Overview The Master's programme is a research-focused MSc in Political Science taught in English. It combines in-depth coursework across major subfields of political science with training in contemporary empirical and analytical methods, preparing you to investigate political phenomena and design independent research.
What you study Core thematic areas include:
Career and research opportunities The programme’s empirical emphasis equips you to pursue careers in public policy, government, international organisations, research institutes, NGOs, or to continue into a PhD in political science. The department runs numerous externally funded research projects (including grants from bodies such as the European Research Council), and Master's students can gain practical research experience by working as student assistants. The Cologne Center for Comparative Politics (CCCP) brings together faculty and early-career researchers on topics like electoral politics, institutions, political economy, and methodology; several CCCP professors also participate in the Cluster of Excellence “ECONtribute: Markets and Public Policy,” a joint research initiative funded under the German Excellence Strategy.
Key facts and requirements (concise)
The programme places strong emphasis on empirical methods through a dedicated module area in “Political Science Research Methods.” You receive systematic instruction in the foundations of social-science research: research design and logic, qualitative approaches, and quantitative and computational techniques. Practical training includes working with the statistical software R so you gain hands-on experience implementing quantitative analyses.
Alongside these core courses, the curriculum offers advanced research projects where you apply sophisticated empirical methods to contemporary political questions. Recent MSc offerings have covered techniques such as quantitative text analysis, social media analysis, experimental methods and causal inference, process tracing, and qualitative comparative analysis. The Master’s thesis is completed near the end of the programme and can be tailored to be either research-focused or practice-oriented, depending on your interests and career goals.
What you will gain: rigorous skills in designing and executing empirical studies, competence in computational tools (notably R), and exposure to a wide range of qualitative and quantitative techniques that are directly applicable to academic research, policy analysis, and data-driven roles in the public and private sectors. A downloadable programme PDF provides the full course list and scheduling details.
Core curriculum components and learning outcomes:
This master’s programme requires a completed bachelor’s degree and specific prior coursework in political science and social-science methods. Admissions are based on the German grading scale and on documented ECTS credit totals in relevant subject areas.
If your degree was earned outside Germany, make sure your transcripts, grade conversion and ECTS equivalents are clearly documented — the admissions office will verify whether your coursework meets the stated credit and grade requirements. For the complete list of eligibility criteria and any documentation formats accepted, consult the programme’s official admissions information.
Winter Semester (International)
15 June 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 June 2026
Graduates are prepared either to enter professional roles in public policy, government, international organisations, NGOs, think tanks, or consulting, or to pursue further academic study such as a PhD in political science. The programme’s emphasis on empirical methods and research experience also equips students for positions that require data analysis, policy evaluation, and evidence-based research.
Hands-on experience from departmental research projects and applied thesis options strengthens employability by providing practical research skills and familiarity with contemporary methodological tools.
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