BG

Cultural Studies in a Regional Context

master's programme
  • Lenght of study: 1.2 year (3 semesters), full-time study
  • Professional field: Sociology, Anthropology and Cultural Sciences
  • English
  • Qualification: Master in Women s and Gender History
  • DirectorAssoc. Prof. Valentina Mitkova, PhD | v.mitkova@phls.uni-sofia,bg
  • Administrative assistant:Angelina Chipeva | chipeva@phls.uni-sofia.bg

Led by:

Department History and Theory of Culture

MATILDA is a European Master Degree in Women’s and Gender History. MATILDA is designed for students wishing to develop expertise in interdisciplinary and entangled women’s and gender history, as well as in European history; for students who are interested in intercultural exchange and want to prepare for a rewarding professional career.

The programme of study is spread over three semesters, includes 90 ECTS points and links six leading European universities in an exciting, innovative and unique venture. The partner institutions are the The Université Lumière Lyon 2 (coordinating institution), France; Vienna University, Austria; CEU-Budapest/Vienna; Universià degli Studi di Padova, Italy; Ruhr-Universität Bochum; St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia.

In addition to studying in at least two different countries there is a summer Intensive Programme during which all students on the course come together with faculty in order to learn and to strengthen cooperation.

 The MATILDA curriculum includes courses in core subjects in Women´s and Gender History (theory, methodology, and practice) and specialist options covering medieval to modern and contemporary historical epochs.

MATILDA supports integrative perspectives which go beyond local, regional, and national histories in order to situate these histories, as well as European history as a whole, in broader contexts. With its focus on comparative, entangled and transnational history, MATILDA aims to:

  • explore the history of gender differences and similarities in European cultures and societies in a longue duree perspective;
  • investigate the role of gender in shaping European history;
  • challenge gender inequalities.

The programmes is designed for students who would like to develop

  • Cognition of the historicity of gender norms, roles and relations;
  • Capacities for analysing past and ongoing socio-cultural processes in local and supranational contexts;
  • The mastering of adequate methodological skills; awareness of the variety of the historic tools, critical approaches towards documents and an awareness how historical interests, categories and problems change over time and in diverse political, social, and geographical contexts;
  • Ability to participate in international scientific discussions, in mainstream history, in the fields of women’s and gender history and of equal opportunity policies;
  • Awareness for the European dimension of history, awareness for a concept of history beyond the local, regional, and the national dimension;
  • Understanding of cultural differences and similarities and their historical and social preconditions and contexts (comparative perspective);
  • Practice in comparative production of historical knowledge;

The joint European MA-programme will prepare participants as specialists in women’s and gender history in various fields like schools, adult education, university; PR, policy advice; journalism; museums, memory sites, archives and exhibitions.

Terms of acceptance

Terms of acceptance: to qualify for the MA programme in Women’s and Gender History

The applicants should have a BA degree with good results from a recognized university
Have a proof of proficiency in written and spoken English
A motivation letter in English (stating why they want to join the programme) and a recent CV

Partnering universities

▪▪       University of Lyon (France)- Coordinating Institution
https://ghhat.univ-lyon2.fr/master-matilda-international-807919.kjsp
▪▪       University of Vienna (Austria)
                    https://matilda-european-master.univie.ac.at/home
▪▪       Central European University (Austria/Hungary)
                    https://history.ceu.edu/matilda
▪▪       University of Sofia (Bulgaria)
                    https://www.uni-sofia.bg/index.php/eng/the_university/faculties/faculty_of_philosophy/degree_programmes/master_s_degree_programmes/faculty_of_philosophy/cultural_studies/european_master_in_women_s_and_gender_history
▪▪       RuhrUniversität Bochum (Germany)
                    https://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/matilda-ma
▪▪       University of Padua (Italy)
                    https://www.unipd.it/en