Chair of Southeast and East European History

Welcome to the Chair of Southeast and East European History at Universität Regensburg!

Since 2008, the Chair of Southeast and East European History has been part of the University’s focus on Eastern and Southeastern Europe in teaching and research. Our Chair pursues historical and interdisciplinary research that creates knowledge about a region which plays an important role in European politics. The Chair is closely affiliated with the Institute for East and Southeast European Studies (Institut für Ost-und Südosteuropaforschung), an independent academic institution that focuses on the history and economic development of Eastern and Southeastern Europe. In collaboration with this institute, our Chair aims at creating a vibrant and international academic atmosphere. A regular research seminar, frequent guest lectures, workshops and conferences bring together local students and researchers and guests from other universities and from abroad in the common pursuit of further scholarship on Eastern and Southeastern Europe. The Institute for East and Southeast European Studies hosts one of the largest libraries specializing in Southeast and East European Studies (more than 300,000 volumes).

Degree programs

Our Chair offers a wide range of courses on the history of Eastern and Southeastern Europe that form part of several degree programs: B.A. in Southeastern European Studies (Südosteuropastudien), M.A. in East-West Studies (Ost-West Studien), and B.A. and M.A. programs in history. Scholars of the Chair also teach courses in the M.A. Program “East European Studies” (Osteuropastudien), which is jointly organized by Universität Regensburg and the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich. The aim of this interdisciplinary Honors Master's program is to provide specialized knowledge on Central, Southeastern and Eastern Europe. In each semester, the Chair also offers graduate courses taught in English.

International cooperations

One of the major aims of the Chair of Southeast and East European History is to further international cooperation. For this purpose, the Chair organizes frequent international workshops and conferences, study trips to countries in Eastern and Southeastern Europe, and bi-lateral classes. An important means of intensifying the international exchange of students and scholars are Erasmus exchange agreements. At the moment, we have agreements (incoming and outgoing) with the following universities:

• University of Helsinki (Finland, 3 places)
• Central European University (Budapest, Hungary, 4 places)
• University of Pécs (Hungary, 5 places)
• University of Zagreb (Croatia, 2 places)
• Charles University (Prague, Czech Republic, 1 place)
• University of Primorska (Koper, Slovenia, 2 places)
• Babes-Bolyai University (Cluj-Napoca, Rumania, 2 places)

From 2013 onwards, our Chair will have new Erasmus agreements with:

• Karl-Franzens-Universität (Graz, Austria)
• Sofia University (Sofia, Bulgaria)
• University of Macedonia (Thessaloniki, Greece)

Both students and scholars from the cooperating universities are invited to participate in these exchange programs. For more information on these particular exchange arrangements, please click here.

The Chair also participates in a program of nine so-called "East Partnerships" of Universität Regensburg, which is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service, DAAD. These partnerships are based on broad cooperation between the universities, encompassing several faculties. They support various forms of exchange programs between students and university teachers. The nine partner universities of Universität Regensburg in this program are:

• Charles-University in Prague (Czech Republic)
• Masaryk University of Brno (Czech Republic)
• Moscow State University, MGU (Russian Federation)
• University of Bratislava (Slovakia)
• University of Łodż (Poland)
• University of Novi Sad (Serbia)
• I.I. Mechnikov National University of Odessa (Ukraine)
• University of Pécs (Hungary)
• West-Bohemian University in Pilsen (Czech Republic)

For more detailed information about these exchange programs, please visit the website of the International Office.

Graduate School for East- and Southeast European Studies at the University of Regensburg / GS OSES (UR)

The Graduate School for East and Southeast European Studies is among the internationally leading programs of interdisciplinary doctoral training in the field of East- and Southeast European Studies. We believe that East and Southeast Europe is a particularly interesting region because of its frequent transformations and its heterogeneity. Understanding it better and communicating this knowledge to the public is what motivates us.

The primary objective of GS OSES (UR)  is to advance research on East and Southeast Europe by educating a new generation of scholars. Our doctoral fellows and postdocs enjoy an international and interdisciplinary research and training environment, which also integrates specialists on adjacent regions. Our broad international network is a source of vital innovation and intellectual stimulation.

At the beginning of the summer semester, the GS OSES (UR) accepts new doctoral candidates for its program. Up to three PhD scholarships/grants can be provided for a funding period of 3.5 years. The GS OSES (UR) also admits associated doctoral candidates who receive funding from third parties.

Learn more about the current call for application, the research profile , the researchers and the current course schedule of the GS OSES (UR)  here

Contact information

Exchange students and visiting scholars who are interested in any of these exchange possibilities should contact the International Office at Universität Regensburg. This office will guide you through the application process. Please direct your general administrative queries to Maria Grotz:

Akademisches Auslandsamt
Universität Regensburg
Universitätsstr. 31
D-93053 Regensburg
Tel: +49 941 943-1744
Fax: +49 941 943-3882
E-Mail: Maria.Grotz (at) verwaltung.uni-regensburg.de

For questions related to the Chair of Southeast and East European History, please contact Prof. Klaus Buchenau:

klaus.buchenau (at) geschichte.uni-regensburg.de