Master of Digital Humanities

The Digital Humanities master's degree is a research master's awarded by Université PSL. It provides training in using and analysing data from the human and social sciences. The course is designed for students with a bachelor's degree who wish to develop dual thematic skills in the humanities, in the major of their choice (history, philology, literature, sociology, etc.), and data science.

This master's degree is the result of collaboration between the École Nationale des Chartes - PSL, the École Normale Supérieure - PSL, and the École Pratique des Hautes Etudes - PSL. It is affiliated with the Translitteræ graduate programme.

The master's programme combines demanding courses in social sciences and humanities, drawing on the teaching of the four partner institutions, with training in the issues, methods and tools used in research and data analysis (algorithms, quantitative methods, modelling, programming, and artificial intelligence). As such, it is consistent with the computational shift and the exploitation of data from the human and social sciences. Students who finish the course will have developed a unique twofold skill set, offering them the autonomy to tackle a thematic discipline using computational approaches.

An innovative curriculum focused on:

• Joint classes in machine learning, data science and computational methods for research in the social sciences and humanities in M1 and M2;
• Specialisation in methods specific to each student's field (e.g. natural language processing (NLP), digital philology, network analysis, etc.) in M2;
• Research seminars and professionalisation courses in M1 and M2;
• A research project and dissertation: In the first year, students will conduct a data structuring and analysis project. In the second year, they will have to demonstrate their dual expertise in the human sciences and computational methods through a research project.

Although there are no prerequisites in mathematics or programming, this highly demanding course is meant for students who can demonstrate a real interest in these disciplines.

Teaching Team

Master 1

In the first year, students follow a core curriculum in digital humanities, supplemented by courses specific to their discipline (e.g., contemporary history, philology, sociology, urban geography, etc.).

• 20 ECTS in humanities and social sciences at a partner institution;
• 40 ECTS in digital humanities, including(see syllabus for an exhaustive list): introduction to digital humanities; fundamentals of computer science; data modelling and structuring (XML, SQL); quantitative methods; mathematics; Python programming; methodology; master's research seminar.

The first year is designed to acquire a broad thematic and computational background. The programme involves a mini-research dissertation combining the student's specialisation and computational methods.

A pre-entry week is organised for a general presentation of current research in digital humanities and technical adjustments (computer installations, etc.).

Refresher courses in mathematics are organised for students who need them. Most of the first year is devoted to acquiring or refresher computer science and data science fundamentals courses.

Non-exhaustive list of courses and seminars open to master's students

External courses and seminars are selected exclusively from partner institutions, subject to the relevant teacher's agreement and the admissions panel's approval.

• École Normale Supérieure - PSL: See the seminars on offer in each ENC department
• École Pratique des Hautes Études —PSL: See the list of open conferences in the humanities and social sciences sections, subject to the teacher's agreement.
• École Nationale des Chartes - PSL: See the École des Chartes' professors' seminars
• École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales:See the list of courses 
• PSL week

Applying

Master 1

You can apply on the national master's portal from 26 February to 24 March 2024.

Candidates selected by the teaching committee will be invited to an interview.

• Admissions results: 30 April 2024

Only eligible candidates will be contacted.

• Interviews (if eligible): week of 13 May 2024
• Admission results: 4 June 2024

Master 2

You can apply via the PSL application platform from 26 February to 24 March 2024.

Candidates selected by the teaching committee will be invited to an interview.

• Admissions results: 30 April 2024

Only eligible candidates will be contacted.

• Interviews (if eligible): week of 13 May 2024
• Admission results: 4 June 2024

Foreign applicants

Applicants of foreign nationality (excluding nationals of the European Economic Area, Andorra, Switzerland or Monaco) whose country of residence is covered by the Études en France scheme must apply for the first (and the second) year of the Master's programme via the PSL application platform.

Partner Courses

For the PSL Sustainability Science master's programme, see the relevant calendar on the PSL website.