Protestant Theology (Examen)

There are no specific entry requirements; however, prior knowledge of Latin, Ancient Greek, or Hebrew is advantageous.

The three language exams – Hebraicum, Graecum, and Latinum – are mandatory for undergraduate studies. Preparatory courses (language courses) can be taken during the degree programme. Hebraicum, Graecum, and Latinum exams taken elsewhere may be recognized.

The long-established Faculty of Theology at Humboldt Universit?t zu Berlin boasts excellent and internationally renowned professors in all its subfields, all of whom are passionate about their subjects and eager to share that passion with their students.

Students come from all over Germany and from abroad (USA, Great Britain, Russia, South Africa, Denmark, Norway, Poland, etc.); the faculty maintains numerous contacts with faculties abroad through corresponding exchange programmes.

The collections of the State Museums (Pergamon Museum, Neues Museum, Bode Museum), located directly adjacent to the faculty, offer, like the other collections and archives in Berlin, extensive illustrative material, particularly for the historical disciplines (Old/New Testament, History of Christianity) and Religious Studies.

The unparalleled religious plurality in Berlin opens up numerous opportunities for direct contact with other religious communities and, like the specific situation of the Church in the metropolis, challenges us to engage in self-reflection and critical analysis, which is addressed in the fields of Religious Studies, Systematic Theology, and Practical Theology.

The faculty also caters to many interests extending beyond theology, particularly in the areas of philosophy (Chair of Philosophy, Guardini Professorship), art history, and gender studies; accordingly, there are close ties with the respective other faculties.

You should enjoy the careful and detailed analysis of texts and methodologically sound, unbiased, and scholarly-historical work, as well as engaging with the language and worldview of unfamiliar, sometimes very old, texts.

Also important is the willingness to be surprised by seemingly outdated traditions and to explore the possibilities for life and self-understandings offered within them.

If you are prepared to critically reflect on your own religious affiliation and engage in an open-ended dialogue with alternative orientations to life, this course of study is a good choice.

If you have worked for a while after graduating, non-consecutive post-graduate master's programmes might be of interest to you. 

Find out more in the Course catalogue or via the data base Hochschulkompass nationwide.

In the study of Protestant theology, you will learn to assume responsibility in church and society. You will acquire essential foundations for practical tasks such as preaching, religious education, worship design, and pastoral care. After completing your studies, a wide range of career opportunities will open up – primarily as a pastor, in church-related educational work, in teaching, or in academic and interdisciplinary fields. Even outside the church, for example in culture, media, or NGOs, diverse perspectives are available.

Further information on career prospects is offered by the EKD (Evangelical Church in Germany) and the various Protestant regional churches on their websites. You can also find information on career prospects and alternatives in the Berufenet database.