FAQ: B.A. Studium Individuale at Leuphana College

A constitutive part of the Studium Individuale is the specifically designed academic core, the intellectual backbone of the program. Each semester, one core course is taken. They are interdisciplinary, of high intensity, and taught in English. Here, particular emphasis is paid to learning and practicing important academic skills, such as close reading, convincing oral presentations, essay writing and working in teams. Choosing the major in Studium Individuale implies also choosing these core courses.

The overarching theme addressed in all courses of our core is ”modern freedom”. Students are engaging in central questions that are crucial for both understanding and taking action in the contemporary world: What is valid knowledge? How can we understand and evaluate historical change? How can we identify problems that matter to people? What are possibilities for, limits to and consequences of action? How can we use our (academic) freedom to make a meaningful difference in the world?

The Studium Individuale allows you to study questions that you are interested in and want to explore in depth. You are asked to take courses from different fields and to consciously make meaningful connections across the different courses that you take. This is what we mean when we say that the Studium Individuale is an interdisciplinary program.

The rationale of the Studium Individuale is, in other words, not to simply study a number of different subjects alongside each other, but to draw together contents and approaches from different fields to explore your own questions.

For the formal rules, please take a look at the “Fachspezifischen Anlage”, the officially binding document that specifies formal curricular requirements of the Studium Individuale.

Fachspezifische Anlage (FSA)

Committed to a contemporary Liberal Education, we cultivate a personal, engaging and challenging learning environment in the Studium Individuale. We focus on going beyond the confines of single disciplines.

We are striving for interactive and dialogue-oriented seminars that incorporate your own experiences and provide space for self-directed learning. We address important contemporary themes while at the same time aiming at high academic standards. We do not, however, follow one single teaching method as other programs of our kind do.

The Studium Individuale is an internationally oriented program. Its own core courses are held entirely in English. An increasing number of Leuphana majors, such as Digital Media or International Business Administration & Entrepreneurship, as well as some courses in the Complementary Studies program are equally taught in English.

In the majority of courses that you might choose that are offered at Leuphana the language of instructions is German.

Every student of the Studium Individuale is encouraged to study abroad, as we believe that international experiences make an important component of a contemporary Liberal Education. You can apply for all the partner universities of the Leuphana or arrange a stay abroad yourself.

In addition, we are extending our cooperation with various institutions committed to a Liberal Education, both in Europe and in other parts of the world, such as Leiden University College in the Netherlands or Marlboro College in the USA.

Advising takes an important role in the Studium Individuale. You will speak at least once per semester with an advisor from within the staff of the Studium Individuale. Questions that are addressed will be: What are my goals for my studies, and what do I plan to do with what I've learned? How do I make sure that I chose courses that fit my study goals? How do I make meaningful and productive connections between the modules I have choosen? What should I do first, and what should be the sequence in which I take my chosen courses? How can I complement my studies with suitable extra-curricular activities? How do I choose a topic for my B.A. thesis that fits my study profile?

For specific questions regarding the different components of your personal course of studies and questions that you explore, you can address other member of faculty from Leuphana University. You can also make use of the general ‘advising centre’ of Leuphana College, as well as of the career service. And not to forget: talking to your fellow students might be the most valuable advice and support during your studies.

The key rationale of a program such as the Studium Individuale is to provide students with skills, knowledge and habits of mind that are needed across various careers in different areas in the contemporary world. Depending on the choices that you make throughout your studies, the Studium Individuale enables you to continue your studies with a range of M.A. or M.Sc. programs. Innovative Master programs that combine different disciplines are particularly attractive and attainable for students that graduate from programs such as ours.

Concerning job market opportunities there is a growing demand of interdisciplinary trained, analytically thinking and responsibly graduates. Possible areas of work, to name a few, are: national or international NGOs, administration and politics, think tanks and research institutions, media, journalism and many other areas.

Job market opportunities