Master of Arts (MA) in International Relations & Global Politics | IRGP
Friedrichshafen, Germany
MA
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
German, English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2027
TUITION FEES
EUR 6,150 / per semester
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
About: The MA in International Relations & Global Politics (IRGP) is an interdisciplinary, two-year master's programme that examines global governance, climate change, migration, digital technologies, and pandemic impacts. You’ll learn to frame critical questions across political, social, economic, cultural, ecological and media dimensions, and develop research-based solutions for foreign policy, conflict prevention, crisis management, security studies, diplomacy and international law.
Career Outcomes: The programme emphasizes practical skills and international employment. Graduates can pursue careers in diplomacy, policy analysis, international organizations, NGOs, security analysis, and research; employers include government agencies, multilateral institutions, think tanks and private-sector firms engaged in global affairs.
The current world order is under pressure due to global challenges such as the effects of climate change, migration, and the rapid development of digital technologies.
Balancing the protection of their own interests with conflict and crisis prevention, international organizations, states, civil societal and private players negotiate, debate and argue every day about how to deal with these challenges of global governance. The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has emphatically highlighted the critical importance of domestic and foreign political processes.
During the course of the interdisciplinary, two-year master's program “International Relations & Global Politics | IRGP” our students will independently learn how to ask the crucial questions about every one of these challenges and how to develop research-based solutions.
Thematic focus and course structure of master's program
This new master's program creates the space and time for students to tackle these current challenges in-depth, in areas such as security policy, war and peace, development policy, and environmental and climate policy.
It teaches students which non-state players have an influence on political processes and equips them with the specialist skills and understanding of the conditions required for successful and sustainable models of international politics.
The curriculum allows students to prioritize political science topics of their choice, with a range of required elective modules available for advanced studies.
Course facts and information
- Qualification: Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Standard period of study: 4 semesters (= 2 years)
- ECTS points: 120
- Non-consecutive
- Course language: English
- Language skills: Good knowledge of English is necessary
- Course begins: Fall semester (September)
- Faculty: Faculty of Political & Social Sciences
- Fees per semester: €5.490
Interested? Please note the language requirements
Because IRGP is an English-language graduate program, very good English language skills at C1 level are required. German language proficiency is desirable, but not a mandatory admission requirement. If there is a request to take courses from our other graduate programs, German teaching formats may be available to you.
Interdisciplinary and research orientation of master's program
The big issues and problems facing international politics can rarely be solved using the approaches of a single academic discipline. That's why this study program has a systematically interdisciplinary focus.
Current topics in international relations and global politics are thus analyzed and academically explored by both students and lecturers using cross-departmental methods and modes of thought.
Alongside the didactic integration of research projects as part of the lectures and/or seminars, students also have the chance, within the required elective subjects, to take a research module (Elinor Ostrom Project) where they address a current research topic of their own choosing.
Find out more about our financing offers.
Practical orientation and international employment prospects of the master's program
As a result of the digitalization process and profound political and social upheaval, the demands on current lines of work in the field of international relations and global politics are increasing.
The theoretical and practical skills taught in this master's program, including such topics as war and peace, the shaping of foreign policy and how to deal with new security threats in a globalized world, are of significant importance here.
Would you like to get to know us personally and find out more about studying and life at ZU? Please register today for our TO EXPERIENCE formats. We look forward to seeing you!