Overview Bielefeld’s two-year, English-language MA in World Studies: Orders, Politics, Cultures is an interdisciplinary programme that brings together perspectives from law, history, sociology, political science and cultural/literary studies. It offers in-depth training in how global structures and transnational interactions are organised, governed and interpreted. The course is designed to equip graduates for international careers that demand both disciplinary depth and the ability to work across fields, including academic research as well as policy, media and organizational roles.
What you will study and where it leads The programme approaches global processes from multiple angles — social scientific, historical and cultural — to develop a nuanced grasp of how world-scale relationships are constituted and maintained. It treats “orders” as relatively stable frameworks (for example, multi-level governance or international legal systems), “politics” as the regulation of societies in transnational contexts, and “cultures” as the contested meanings, practices and values that shape those orders and politics. The MA prepares students for a range of careers, including positions with international governmental and non-governmental organisations, marketing and global market research firms, national and international administrations, unions and political parties, media and publishing, and universities and research centres. Teaching and supervision are provided jointly by the Departments of Law, Sociology, History and Literature/Cultural Studies, giving students access to interdisciplinary faculty expertise.
Research links and student benefits The programme is connected to Bielefeld’s research structures that specialise in globalisation and world-society questions: the Institute for World Societal Studies (https://www.uni-bielefeld.de/fakultaeten/soziologie/forschung/iw/) and the Research Training Group “World Politics: The Emergence of Political Arenas and Modes of Observation in World Society” (https://www.uni-bielefeld.de/fakultaeten/soziologie/forschung/worldpolitics). These links offer students opportunities to engage with ongoing research, seminars and networks focused on global political, legal and cultural transformations.
Key facts and practical points
This four-semester, interdisciplinary MA gives you a structured yet flexible pathway into the study of contemporary global orders, politics and cultures. The programme begins with a broad, intensive Basic Module in the first semester that establishes theoretical foundations and core methodological skills. After this shared start, you progress into specialised study areas that examine different dimensions of the world system from political, economic, legal and cultural perspectives.
Teaching is organised around five thematic study areas—Global Structures and Governance; Global Entanglements; Global Trade and Inequality; World Society and Law; and Global Processes and Interactions—delivered through a mix of lectures and seminars to balance conceptual grounding with applied, discussion-based learning. In the fourth semester you complete an independent Master’s thesis, demonstrating your ability to design and carry out sustained research.
Graduates finish the programme with:
Requirements (concise)
Admission overview
This interdisciplinary master's looks for students whose bachelor's studies relate to one or more of the programme’s five core fields: law, sociology, political science, history, and literature/cultural studies. Applicants with a degree in one of these areas are directly eligible; candidates from other, related disciplines may also qualify if they have completed at least three years of higher education (typically a Bachelor's degree). The admissions process assesses both subject-related background and methodological skills relevant to the programme.
Required documentation and assessment
You must provide a written work sample from your prior studies (for example, an essay or your BA thesis) so the selection committee can verify that your qualification connects to at least one of the five core fields and evaluate your academic skills. If you have not yet received your BA diploma, submit alternative evidence that shows the content and level of your studies (for example, a transcript of records, diploma supplement, or equivalent). Additionally, you will complete an online application form that asks you to state verifiable knowledge of methods in one or more of the core fields. Note that the admissions committee can only review your qualifications if all required documents are uploaded within the application period.
Application requirements (concise)
Winter Semester (International)
15 July 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 July 2026
Graduates are prepared for international careers in academia and a wide range of professional fields that require an understanding of global structures and transnational interactions. Typical sectors include international governmental and non-governmental organisations, policy and administration, unions and political parties, marketing and global market research, media and publishing, as well as research centres and higher education institutions.
The programme builds interdisciplinary analytical and methodological skills—enabling alumni to work in research, policy analysis, advocacy, communications, and international project management, or to continue on to doctoral studies.
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