Major MAMES (90 ECTS)

This presentation serves as a guide. When planning your studies, please note the legal bases (in the info box at the bottom of this page).

Requirements for obtaining the degree: at least 18 ECTS credits, including the compulsory lecture (6 ECTS).

Compulsory: 

• Colonialism, Nationalism, Globalisation: Asia and the Middle East (lecture), 6 ECTS; graded, every Fall.

Core electives:

• Asia and the Middle East in Current Debates (exercise), 6 ECTS; graded, every Spring.
• Anthropology of Asia and the Middle East (seminar), 6 ECTS; graded, every second Spring.
• Culture and Society in Asia and the Middle East (seminar), 6 ECTS; graded, every second Spring.
• Core Readings MAMES: Regions (self-study), 6 ECTS; graded, every semester (To be booked upon individual agreement; for further details see the Guidelines right-hand side).
• Core Readings MAMES: Transregional Topics (self-study), 6 ECTS; graded, every semester (To be booked upon individual agreement; for further details see the Guidelines right-hand side).

Requirements for obtaining the degree: at least 6 ECTS credits for each of the two module categories; altogether at least 18 ECTS credits in both categories; free choice among the core electives and electives on offer.

Core electives "Culture":

• Geschichte Indiens/Südasiens [History of India/South Asia] (lecture), 3 ECTS credits; graded, every second Fall.
• Hinduismus [Hinduism] (lecture), 3 ECTS credits; graded, every second Spring.
• Chinesische Literatur [Chinese Literature] (lecture), 3 ECTS credits, graded, every Fall.
• Geschichte muslimischer Kulturen und Gesellschaften [History of Muslim Cultures and Societies], 3 ECTS credits, graded, every Fall.

Further electives crosslisted by other disciplines of the IAOS and UZH in the respective semester.

Core electives "Society":

• Majorities and Minorities in South Asia (seminar), 6 ECTS credits, graded; every second Spring.
• Democracy and Citizenship in Modern India (lecture), 3 ECTS credits, graded; every second Fall.
• Gesellschaft Chinas (Einführung) [Introduction to Chinese Society] (lecture); 3 ECTS credits, graded; every Spring.
• Japanese society after 1945 (lecture); 3 ECTS credits, graded, every Spring.
• Japanese politics and economy after 1945 (lecture); 3 ECTS credits, graded, every Fall.

Further electives crosslisted by other disciplines of the IAOS and UZH in the respective semester.

Requirements for obtaining the degree: at least 6 ECTS credits.   

Core electives:

• Research Project MAMES (Master thesis) (colloquium), 3 ECTS credits, pass/fail; every semester.
• Theories of Society and Religion in Asia and the Middle East (self-study), 3 ECTS credits, graded; every semester.
• Current Debates in Social Anthropology (seminar), 6 ECTS credits, graded; every Fall.
• Introduction to Research Methods (exercise), 3 ECTS credits, pass/fail; every Spring.
• Qualitative Methoden/Qualitative methods (seminar), 6 ECTS credits, graded; every Spring.

Further electives crosslisted by other disciplines of the IAOS and UZH in the respective semester.

Requirements for obtaining the degree:

• Until Spring 2026: at least 9 ECTS credits.
• Starting Fall 2026: at least 3 ECTS credits.

Modules can be chosen from the offer of core electives (CE) and electives (E) of the course catalogue of the respective semester. 

CE-Modules:

• Words, Worlds, and Research: The Role of Language in Area Studies (lecture), 3 ECTS credits, pass/fail, every Spring (Starting Spring 2027).
• Comprehensive Traineeship / Summer School: Language (internship), 6 ECTS credits, pass/fail; every semester.
• Traineeship / Summer School: Language (internship), 3 ECTS credits, pass/fail; every semester.

Core electives and electives of the languages offered at the IAOS, crosslisted in the respective semester; elementary and intermediate levels. Please note: Most of the language courses are taught in German. 

No credits have to be obtained/no courses have to be completed for obtaining the MA degree.

CE-Modules:

• Comprehensive Traineeship / Summer School in MAMES (internship), 6 ECTS credits, pass/fail; every semester
• Traineeship / Summer School in MAMES (internship), 3 ECTS credits, pass/fail; every semester
• Entire course offer of the language center of UZH/ETC. Hours, credits and assessments vary by course. Please refer to https://www.sprachenzentrum.uzh.ch

Further core electives (CE) and electives (E) can be found in the course catalogue of the respective semester.

No credits have to be obtained/no courses have to be completed for obtaining the MA degree.

CE-Modules:

• Geschichte, Gesellschaft, Kultur (Angeleitetes Quellenstudium) [in English, Chinese, or German] (exercise), 3 ECTS credits, graded; every semester.
• Forschungsprojekte (Kolloquium Ma-Arbeit) / research projects (colloquium MA thesis) [in English and German]; crosslisted from the Department of Japanese Studies, 3 ECTS credits, pass/fail; every semester.

Further core electives and electives crosslisted by other disciplines of the IAOS and UZH in the respective semester.

• Master Thesis, 30 ECTS credits, graded, every semester.

Until Spring 2026: At least 9 additional ECTS Credits of your choice from all module groups within the program.

Starting Fall 2026: At least 15 additional ECTS Credits of your choice from all module groups within the program.