Master of Arts in Political Science

Most undergraduate degrees take 3 years. All programs are divided into an introductory phase (first year), an in-depth phase (second year), and an advanced phase (third year). The final phase is dedicated to writing the bachelor’s thesis. A bachelor’s degree qualifies you to pursue certain careers and apply for graduate programs.

Your choice of subject determines the degree awarded: subjects in the humanities generally award a Bachelor of Arts, subjects in the natural sciences award a Bachelor of Science, and our two interdisciplinary law programs offer a Bachelor of Laws. Teacher training programs also award a special bachelor’s degree.

A Bachelor of Arts program is structured as follows:

• 1 major (50% or 90 achievement points)
• 1 minor (25% or 45 achievement points)
• general professional skills (ABK) courses (15% or 27 credit points)
• elective courses (10% or 18 credit points).
  

Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws programs is structured as follows:

• 1 major (75% or more)
• general professional skills (15% or less)
• elective courses (10% or less).
  

Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws degree programs do not contain a minor component.

Further information and details on applying: https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en/campuscenter/bewerbung/bachelor-staatsexamen/zulassung-einschreibung.html

After completing a bachelor’s degree, graduates can pursue a Master of Arts or a Master of Science straight away, or take a break and enroll at a later date. As a rule, it takes 5 years to complete a bachelor’s followed by a master’s degree. Universität Hamburg offers two different types of master’s degree. Consecutive master’s programs deepen knowledge and skills acquired during a bachelor’s degree and graduates may commence these programs straight after graduation. Professional master’s degree programs are graduate programs that develop existing professional skills in a particular field. Applicants must thus demonstrate at least 1 year of professional experience. The requirements and qualifications are the same for both types of degree.

Master’s programs may have admission restrictions and individual subjects also have different admission requirements. You can find more information about master’s programs in our German-language information sheet on master’s and professional master’s degree programs (Master- und Aufbaustudiengänge) or in the bilingual online guide to degree programs at Universität Hamburg.