Information on this page applies to the examination regulations of 2015 only (enrolled in 2020 or earlier)!

The Master's programme in Political Science (ER 2015) is comprised of 120 credit points (ECTS) over two years (four semesters in full time). It consists of the core section, the specialisation section, and the supplementary section as well as the Master's thesis, and it is structured along six thematic areas.

Thematic areas

The courses offered reflect a wide range of the academic discipline of political science. Students may choose from the following thematic areas according to their interests:

• I) Comparative Political Institutions
• II) Comparative Political Economy
• III) Empirical Democratic Theory
• IV) International Relations
• V) European and Multilevel Politics
• VI) Political Science Methods

Core section

The core section (36 ECTS) is composed of core modules and core module seminars.

Core modules are introductory modules. With the exception of core modules IV (International Relations) and VI (Methods), they consist of lectures with a written exam at the end of the term. In module IV, students choose a seminar instead. Several seminars may be available, but students can only complete one seminar per module.
Students choose three from the six modules available in this section. Each module is worth 6 ECTS.
The Module Special Aspects of Social Sciences is a module for credit transfer from other universities (for summer schools etc.). Credits obtained abroad can however also be easily transferred in the supplementary section.

Core module seminars are advanced modules. They consist of one seminar each, where students write a term paper. There are usually several seminars to choose from in each module; however, students can only complete one seminar per module.
Students choose two from the six modules available in this section. Each module is worth 9 ECTS.

Students choose:
•    Three different core modules from the six modules offered (6 ECTS each)
•    Two different core module seminars from the six modules offered (9 ECTS each)

Specialisation section

The specialisation section (36 ECTS) consists of research projects, usually in the form of a seminar. There may be several research projects to choose from in each module; however, students can only complete one seminar per module.
Specialisation modules delve deeper into selected topics and apply theories and methods to a specific research problems. Each module is worth 9 ECTS.

The specialisation section also includes the mandatory colloquium (9 ECTS), where students present a draft of their master thesis.

Students choose:
•   Three different specialisation modules from the six modules offered (9 ECTS each)
•   The colloquium (9 ECTS)

Supplementary section

In the supplementary section, students choose from a wide selection of neighbouring academic disciplines from the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences as well as the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. Alternatively, the supplementary section may be used to transfer credits from studies abroad.

Students need a total of 24 ECTS to complete the supplementary section. They choose either one group of 24 credits or combine two groups of 12 credits each. Groups usually consist of several modules. There are often elective options within groups as well.

See the module catalogue to learn about the contents of individual modules and whether they are offered in the summer or winter term. If you have further questions about specific groups, you can ask the contacts listed below.

Students choose:
•    Either one group of 24 ECTS
•    Or two groups of 12 ECTS each

Groups of 24 credits (students choose one)

Groups of 12 credits each (students choose two)