Overview
This consecutive Master’s programme is taught in English and builds on a three-year Bachelor’s degree in the social sciences (for example sociology, political and administrative science, economics or a related field). It is research-oriented and centrally examines social inequality as a contemporary societal challenge. The curriculum combines intensive training in quantitative methods with close, individual supervision and benefits from close links to the Graduate School of the Social and Behavioural Sciences (GSBS) and the Cluster of Excellence “The Politics of Inequality,” making it notable within Germany and the EU.
Structure and focus
Teaching begins with foundational introductions to theories of inequality and quantitative methods for inequality research, followed by a series of thematic seminars. Core subject areas include migration and social integration; gender inequalities in organisations and the labour market; inequalities within education and work; and political participation and social movements. A major element is an intensive, six-month project seminar that gives hands-on research experience, and the programme concludes with a Master’s thesis in which students pursue an independent research project. Strong emphasis is placed on acquiring the skills needed to collect and analyse quantitative empirical data.
Practical experience and international options
Practical training is integrated into the programme: in the third semester students undertake a six-month external internship at a company, organisation or research institution to broaden professional experience and improve employability. As an alternative, students may spend that semester abroad at one of the programme’s partner universities. This combination of method training, supervised research projects and practical placement supports career paths in research, policy, NGOs, consultancy and provides solid preparation for further doctoral study.
Requirements
For a complete, authoritative breakdown of the curriculum — including the sequence of courses, credit structure and official module descriptions — please consult the programme’s study plan and the module handbook. A prospectus / information PDF is also available for download and provides an accessible overview for prospective students.
The programme is designed to give students a focused, research-informed perspective on social inequality. Key learning outcomes emphasise: developing a critical understanding of the social causes and consequences of inequality; acquiring methodological skills to design and carry out empirical sociological research; and communicating research findings clearly to academic and non-academic audiences. The programme materials (study plan and module book) set out the specific competencies you will attain for each module.
Key modules and topical areas are laid out in the module handbook. You can expect the document to detail core and elective modules, the balance between coursework and independent research, and the assessment formats that demonstrate achievement of the stated learning outcomes. Please check the module book and study plan for exact module titles, credit points and semester-by-semester sequencing.
Requirements — where to find them
You must hold a three-year Bachelor's degree in a social sciences discipline. Typical examples include sociology, political science, and economics, but closely related fields with a clear social-science focus are also considered.
If your undergraduate programme comes from a different national system (for example, a four-year degree or a diploma), the university will normally check whether it is equivalent to the required three-year social sciences degree. International applicants should be ready to provide official degree certificates and transcripts as part of that assessment.
Winter Semester (International)
15 April 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 April 2026
The programme equips graduates with methodological and analytical skills suited to social research roles in academia, think tanks, research institutes, public administration, NGOs and policy organisations. Practical experience from the internship or exchange and the programme’s quantitative focus improve employability in positions that require empirical analysis of social phenomena.
Graduates will be prepared for further research (PhD) or for professional roles that demand competence in designing studies, analysing datasets and translating findings for policy and organisational contexts. The programme’s combination of theory, methods and applied experience supports a broad range of careers in research, policy advising, evaluation and social data analysis.