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History - Bachelor's study program

Information for prospective students

Course content, study program structure, and the application process – guidance and information on the Bachelor's study program in History at the University of Stuttgart.

Is History right for you? Come and find out!

Do you have a sense of what the Bachelor’s degree program in History entails? With our expectations check, you can quickly and easily check whether your expectations of the study program are realistic.

Do the expectation check now and discover whether the course meets your expectations!

Expectation Check

Do you have a sense of what the Bachelor’s study program in History entails?

Statement 1 / 7

Studying History involves a lot of reading and writing.

This statement is largely true

As in all humanities subjects, studying History requires a great deal of reading, including both primary sources and analytical research literature. In addition, the most important form of assessment is the written term paper, which is why great importance is also placed on clear and precise written expression. If you do not enjoy reading and writing, you should reconsider studying History.

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Statement 2 / 7

If I am not willing to spend years memorizing dates and figures, then History is not the right subject for me.

This statement is largely false

Studying History is not about being a walking encyclopedia. While it is important to know a few key dates, it is far more important to interpret source texts critically and to place historical events within their proper context. Studying History is therefore not simply an extension of the history taught at school.

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Statement 3 / 7

I often wonder why certain historical developments occurred, for example, how Hitler was able to come to power in Germany in 1933. Studying History is therefore a good fit for me.

This statement is largely true

The study of History does not only investigate "how things actually were" (as the historian Leopold von Ranke famously put it). Rather, the question of causes and causal relationships plays a central role. This applies to the topic of National Socialism just as it does to other historical periods. Interest in this is an important prerequisite for successfully studying history.

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Statement 4 / 7

I am primarily interested in modern history – therefore, I do not need any knowledge of Latin for studying History.

This statement is largely false

Although the study of history offers elective options, students must nevertheless cover all historical periods – and the history of antiquity and the Middle Ages cannot be successfully studied without knowledge of Latin as the central source language. However, the relevant knowledge can also be acquired alongside one’s studies.

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Statement 5 / 7

Nowadays, English skills are needed almost everywhere – this also applies to studying History.

This statement is largely true

Although courses are usually conducted in German, students are still required to read and understand English texts – both sources and scholarly literature. Today, English is the primary international language of science, making strong English skills an essential key competency.

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Statement 6 / 7

With a subject like history, I am studying for my personal interest, not for a future career. Lots of graduates struggle to find employment after graduation

This statement is largely false

This is a popular cliché that has nothing to do with reality. Although the study program is not a traditional vocational training course, it does impart key skills that are in demand in many professional fields within the cultural sector as well as in the business world. Unemployment among academics is generally low, and this also applies to the humanities.

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Statement 7 / 7

Alongside studying History, there are many opportunities for me to gain some practical work experience even during my studies.

This statement is largely true

For good reason, the study of history combines the academic content of the subject with career-oriented components. There is not only a special seminar that provides an overview of the potential career fields during the course of study, but a compulsory internship of at least four weeks is also required: For example, in journalism, a library, an archive, a museum, etc.

» Analysis

It's your choice

0 out of 7 of your expectations turned out to be fairly accurate.

The goal here wasn’t to answer everything correctly, but to gain a better understanding of the study program. You now need to determine whether your understanding of the study program is accurate or where you need more information.

My skills

If you answer "yes" to several of the points below, you are likely to succeed in completing a History degree.

Even in school, history was by no means just a "tedious obligation", but a subject that genuinely fascinated you?
Do you find it easy to adopt different theoretical perspectives and weigh them against each other?
Do you have a research-driven curiosity that motivates you to persevere, even when faced with dense or challenging texts?
Are you able to quickly identify connections and key content when reading?
Do you find it easy to present your knowledge to an audience in an engaging way and to defend the hypotheses you have developed during your research, even in a controversial discussion?

To put it simply: Historical research involves a kind of detective work in the past. It thus requires not only solid subject knowledge but also analytical thinking and enjoyment of historical investigation.

My interests

If you can answer “yes” to several of the following points, studying History is an excellent fit for your interests and strengths.

Do you often ask yourself why the social conditions we live in today are the way they are? Why, to give just one example, do we live in a democracy? Where does the term “democracy”, and the social model behind it actually come from, and under what conditions this model ultimately became established in Germany in the 20th century.
Are you interested in the Reformation as much as in the Second World War, and do you read books and articles on these topics with great enthusiasm?
Do you follow topics such as the rise of the Roman Empire, the medieval Investiture Controversy, or the Thirty Years’ War with great interest, even though others might find them boring or irrelevant today?
Do you enjoy weighing different theories of historical events against each other and determining which one is the most plausible?
Do you also enjoy engaging in factual and sometimes controversial discussions on historical topics?

History - Bachelor's study program

Is History right for you? Come and find out!

Expectation Check

Statement 1 / 7

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Statement 2 / 7

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Statement 4 / 7

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Statement 5 / 7

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Statement 6 / 7

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Statement 7 / 7

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It's your choice

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