The subject of Byzantine Studies at the university Mainz is represented with a wide range of course offerings by the Byzantine Studies research unit at the Historical Seminar. This offer is further expanded by the Christian Archaeology and Byzantine Art History research unit at the Institute for Art History. This offers the possibility to attend numerous courses with Byzantine topics in the major (subject) History within the framework of various modules and, moreover, to write the B.A. final thesis on a topic from the field of Byzantine Studies.

Lecture

Main seminar

Exercise

SoSe 2025

In order to gain a more comprehensive insight into the course offerings of our research unit, you will find an overview of our course offerings from past semesters here.

Studying Byzantine Studies within the framework of modularized degree programs

Since the winter semester 2008/2009, there have been modularized and consecutively structured Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs. For students of historical sciences in the subject-related Bachelor’s program (B.A.), such a degree program usually consists of the major (subject) History and a freely selectable minor.

The following explanations serve as initial information and do not constitute study regulations in a legally binding sense. Nor do they replace the module handbooks in any way. For more detailed advising on how to choose a Byzantine Studies focus in the B.A. or M.A. program, what knowledge and skills are taught in the Byzantine Studies focus, what career fields are opened up here, or on other questions, the employees of the Byzantine Studies research unit are always available.

There is no separate B.A. degree program in Byzantine Studies; instead, a B.A. degree program in History is offered, which integrates previously independent areas such as Ancient History, Byzantine Studies or East European History, with Byzantine Studies being assigned to the epoch-related events of Medieval History. The advantage of this study regulation is that it aims at a broad historical education, but at the same time allows specialization in a sub-area of history, such as Byzantine Studies. The resulting interdisciplinary approach in the field of Medieval History is unique at German universities and makes it possible to grasp the history of the medieval world in its entirety.
The subject of Byzantine Studies at the university Mainz is represented with a wide range of course offerings by the Byzantine Studies research unit at the Historical Seminar. This offer is further expanded by the Christian Archaeology and Byzantine Art History research unit at the Institute for Archaeology. This offers the possibility to attend numerous courses with Byzantine topics in the major (subject) History within the framework of various modules and, moreover, to write the B.A. final thesis on a topic from the field of Byzantine Studies.

Learning and teaching

A successfully completed B.A. degree program enables admission to the M.A. degree program History. Within this degree program, “Byzantine Studies” can be chosen as a focus and the corresponding Byzantine modules can be taken. In addition to the diploma for the passed M.A. History, you will receive a Diploma supplement, which identifies this focus. In addition, a doctorate in the field of Byzantine Studies and subsequently a corresponding habilitation as the highest academic qualification is possible.
As far as the language proficiency is concerned, the M.A. program with a Byzantine focus requires the qualifying examination in Latin (Latinum) as well as Ancient Greek language skills by the beginning of the final module. Knowledge of Ancient Greek corresponds to at least 80 hours of successful instruction or proof of successful attendance of at least three years of grammar school instruction. For a doctorate, the Graecum qualification is the prerequisite. The acquisition of language skills is not part of the regular compulsory studies in Mainz. A recommendable possibility to acquire the language skills required for a Byzantine specialist focus already during the B.A. program or in the first two semesters of the M.A. program is to complete the practical module (module 9 in the B.A. or module 14 in the M.A.) with corresponding language courses or to choose Greek/Latin as a minor to the B.A. major (subject) History.

  • two modules from modules 11 (advanced module 11(1); 11(2); 11(3)) are to be selected from the field of Byzantine Studies: lecture, advanced seminar, practice class each
  • Module 14 (practical module): e.g. internship with Byzantine themes at museums (e.g. RGZM) or internship abroad; can be replaced by two language courses of 4 SWS each
  • Module 15 (Historical Auxiliary and Neighboring Sciences): Lectures from related fields such as Christian Archaeology/Byzantine Art History, Ecclesiastical History or Greek Studies; self-study of a reading canon from a corresponding field.
  • Module 16 (Research): Graduate Seminar 1, Graduate Seminar 2, self-study of a reading canon. It is recommended to choose at least one OS from the field of Byzantine Studies.
  • Module 17 (final module): M.A. thesis and oral examination on Byzantine topics

The Byzantine library is part of the departmental library Philosophicum. It is located on the third floor of the Philosophicum, room 03-636. The collection focuses on Byzantine philology and history. It is complemented by the libraries of Classical Philology and Ancient History on the same floor and the library Department of Christian Archaeology and Byzantine Art History in the neighboring GFG building.

Our library is a reference library, i.e. books are only lent out according to the corresponding regulations of the departmental library.

Bibliographic research on the collections of our sub-library as well as on journals and publication series is possible online via the catalog search of the university library or via the HEBIS union catalog. All holdings are electronically recorded there. Further information on the collection and the databases can be found on the subject information page of Byzantine Studies. The professional and expert library support is provided in cooperation with the university library: bbphil@ub.uni-mainz.de.

Here you will find an overview of our past field trips. In addition to photo galleries and travel reports that provide an insight into the events experienced, you will also find the event descriptions of the corresponding practice class for the trip. If you have ideas and suggestions for future trips, please feel free to contact us.