You should

• enjoy reading,
• have good English skills, and
• have academic interests that extend beyond mere political foundations to systematic engagement with politics across various forms of media.

If this describes you, apply now!

• Proof of a completed bachelor’s degree in political science earning the applicant 60 or more credit points or proof of an equivalent degree at a German university or abroad.
• Proof of knowledge of statistics and methods of empirical social and political research comprising at least 6 credit points. Applicants with fewer than 14 credit points in statistics and methods of empirical social and political research will be admitted to the master’s program under the condition that they pass the exam in Statistics II (offered at the end of each semester) within the first two academic semesters.

If you have not yet received your bachelor’s degree certificate by the application deadline, but have earned at least 135 credits in your bachelor’s program, you must apply by the set deadline with a transcript (certified copy issued by your university) of all coursework and exams completed to date, including your average grade to date.

Applicants who have not obtained a university entrance qualification at a German-speaking institution or a degree in a German-speaking course must provide proof of sufficient German language skills. These must correspond to the level DSH-2 of the “German Language Proficiency Examination for Admission to Higher Education for Foreign Applicants” and must be proven by the time of enrollment at JGU.

Good to know: The legally binding basis for selection, admission and enrollment is the text of the entrance requirements as specified in Section 2 of the currently valid examination regulations and, where applicable, in the appendix.

You can find more information in the examination regulations of the master’s program.

Program structure

Your studies will include the following:

1. Research methods
2. Political processes and institutions
3. Normative and positive theories of democracy
4. Political culture and attitudes
5. Elections and political participation
6. A project module
7. A practical module

The project module will form the core of your academic education, where you will use current research literature to develop a problem-oriented question for your project. You will develop a suitable research design and then independently collect the data required for verification and statistically analyze it. You will subsequently present your work on the day of the project.

Stays abroad

Would you like to live abroad for a semester or a year? Do you want to learn another language and get to know a new culture? Or gain a different perspective on your particular subject? A stay abroad provides you with the perfect opportunity to achieve this and is possible with every degree program – either self-organized or by taking advantage of one of the popular exchange programs. This is made possible by various cooperation agreements and partnerships with foreign universities.

For more information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. Visit our student exchange platform for an overview of cooperating universities in your field.

This program of study does not require you to spend time abroad, but you nevertheless have the opportunity to do so.

If you did not get to go abroad while pursuing your bachelor’s degree, take the chance to study or complete a longer internship abroad now. A stay abroad is an amazing and unforgettable experience. Residing in another country enables you to become familiar with its geography, its inhabitants, their everyday life and customs, and the local language and culture more closely than if you were just touring for a brief time. And as an exchange student, you will experience university life and get to know your own subject from a different perspective, allowing you to consolidate and expand on what you already know.

For information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad.

It is advisable to go abroad before you begin the project module since the project module prepares you for the final phase of your degree program.

Internships

For the practical module, you must complete a 9-week internship in a policy-related field. Alternatively, you can take foreign language courses, IT courses, or courses from other faculties. You can also combine these with with a shorter internship.

Our advice? If you choose to complete a 9-week internship, the break between the 2nd and 3rd academic semesters is the best time (if you started your studies in the winter semester).

Voluntary internships are another good opportunity to obtain more in-depth insight into a professional field.

An internship allows you to discover whether everyday life in a particular occupation suits your career expectations and interests. You can gain qualifications for a professional field and acquire important professional and personal skills to start a career. An internship helps you both shape your career path, and mold the remainder of your course sequence – in particular by selecting specializations that suit your practical experience.

You can find further information and relevant internships on the Career Service website.

As a graduate of the master’s degree program in Political and Democracy Research, you will be well prepared to work at research facilities, international organizations, political institutions, or in the field of political consulting.

Your training in data collection and analysis in particular will open up a range of professional fields in market and opinion research, but it is also indispensable for aspiring journalists learning to critically consider public statistics, for example.

Graduates of the Political and Democracy Research

• master’s degree program frequently find careers working for members of parliament, political parties, and parliamentary factions

You could also work at

• international organizations
• research facilities and universities

You will also be qualified to conduct

• press work at political institutions
• educational work at political foundations

You may also find yourself

• working in journalism or public relations
• in political and corporate consulting
• in market and opinion research or at statistics bureaus at the local, state, or federal level

Not sure what to do after graduation? Don’t worry!

A university degree generally does not prepare you for a single profession but qualifies you for a wide range of career paths – for example, in research, in a typical profession related to your field of study, or in one of many other academic fields.

This is why career orientation is also part of your studies. Gaining practical experience is key, and you can do so through internships, working student positions, part-time jobs or voluntary work, for example.

JGU’s Career Service will support you throughout the entire process with information, advice, workshops and numerous events – from career orientation and working on your profile and skills to finding your dream job and successfully applying for it.