Analysing Politics from an empirical - analytical perspective

The Cologne Master in Political Science offers a research-oriented study programme with course offerings across a range of political science areas.

This programme provides you with:

• training in a comprehensive range of political science subfields and the freedom to choose, which offers a lot of flexibility in pursuing your thematic interests.
• a strong emphasis on empirical-analytical training including research design and logic, qualitative methods, and quantitative and computational methods with the statistical software R.
• advanced research projects in which you apply advanced empirical research methods to current research questions in politics, e.g. including training in quantitative text analysis, social media analysis, experiments and causal inference, process tracing, and qualitative comparative analysis.
• an international study environment and the opportunity to complete your degree fully in English.

Key Facts

Standard period of study: 4 semesters, full-time
Start: Fall term (early October)
Degree title: Master of Arts (M.A.)
Language: English, German
International: 1 Optional Semester Abroad, Double Master's Programme in European Studies with Maastricht University
Fees: Only Social fee (approx. 280€ per Term, including public transport, for more information click here)

Flyer (PDF) >

Programme Structure

• Comparative Political Institutions
• Comparative Political Economy
• Empirical Democratic Theory 
• International Relations European and Multi-level Politics
• Political Science Methods

The empirical and analytical focus of the programme enables you to analyse political phenomena using state-of-the-art research methods and to carry out an independent research project. Upon graduating from the the programme, you will be ready for a professional career in many areas of politics or for the continuation of your studies through a PhD programme in political science.

Strong Research Track

The Department hosts numerous research projects funded by international and national funding agencies (such as the European Research Council), providing Master students the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in conducting political science research as student assistants. The associated research center Cologne Center for Comparative Politics (CCCP), brings together junior and senior political scientists at the department who work on comparative research related to electoral politics and representation, political institutions, political economy, and political methodology. Moreover, professors at the CCCP are part of the Cluster of Excellence “ECONtribute: Markets and Public Policy”, a joint research center at the Universities of Cologne and Bonn funded by the German Excellence Strategy.

Emphasis on empirical-analytical training

The M.A. programme includes a module area “Political Science Research Methods”, which offers training in foundations of research methods, including research design and logic, qualitative methods, and quantitative and computational methods with the statistical software R.
In addition to these foundational methods courses, advanced research projects are offered, in which you apply advanced empirical research methods to current research questions in politics. For instance, past M.A. courses included training in quantitative text analysis, social media analysis, experiments and causal inference, process tracing, and qualitative comparative analysis.
The master’s thesis is written towards the end of the programme and can be research or practice oriented corresponding to your interest.

The Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences

The Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences (also known as “WiSo Faculty“) is part of the University of Cologne and has over a century of experience in educating new generations of business professionals, economists, social analysts and political experts. As one of Germany’s largest educational institutions, the WiSo Faculty regularly ranks among the top providers of management and business education.
As a student of the WiSo Faculty, you benefit from a teaching approach based on theory and methods in combination with research and applications.
The traditional diversity of subjects, top-level research, practical relevance and internationality allow the WiSo Faculty to stand up to national and international comparison and to achieve top positions in international research rankings. Through its interdisciplinary research approach, the Faculty’s seminars and institutes make a major contribution to the excellent research at the University of Cologne.

Career opportunities and perspectives 

Our M.A. programme opens the door to start your professional career in many areas of politics, including:

• Political Consulting
• Public Administration
• International Organisations
• European Union Institutions
• Political Parties
• Interest Groups
• Data Science Companies
• Private Media Enterprises

For those who wish to stay in academia, the WiSo faculty offers its own PhD programme through their Cologne Graduate School.
The Political Science department also closely cooperates with the Max Planck International Research School on the Social and Political Constitution of the Economy. Former graduates have embarked on PhD programmes at renowned universities such as the London School of Economics and Political Sciences or the European University Institute in Florence. Some have become professors themselves, for example at the University  of Konstanz, the University of Düsseldorf or the University of Innsbruck.
Additionally, we offer career perspectives workshops specifically for political science students, during which you will be able to meet potential future employers.

International Programme

The Cologne M.A. in Political Science provides an international study environment in Germany with a high percentage of international students enrolling into the programme. This M.A. programme can be completed fully in English, but selected courses are also offered in German.
More than 25 % of our students have an international background.* Moreover, we also have several faculty who have received their PhDs and worked abroad, thereby bringing international experience to the programme.

Application information and requirements

Application process and deadline:

•  Applicants with a German bachelor degree apply via the WiSo Faculty’s master application portal
• Applicants with a non-German bachelor degree apply via the WiSo Faculty’s master application portal and additionally via uni-assist
• Application deadline is June 15th.

Requirements and selection procedure:
A Bachelor degree or equivalent in the respective field (worth at least 180 ECTS credits) and an overall grade point average of at least 2.7 (German grade). Applicants must meet the following requirements:

•  At least 36 ECTS credits in Political Science
• At least 9 further ECTS credits in in Methodology and Empirical Social Research
• English language skills level B2 CEFR

The Admissions Board will communicate its decision by the end of July. Enrolment usually takes place in August.