Political Science (M.A.)
Areas of focus: Public law, digitalization and social change
The Master’s degree program in Political Science provides first-class academic training with a focus on research. You will study a broad range of topics such as political philosophy, the comparison of political systems, international relations and the political system in Germany. The degree program also offers exciting courses on topics such as politics in regions outside of Europe, human rights and international political economics. Some modules are even taught in English. Start your career in the world of political science with this broad-based Master’s degree program.
Fact Sheet
- Degree
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Admission
- Qualification assessment
- Duration of studies
- 4 semesters
- Teaching language
- completely in German
- Faculty
- Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology
- Start of degree program
- Summer semester, Winter semester
- Number of students
- 1-50
- Special ways to study
- Part-time degree program
Program overview
What is the degree program about?
The Master’s degree program offers research-oriented academic training covering the whole range of the subject: “political philosophy”, “political theory and history of ideas”, “analysis and comparison of political systems”, “the political system of the Federal Republic of Germany”, “international relations”. It also offers modules in the areas of “politics in areas outside of Europe (Middle East, Southeast Asia, area studies), “human rights and human rights policies” and “international political economy”. Depending on the subject area, some of the modules are taught in English.
This degree program builds on a Bachelor’s degree program with political science as the first or second subject:
- 6 modules in political science (60 ECTS credits)
- One compulsory module in methodology and one in international political economics (20 ECTS credits)
- Free electives (10 ECTS credits)
- Master’s thesis in political science (30 ECTS credits)
The Master’s degree program in Political Science is offered with a specialization in public law. The cooperation with the Institute of Political Science and the School of Law has stood the test of time. Further information is available on the website of the Faculty of Business, Economics, and Law.
The Master’s degree program in Political Science is also offered with a specialization in digitalization and social change. Admission requirements are 30 ECTS credits in the area of digital humanities and social sciences or digital transformation.
Application for a Degree Program
Admission Requirements and Application
Admission
- Master: Qualification assessment
Application deadline
- Winter semester: 15.07.
- Summer semester: 15.01.
Language skills
- DSH 2 & English C1 (proof: at the latest at the beginning of the 3rd semester)
- German language skills for international applicants: DSH 2 (written 2 / oral 1) or equivalent
Content related master requirements
- Applicants with a good Bachelor’s degree in political science (first or second subject) with the minimum grade “gut” (good – 2.5 or better) are admitted to the Master’s degree program.
- This also applies to applicants from other universities who have a Bachelor’s degree in political science or in a degree program involving political science. As a rule, they must have earned at least 70 ECTS credits in political science.
- Applicants are also required to submit proof of English language proficiency of at least level C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (usually UNICERT II or TOEFL iBT). In justified, exceptional cases proof of English language proficiency can be replaced by proof of equivalent skills in another relevant language. Students who cannot submit such proof prior to the start of the degree program may be admitted under the condition that proof of language proficiency is submitted by the start of the third semester at the latest.
- Graduates from other degree programs (Bachelor’s degree or State Examination) may be admitted if they have at least achieved the grade “gut” (good) and a considerable part of their degree program was devoted to aspects of political science. The admissions committee will decide whether to grant admission on the basis of an interview.
