Program Overview

Master Digital Studies of Ancient Texts

The Master Digital Studies of Ancient Texts (DISTANT) is a two-year, full-time master's program taught in English at the campus of Freie Universit‰t in Berlin. It is an interdisciplinary program that combines text- and language-related topics from Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Egyptology, and Coptology with computational modeling and analysis.

Program Description

While DISTANT shares content with traditional master's programs in Ancient Near Eastern Studies (Cuneiform Studies) and Egyptology, it sets itself apart by offering modules on digital methods. With a specific focus on computer-assisted processing and computational analysis of ancient texts, students acquire subject-specific and interdisciplinary methodological competencies that enable them to tackle complex questions on a variety of sources.

Tuition Fees

The master's program, following standard practice in Germany, is tuition-free for all students, regardless of their country of origin.

Admission Criteria

To be eligible for the program, applicants should:

• Hold a bachelor's degree with at least 60 credit points from the fields of Ancient Studies and/or Digital Humanities
• Have at least 25 credit points in one or more of the following ancient languages: Ancient Egyptian, Akkadian, Hittite, Coptic, Sumerian
• Have both theoretical and practical research drive
• Be able to prove English language skills (on the level C1 in the CEFR/Common European Framework of Reference or equivalent)

Target Audience

The program is suitable for individuals who:

• Are passionate about Ancient Near Eastern or Ancient Egyptian texts and languages
• Are fascinated by the power of programming and the endless possibilities of computational language and text processing
• Are looking for a way to integrate Digital Humanities and ANE/Egyptian Philology
• Enjoy bringing together perspectives from different disciplines
• Are interested in the study of ancient civilizations and wish to apply their knowledge in research or outside academia

Research Areas

The program focuses on the digital study of ancient texts, combining computational modeling and analysis with traditional methods from Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Egyptology, and Coptology. Students will acquire skills in computer-assisted processing and computational analysis of ancient texts, enabling them to tackle complex questions on a variety of sources.