The Cultural Heritage Studies MA program at the Institute of History, specifically offered by the Department for Interdisciplinary History, has a rich history of providing education in the field of cultural heritage. Initially established as a specialization within the History MA program, it has since evolved into an independent Hungarian master’s degree program. Since 2018, the department has taken a leading role in coordinating the bilingual (English and French) Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree program on cultural heritage, known as TEMA+ European Territories. Heritage and Development. This program is developed in collaboration with four esteemed partner universities and enjoys the support of institutions such as the European Heritage Label (EHL) and various UNESCO bodies. The English-language Cultural Heritage Studies MA program draws on both domestic and international expertise, offering students internships in a range of institutions dedicated to heritage preservation and management.
This program is ideally suited for applicants seeking a robust and interdisciplinary academic grounding in critical cultural heritage studies, complemented by hands-on experience and skills acquired through internships with local, regional, and national cultural organizations and heritage institutions. It is also recommended for those aspiring to become part of an international academic network and a highly professional scientific community.
Graduates of this program are prepared for academic careers as researchers and/or for various roles within the cultural heritage field, as they amalgamate theoretical knowledge with practical skills.
A distinctive feature of this program is its interdisciplinary orientation, encompassing diverse research areas related to cultural and nationalism studies, historiography, sociology, and urbanism. It offers a wide array of methodological approaches and places a strong emphasis on practical expertise. Graduates emerge with extensive knowledge in multiple facets of cultural heritage, spanning both theoretical and applied dimensions. The department is known for its welcoming, close-knit environment, providing students with personalized supervision.
Since its inception, the department has fostered close collaboration with esteemed European universities and is deeply integrated into a broad academic network. In recent years, the department has taken the helm in coordinating the Master Course TEMA European Territories (Civilisation, Nation, Region, City): Identity and Development, as well as the TEMA+ European Territories: Heritage and Development program. These initiatives underscore the growing significance of European cultural heritage on global, national, and regional scales, particularly within the EU. Moreover, the department has actively participated in significant Horizon 2020 projects, such as REACH (Re-designing access to cultural heritage for a wider participation in preservation, (re)use and management of European culture) and, since 2020, in the UNCHARTED project, which aims to understand, capture, and foster the societal value of culture. This attests to the department’s ongoing commitment to cutting-edge research and collaborative endeavors in the realm of cultural heritage studies.