Englisch 
Deutsch Who this German-taught, part-time MA fits — and what you need to get in
This programme suits professionals already working with archival records who want to qualify for senior roles. Typical profiles include: experienced records or archives staff seeking higher service qualification; cultural heritage or information professionals moving from libraries/museums into archives while staying employed; and international graduates working in an archive abroad who can combine studies with a contracted part-time role. You study largely online, but there are two on-campus blocks per semester in Potsdam (Thu–Sat), so you must be able to travel for these sessions.
Admission requirements
Entry is selective and tied closely to your professional practice. You need to meet all of the following:
- A completed university degree not in archival studies: at least a six-semester Bachelor’s (minimum 180 ECTS) or an eight-semester Diplom/Magister.
- At least 12 months full-time professional experience in an archive, covering relevant practical tasks.
- A confirmed, study-accompanying position in an archive of at least 15 hours per week, contractually secured for the first 24 months at the time of admission.
- Teaching language is German. If your first language is not German, you must provide officially recognised proof of sufficient German for study and assessment, according to the university’s regulations.
Further points to note:
- Start is in the winter semester of odd-numbered years; applications are possible from 15 May to 10 June (restricted admission).
- International qualifications are welcome. Foreign degrees and periods of study can be recognised following the university’s evaluation procedures.
- No Abitur is required for this Master’s, provided you hold a recognised first degree as stated above.
- There is a formal selection process with limited places; academic performance and the scope/relevance of your archival work are key criteria.
- Mandatory in-person attendance: two campus blocks per semester (3 days each) in Potsdam; plan for travel and, where applicable, visa arrangements.
Personal requirements
Success in this part-time, professionally integrated Master’s depends on consistent self-management. You should be comfortable alternating between campus blocks, Moodle-based learning and independent study. Expect a substantial weekly study load alongside your job, with peaks before exams and submission deadlines. What helps: reliable time planning, employer support for the on-campus blocks, and the stamina to work through legal, historical and IT-oriented materials. Strong written and spoken German is essential for seminars, essays and exams; if you study from abroad, make sure your day-to-day environment allows focused study and stable online access. If you can organise your workload, keep momentum between presence phases and proactively engage with supervisors, you are well prepared for this programme.
What will you study in the Archival Science (M.A.) at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam?
The teaching language is German (Deutsch). You need strong German for reading, writing and presenting at graduate level; international applicants must provide proof of sufficient German during admission. The programme is offered by a Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences) and combines academic depth with practice. It is a part-time Fernstudium (distance learning) with mandatory in-person blocks in Potsdam.
You begin with professional foundations and the history of the field. Typical topics include Foundations of Archival Science, Archive Typology and Archive History, and Palæography and Records Studies. You also work with administrative history to gain context for appraising and interpreting records.
You then move into records governance and access. Core modules address Records Management, Appraisal and Formation of Holdings, and Standards for Description in Archives. You learn how to balance legal, organisational and user perspectives when deciding what to keep, how to describe it, and how to make it discoverable.
Digital archiving and preservation are a major strand. You cover Concepts of Digital Preservation, Archiving Born-Digital Records, Research Data, and the Digital Provision of Archival Materials. You train in sustainable preservation strategies and interfaces that meet contemporary access needs.
Management and communication complete the core. You study Archive Management, Project Management, Legal Issues in Archival Work, and Marketing and Public Relations. This prepares you for leadership roles and stakeholder communication in public and private memory institutions.
From semester 4 you choose electives to specialise, for example in Database Archiving, Meta-description Languages, Data Visualisation, interdisciplinary project work or methods from the Digital Humanities. Electives allow you to deepen ICT-heavy or editorial-research profiles.
The curriculum alternates between theory and your professional practice. Each semester includes two on-site blocks (Thu–Sat). You finish with a Master’s thesis and an oral defence. Note on German terms: Fernstudium means distance learning with periods of self-study and online work; a Fachhochschule is a university of applied sciences with strong professional orientation; the ZFU is the German state authority approving distance-learning courses—public university degree programmes like this one are not subject to ZFU approval.
How does the Archival Science distance programme work?
