaving qualification and/or university degree abroad? Then you can have degrees and achievements acquired abroad recognised and study with us.

Application information for internationals

Drei Studierende schauen sich Infomaterialien der FH Potsdam an

Application & Enrolment Procedure

The application and study service provides information and advice on general questions regarding the application process, admission and enrolment at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam, application for a higher semester, but also on topics such as compensation for disadvantages, part-time studies, waiting semesters and hardship applications.

Application & Enrolment University of Applied Sciences Potsdam

Contact & Services

The student counselling service provides information and advice on general questions about studying as well as on topics such as choosing a degree programme, application, enrolment and study organisation.

For subject-specific questions on module contents, credit transfer, examinations or specialisations in the part-time Master's programme in Archival Studies, the subject counselling service is the right place to go.