Dr. Matthias Leanza

Professor

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Biography

Matthias Leanza is a Professor at the University of Basel, specializing in sociology and historical sociology. He is recognized for his influential work on social sciences, particularly in the context of decolonization following World War II. Leanza's research probes the concepts of social and political modernization, contributing to an understanding of the post-imperial world and the establishment of the sovereign nation-state as a global norm. After completing his undergraduate studies in sociology at Bielefeld University, he earned his Ph.D. from Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, with a dissertation focused on predictive future construction. His contributions to academia have been acknowledged with the Erasmus Prize for Liberal Arts and Sciences in 2017. He has also completed a habilitation thesis at the University of Basel, analyzing the structural effects of colonial rule through the lens of the German colonial empire. His research underscores the critical role of empires and colonialism in advancing social theory, and he actively organizes conferences within the German Sociological Association. Leanza has held fellowships at notable institutions, including the University of Michigan and the University of Virginia, and is currently engaged with the Käte Hamburger Research Center for the global dis:connect at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. For a complete list of his publications, refer to his CV.

Research Interests

Experience

Professor

2025-01-01 — Present

University of Basel • Basel, Switzerland

Teaching and researching in sociology with a focus on historical sociology and social theory.

Requirements for University of Basel

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Listening
Required:22
Reading
Required:22
Writing
Required:22
Speaking
Required:22
Total
Required:95
IELTS
Listening
Required:6
Reading
Required:6
Writing
Required:6
Speaking
Required:6
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in a relevant field with at least 180 ECTS Specific ECTS requirements in core subjects (e.g., 90 ECTS in Math/CS for Data Science)
Application Checklist
  • Bachelor's degree certificate or current transcript of records
  • Diploma Supplement (if available)
  • CV/Resume
  • Copy of valid passport or ID card
  • Evidence of language proficiency (C1 level recommended for English/German programs)
  • Proof of payment of application fee (CHF 100)
Specialization Notes

The University of Basel generally requires C1 level proficiency in the language of instruction. For most English-taught Masters, TOEFL (min 92-95) or IELTS (min 7.0) is the standard.