B.A. Studium Individuale

Studium Individuale is a liberal education programme. This means it focuses on the intellectual and personal development of each individual student and emphasises a breadth of knowledge while also encouraging students to develop a specific personal academic profile. Within Germany, Studium Individuale is unique in the amount of freedom students have to design their studies, offering the possibility of a truly interdisciplinary programme. The only requirement of the Studium Individuale major is that you complete the 7 Core Modules of the programme, and like all majors, the Leuphana semester. Beyond that, students are free to choose from the hundreds of different courses offered each semester to make their studies as broad or as specialised as they wish.

For example, you may have a particular interest in climate change, and Studium Individuale enables you to examine that through various courses in environmental sciences, economics, politics, psychology, etc. This means you can learn about climate change through diverse academic disciplines and perspectives.

Students learn to cultivate important skills including, analytical and reflexive thinking, clear and persuasive communication, and well-rounded judgement. Liberal education programmes foster intensive learning within a community of faculty and fellow students, both in and outside the classroom, and our contemporary liberal education prepares students to be creative, purposeful and responsible agents in many walks of life.

an encompassing education

Learning in Studium Individuale continues beyond the classroom, often in student-led activities: talks with guest speakers, practical projects, weekend-workshops, excursions, or simply informal exchange. Students are welcome to stop by the offices on campus to ask questions, voice ideas, as well as just to say ‘hello.’ The programme consists of a close-knit community of individuals who are interested in learning and growing together, as well as genuinely supporting one another. Students are also supported and encouraged to spend part of their studies abroad in order to gain additional valuable educational experiences.

We believe that the best way to foster curiosity, self-direction and independence of mind is to allow students to map out their personal course of study, with support from faculty and their fellow students. The aim of each individual course of study is to explore in-depth questions and problems that need to be addressed in an interdisciplinary way.

The Studium Individuale Core Modules combine the pursuit of personal intellectual interests with a concern for important issues regarding our shared world. Beyond the Core Modules, students can combine modules from the entire spectrum of academic fields at Leuphana, from sustainability to entrepreneurship, from digital media to psychology, from politics to education.

While students have the freedom and flexibility to design their course of studies, they are also supported to grow and learn through the intellectual backbone of the programme. The curriculum consists of 7 mandatory core modules that are taught in English through the span of 6 semesters:

• Ways of Knowing
• Freedom and the Transformation of Modern Europe
• Culture and Critique
• Understanding Knowledge
• Planning, Decision-making, and Reflection
• Collaborative Research Project
• Analysing Contemporary Societies

These challenging interdisciplinary courses of high intensity encourage students to engage in central themes that are relevant for both understanding and taking action in the contemporary world. This is driven by questions such as: What is valid knowledge? How can we identify a problem? What are the possibilities for, limits to and consequences of action? How can we understand and evaluate historical change? What is modern freedom?

Students are advised to take the first two modules in their first semester and one of the remaining modules each semester throughout their studies. The modules build on each other to provide an academic progression through increasingly complex questions and approaches while providing a space for Studium Individuale students to come together and learn from one another as their personal programmes of study develop in different directions.

The Studium Individuale major is embedded in the interdisciplinary College study model with the Leuphana Semester, minor and Complementary Studies. All undergraduate students commence their Bachelor studies with the Leuphana Semester, which has 3 modules focusing on fundamental questions and issues of university education to help you acquire the fundamental methods for a scientific course of study. The minor deepens or supplements your major with another subject area. Complementary Studies sits alongside your major and minor and allows you the freedom to pursue your thirst for knowledge by immersing yourself in a different field of knowledge each semester and become familiar with other disciplinary and methodological approaches.

The Studium Individualemajor is embedded in the interdisciplinary College study model with Leuphana Semester, Minor and Complementary Studies. You start your Bachelor studies with the Leuphana semester. The first semester at Leuphana College gives you the opportunity to deal fundamentally with science. The Minor deepens or supplements your Major with another subject area. In Complementary Studies you have the freedom to pursue your thirst for knowledge individually by immersing yourself in a different field of knowledge each semester.

Leuphana Semester

• Problematising Knowledge: Critical Thinking
• Transforming Knowledge: Responsible Action
• Producing Knowledge: Methodologies I
• Studium Individuale Core Module: Ways of Knowing
• Studium Individuale Core Module: Freedom and the Transformation of Modern Europe

Second semester

• Studium Individuale Core Module: Culture and Critique
• 3 elective modules
• 1 minor module
• 1 Complementary Studies module

Third semester

• Studium Individuale Core Module: Understanding Knowledge
• 3 elective modules
• 1 minor module
• 1 Complementary Studies module

Fourth semester

• Studium Individuale Core Module: Planning, Decision-Making, and Reflection
• 2 elective modules
• 2 minor modules
• 1 Complementary Studies module

Fifth semester

• Studium Individuale Core Module: Collaborative Research Project
• 2 elective modules
• 2 minor modules
• 1 Complementary Studies module

Sixth semester

• Studium Individuale Core Module: “Analysing Contemporary Societies”
• Bachelor dissertation
• 2 Complementary Studies modules

• You will find detailed information on the study contents of the major modules in the Subject-Specific Schedule to Studium Individuale major.

In the Studium Individuale minor you deepen, supplement and expand the thematic focuses you have chosen in the Studium Individuale major. You can choose from the current range of modules offered by other majors and minors and the Teacher Training Course Teaching and Learning.

The Studium Individuale minor is only available to Studium Individuale major students.

Language of instruction

ENG Eng­lish-lan­gua­ge sub­ject: no Ger­man re­qui­red
GER Ger­man-lan­gua­ge sub­ject: Ger­man re­qui­red
GER / ENG Ger­man-lan­gua­ge sub­ject can also be ta­ken in Eng­lish

• final degree: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
• admission restriction: yes
• standard course length: 6 semesters
• application timeline: applications are accepted from mid may to July 15
• application deadline: July 15
• courses begin: early October
• number of student places: 40
• teaching and examination language: English (Studium Individuale Core Modules), English & German (Please note that some modules may require German)
• semester abroad: possible

College Open Day

The next Online Open Day at Leuphana College is 23 November 2023. Find out more

Information material

Learn more about the interdisciplinary college study model. Order information material

Student counselling service

Clarify your questions in a personal conversation during the Open Advisory Service. You can take advantage of digital counselling at short notice without registering. The College study advisors will be happy to help you:

• Wednesdays from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. (in person on campus)
• Thursdays from 4-6 p.m. (digitally via Zoom)

Find out more

Leuphana College accepts new students each winter term. If you wish to be considered for a Bachelor degree programme, your application must be received by July 15^th.

For applicants from EU and EEA countries the University operates a special admissions procedure for the award of places. It considers not only applicants' grades, but also special skills, experience and non-academic achievements such as periods spent studying abroad, and volunteering work.

Online applications

Online applications are possible from mid-May. Find out more about the entry requirements and specific admissions process at Leuphana College. Find out more now

The International Office will be pleased to assist you in planning and organising your studies abroad at Leuphana College. Study abroad at Leuphana