International students can study the Master of Arts: Health and Society in South Asia at Heidelberg University on the Heidelberg campus in Germany. This Master degree is available as a Full Time program delivered on campus in English. The program has a duration of 2 years and is offered at the Heidelberg campus. Students can apply for the next intake starting on October 1, 2026.

About Master of Arts: Health and Society in South Asia

The Master of Arts Health and Society in South Asia (MAHASSA) is a two-year interdisciplinary degree combining South Asian Studies and Medical Anthropology at Heidelberg University's South Asia Institute. This allows students to integrate South Asian languages, geography, history, political science, and religious studies into their plan of study. Most students base their Master's theses on field research conducted in South Asia. The language of instruction is English. Medical Anthropology is the study of healing systems, not primarily in terms of scientific theories or health policies, but rather focussing on and analysing how they are practised in concrete, socio-cultural contexts. Students prepare for their Master's theses by studying not only anthropological theories and methods, but also by taking courses with a regional focus such as Spoken Hindi, Gastropolitics, Cityscapes and Urban Imaginaries, and Muslim Healing. MAHASSA students have observed and participated in health-related NGOs and development projects, worked in hospitals and with traditional healers. They have also conducted research on the health problems of South Asian migrants in Europe, just to name a few projects. Besides the core courses Introduction to Medical Anthropology, Healing in South Asia, Fieldwork Methods, Scientific Working Skills, and the lecture series Medical Anthropology Forum, the programme offers a variety of health related courses on topics varying each semester, such as: plural medical systems Ayurveda and other forms of traditional South Asian medicine social justice and health ritual healing mental health public and global health health and environment the health of (un)documented migrants religion and healing MAHASSA is designed for students who wish to pursue a health-related career in South Asia, and also for those who plan to go on to doctoral studies in anthropology or related disciplines. Graduates of the MAHASSA programme have pursued both of these options. We also encourage participation by anyone coming from a medical background who would like to explore the wider implications of their work or add anthropological knowledge to their practice. We attract international students who work together in an interdisciplinary environment, where they benefit from each other's academic as well as cultural background. We encourage South Asian students to apply. The South Asia Institute is Europe's leading centre for South Asian studies, with departments of economics, geography, history, politics, and classical and modern South Asian languages, in addition to anthropology. Affiliated professors teach art history, Buddhism, and media studies. The South Asia Institute regularly offers courses in 11 South Asian languages. It has one of the world's largest libraries in South Asian Studies as well as branch offices in different South Asian countries.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

The application period for international students runs from 1 May to 15 June; German students can enrol until the start of the winter semester. Successful applicants should hold a Bachelorâ€™s degree in a health-oriented discipline or in social science, cultural studies, or regional studies. Candidates not fully meeting these criteria may nevertheless be considered. We encourage South Asian students to apply. For further information, please visit our website: https://www.sai.uni-heidelberg.de/ethno/mahassa/index.php?page=Admission

Fee Information

How to Apply

UniversitÃ¤t Heidelberg Dezernat Internationale Beziehungen Zulassungsstelle Masterprogramme Seminarstr. 2 69117 Heidelberg Germany