Teaching language and proof of language skills
The programme is taught entirely in German. You must be able to study, discuss and submit assessments in German at graduate level. International applicants are required to provide evidence of sufficient German; the university specifies the accepted forms of proof during application.
Learning format and study materials
This is a part-time, career-integrated format. You study via Moodle (e-learning platform), guided self-study and in small-group seminars and exercises. The first three semesters follow a fixed plan of compulsory modules; from the fourth semester you select electives. Teaching blends readings, case work, projects and ICT-supported methods typical of information science.
Examinations and where you take them
Assessment forms include written papers, practical project outputs, presentations, essays, exams, and a research-oriented Master’s thesis with defence. Some assessments are submitted online; others are linked to the on-site blocks. There is no ZFU admission number; public university degrees are not within ZFU’s approval scope.
Mandatory on-site sessions in Germany
Each semester includes two in-person blocks of three days in Potsdam (Thursday to Saturday). Attendance on campus is a formal part of the programme and is required to complete modules. Plan for regular travel to Germany for these dates.
Workload, pacing and time zones
The standard duration is 6 semesters part-time, alongside employment. Cohorts start in the winter semester of odd-numbered years. Most online activities are asynchronous, but any scheduled live elements and all on-site blocks follow the German time zone (CET/CEST). Because on-site attendance is required, this is not a purely remote programme; visa needs depend on nationality and length of stay.
What does the Archival Science (M.A.) cost?
Tuition is €1,500 per semester over the standard duration of six semesters, totalling €9,000 for the degree. In addition, a semester contribution (administrative/student services fee) is charged each term. Tuition is billed per semester; international students typically pay in euros by bank transfer from abroad. Travel and accommodation for the mandatory on-site blocks in Potsdam are extra and should be budgeted. If you extend your studies beyond the standard duration, additional semester contributions and, where applicable, further tuition may apply according to the university’s current fee rules.
What careers and recognition does the Archival Science (M.A.) offer?
The degree awards 120 ECTS credits under the Bologna system and is recognised as a second-cycle Master of Arts within the European Higher Education Area. The programme is accredited by AQAS (German Accreditation Council listing) through 30 September 2031. The University of Applied Sciences Potsdam is a public institution of the State of Brandenburg, which signals reliable academic standards abroad. For employers outside Germany, ECTS and programme accreditation make your study volume and level transparent and comparable.
Career outcomes include leadership and specialist roles in archives and information governance. Typical paths are:
- Scientific archivist or head of department in municipal, state or federal archives
- Records manager or information governance lead in public agencies or large organisations
- Digital preservation or research data specialist in memory institutions and universities
- Editorial and outreach roles in cultural heritage, including access, user services and public history
- Project management for digitisation, metadata and long-term preservation initiatives
In Germany, the curriculum is designed to qualify graduates for higher-level archival functions in public archives as employees; entry to civil service as a tenured officer follows separate rules. Internationally, the strong ICT and management components support mobility into adjacent areas such as digital curation and cultural data projects.
Who is the Archival Science (M.A.) right for – and who not?
This Master’s is designed for professionals who already work with archival materials and want to move into leadership, digital preservation or records governance while continuing in their job. The blend of management, law and ICT suits roles at the intersection of heritage and information science.
- You want a university-accredited, practice-oriented Master’s with 120 ECTS that you can complete part-time.
- You are comfortable studying and submitting all work in German at graduate level.
- You seek to lead projects and teams in archives, with skills in appraisal, standards, and digital long-term preservation.
- You value a structured format with two short, intensive on-site blocks per semester and largely flexible self-study in between.
- You want specialisation options such as database archiving, meta-description languages or data visualisation.
It is not a fit if you need a fully online programme you can complete without travel, or if you prefer English-taught instruction. The programme also follows a fixed two-year intake rhythm.
- You need a purely remote degree with no mandatory attendance in Germany; this programme requires on-site blocks in Potsdam each semester.
- You require English-taught teaching and assessments; all modules are delivered in German.
- You cannot align with the winter start in odd-numbered years and cohort-based scheduling.
- You are looking for a broad-entry course for career changers with no current exposure to archival practice; this Master’s is tailored to professionals deepening existing competencies.
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