Ancient Cultures of the Eastern Mediterranean

AKOEM is a research-oriented interdisciplinary Master’s degree programme. It is aimed at students who are interested in archaeology and cultural heritage, languages and texts, history and politics, cultures and religions of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Students acquire specialist knowledge of the ancient Mediterranean regions based on current research issues. They will be able to classify regional historical phenomena in a broader context. By integrating Christian and Islamic theology as well as Jewish studies, the interface between the eastern Mediterranean region can be studied from an interdisciplinary perspective. Students achieve methodological skills through excellent courses, practical exercises and project management activities.

The University of Münster offers an outstanding study environment which is characterized by a large number of subjects in ancient studies. Students can choose from a wide range of ancient languages: Akkadian, Sumerian, Hittite, Ugaritic, (Hieroglyphic) Egyptian, Demotic, Hieratic, Coptic, Aramaic, Syriac, Classical Arabic. Its scientists are involved in archaeological field research projects all around the Mediterranean in which students also participate.

As most of the courses are taught in German, good knowledge of German is essential (level C1 / DSH 2).

At the University of Münster, no tuition fee is charged. However, enrolled students pay a “semester fee”, currently €317.48. This includes various services, inter alia, local transport all over Germany.

Only in German.

AKOEM course catalog summer semester 2026 (only available in German)
The course catalog will be updated on this page - if necessary. Also pay attention to the notices in the institutes and the LSF portal. Remember that you need to register in advance for some courses; up-to-date information can be found in the  electronic course catalog.

Registration for courses in history
The registration phase for the summer semester for seminars as well as the tutorials will take place electronically (26.01.2026 - 08.02.2026, 12 a.m.). Participation is regulated by a distribution procedure based on ballots. After the end of the registration period , the results will be published. Confirmation of acceptance of the seminar place is then required.
Students beginning AKOEM studies in the winter semester should first contact Dr. Moustakis to coordinate course assignments.

Registration for courses in Classical and Christian Archaeology
Please note the information on the homepage of the institute.

Orientation meeting for first semester students
You will receive a personal invitation.

Welcome Back Meeting
We will announce the date in good time. 
 

All disciplines of ancient studies networked in the GKM participate in the study program "Ancient Cultures of the Eastern Mediterranean (AKOEM)". The usual concentration on Greek and Roman antiquity is thus specifically expanded in this study program.

This expansion is made possible by:

the broad range of theologies: Faculty of Protestant Theology including Jewish Studies, Faculty of Catholic Theology, Orthodox Theology, Institute for Jewish Studies, Islamic Studies

the numerous archaeologies: Archaeology of Egypt, Archaeology of the Near East, Biblical Archaeology, Classical Archaeology, Christian Archaeology, Prehistoric and Early Historic Archaeology.

the wide range of ancient languages: Akkadian, Aramaic, Ancient Armenian, Ancient Greek, Ancient Persian, Demotic, Etruscan, Hebrew, Hittite, Hieratic, Hieroglyphic Egyptian, Coptic, Latin, Sumerian, Syriac, Classical Chinesse, and Classical Arabic.

Courses from the field of Digital Humanities also provide an understanding of the requirements and challenges of digitization in textual sciences and archaeologies.

The program is designed for students who are interested in the languages and texts, the history and politics, the cultures and religions, the material and ideal legacies of the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as current issues, and who deliberately choose this interdisciplinary program for this purpose.

Our goal: an optimal study program. We are constantly working towards this goal in consultation with students, lecturers, student advisors and the examination office.

• Student Advisory Service
• Online application portal of the University of Münster
• Information sheet AKOEM [de]
• Access and admission requirements
• Module overview and module descriptions

After the Master AKOEM you can do a PhD in the network at the University of Münster.