Study programmes

History at the University of Lucerne in Switzerland

History is not a subject that students can allow to simply wash over them. It is a subject that requires a great deal of thought, involving methodical reflection and discussion of the past. Historians are constantly creating new frames of reference and making a fresh contribution to the meaning of society. However, studying history not only enables students to think in terms of historical connections, but also provides a wide variety of additional skills: research, interpretation and presentation are among the core skills required by every historian.

The history course at the University of Lucerne is aligned to the research interests of the teaching staff. The range of subjects on offer includes contemporary political history and the history of science, topics such as the comparative history of mountains or historical conflict research, and extends from the Middle Ages to the early modern period right through to contemporary history.

The unique feature of the course is the freedom to choose modules, and the large degree of individual responsibility. In Lucerne, students have the opportunity at an early stage to seek answers to their own questions, search for materials independently, analyse historical documentation and present their findings both orally and in written form.

In Lucerne, history can be studied as a major subject, but also as a minor or as part of the integrated humanities study programme.