"Im Studienprojekt führt der Studierende – unter Betreuung eines für den Kulturraum zuständigen Hochschullehrers – empirische Arbeiten auf wissenschaftlicher Basis im gewählten Kulturraum durch (Mindestdauer 8 Tage). Das Studienprojekt/die Exkursion von mindestens 8-tägiger Dauer soll anhand ausgewählter Fragestellungen in den gewählten Kulturraum einführen und ähnlich wie das Auslandsstudium die Vertrautheit mit ihm vertiefen." [Vgl. Studienordnung für BA ICBS §4(2) Nr. 5 sowie §43)]

Students are encouraged to tailor their study projects to their areas of scholarly interest. However, the topic and research agenda must be approved by the supervisor prior before fieldwork or other forms of research can be undertaken abroad.

Research towards the study project differs from research carried out for term papers insofar as students are expected to perform field studies rather than rely exclusively on the study of written academic sources.

Depending on the chosen topic and the object of study, these field studies may include interviews conducted by the students themselves, the creation and evaluation of questionnaires, on-site research, participant observation, studies in the field of material culture and material practices, archival research, and so on.

The project report (circa 10 pages minus appendices) that students are required to submit locates the research topic and findings in the context of ongoing scholarly debates and should also demonstrate a firm grasp of relevant theoretical concepts.

Here are a couple of sample topics that students have worked on in the past: the construction of national literary heritage in specific literary house museums; the impact of the pandemic on independent cinemas in London; thematic trends and new event formats in the field of literary festivals such as Hay-on-Wye; contemporary indigenous art in British Columbia;  the commercialization of local and national traditions such as the British Queen's Platinum Jubilee or Thanksgiving in the USA.

The pre-submitted project outline should follow the following format:

1. Name, matriculation number, course of study
2. Topic (approx. 15-20 lines of explanation)
3. Schedule