In a rapidly changing world, it is crucial to understand power relations, conflicts and political developments. Students of political science will be well-positioned to analyse and solve problems of the 21st century. This dual degree programme does not only equip students with valuable research skills and theoretical underpinnings, but already educates them in an international environment. The 2-year programme allows you to study in two universities, gaining a unique perspective on global and domestic politics across a wide range of issues. In the first year of the programme you follow courses at one of the two universities and you continue your education at the other in the second year. Upon successful graduation you receive the Master of Arts in Politikwissenschaft from the University of Bamberg with specialisation in International and European Politics, Comparative Politics, Political Theory or without a specialisation as a general degree and the Master of Science in Political Science with specialisation in  Comparative Politics; European Union Politics and Governance; International Relations; Political Theory; Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Politics or Conflict, Power and Politics. The programme allows the combination of two different specializations at the two universities under some circumstances.

Questions about the programme?

For questions about the programme please contact:

Admission and application

For students who start the program in Bamberg, the application for the double degree program always takes place in the winter semester as part of the application for the Master's program in Political Science. The application period for the 2024/25 winter semester begins alongside the opening of the online application to the master’s degree programme in business administration and management and ends on

24.06.2024

For the application (in addition to the usual documents for the Master's application) the following documents / evidence must be submitted:

  • Letter of motivation in English or German;
  • Proof of English proficiency at the level C1 by:
    • Successful completion of a three-year Bachelor's degree program at a Dutch university.
    • Successful completion of a program taught entirely in English ( in one of the following countries: EU /EEA countries, Australia, Canada (except Quebec), New Zealand, United States of America) of a Bachelor's program
    • TOEFL iBT: 2: 90 & subscores 22 (Home Edition will not be accepted!)
    • IELTS Academic: 2: 6.5 overall. Subscores 2: 6.0, writing subscore 2: 6.5
    • Cambrigde C1 Advanced: Overall minimum score 176, minimum component score 169, minimum writing component score: 176
    • Cambridge C2 Proficiency: Overall minimum score 180, minimum component score 169, minimum writing component score: 176

Basic information about the application procedurecan be found here:

>>>General information about the application process (Bamberg)

>>>General Information about the application (Nijmegen)

>>> Tuition Fees @ Radboud University

The registration for the second year at Radboud University is done by the students themselves, but of course they will be accompanied by the double degree coordinator in Bamberg.

Study programme

The study program comprises 4 semesters. Students study at their home institution for the first two semesters and at the host university for the last two semesters. During their stay at the host university, students remain enrolled at the home institution.

The credits earned in accordance with the double degree program in Nijmegen will be credited as equivalent in Bamberg. The examination regulations for the Master's program in Political Science apply to the provision and crediting of achievements at the University of Bamberg. The examination regulations of Nijmegen University apply to the provision and recognition of credits at Nijmegen University.

The following tables provide information on the distribution of course credits between the two universities. For detailed information on the courses, please refer to the respective module handbooks.

The following overview is designed for planning and orientation, while the individual programme details result from the individual recognition agreement that students reach with the programme coordinators at both universities based on the current versions of the studying and examination rules for the underlying programmes. The courses currently offered in Bamberg are defined by the current version of the Module Handbook (in German only).

Credit recognition in Bamberg

Module groupBambergNijmegen
Methods in Political Science412
Political Science Specialisation 30
Political Science Extention44 
Master Thesis1218
Total ECTS120

ECTS credits for students matriculated in the Master in Political Science in Bamberg are allocated as follows:

Specialisation and Tracks

Students can choose between three options when selecting a specialization:

  • They choose a similar specialization at either university:
    • International Relations (RU) and Politics and Governance of the European Union (UB) for an MA degree in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations and European Politics.
    • Political Theory and Political Theory for an MA degree in Political Science with a concentration in Political Theory.
    • Comparative Politics and Comparative Politics for an MA degree in Political Science with a concentration in Comparative Politics.
  • Students can combine their specialization at Radboud University with another specialization at Bamberg:
    • To do so, four modules and the Bamberg thesis must be completed in a Bamberg specialization area.
  • Students have the possibility to obtain a general degree in Bamberg without a specialization.
    • To do so, they must take at least two modules from at least two focus areas other than their Radboud focus.

The following tables give an overview of the available modules for the differen option:

Methods in Political Science

The following modules must be completed in Nijmegen.

 BambergNijmegen
Advanced Research Methods 6
Sociology, Philosophy and Ethics of Research*) 6
One of the following modules:
PWM-ME-HSl: Philosophy ofScience4 
PWM-ME-HS2: Qualitative Methods 
PWM-ME-HS3: lntroduction to Statistics for Social Science 
PWM-ME-HS4: Advanced Quantitative Methods and Surveys 
PWM-ME-HSS: Research Design and Causal Inference 
 16

*) If not available in the RU Master ' s specialisation, the course can be replaced by one of the following: Conflict,
Transformation and Peacebuilding or Political Socialization

Specialisation

Students who chose the same specialisation at both institutions

The following specialisation can be combined:

Radboud UniversityUniversity of Bamberg

International Relations or

European Union Politics

Governance in der Europäischen Union
Political TheoryPolitische Theorie
Comparative PoliticsVergleichende Politik

Students who select two different specialisations

Students can combine their specialization at Radboud University with another specialization in Bamberg. This track requires students to complete four modules and the Bamberg thesis in the respective area of specialization.

Students who would like to obtain a general degree without a major in Bamberg

Students can earn a general MA degree in political science. This pathway requires students to take at least two modules from at least two concentration areas other than their Radboud concentration.

Students select one specialisation:

 BambergNijmegen
Master's soecialisation in International Relations
Current Debates in International Relations Theory 6
Cooperation and Conflict in the 21st Century 6
Global Political Economy 6
Internship / Elective 6
Just War Theory 6
Master's specialisation in Eurooean Union Politics and Govemance
The EU Executive Order 6
Politicisation of the EU Arena 6
Elective course / Internship 6
EU Policy in Practice 6
EU in Global Politics 6
Master's specialisation in Comparative Politics
Theories of Comparative Politics: Structure, Identity and Choice 6
Political Representation and its Challenges 6
Elective course / Internship 6
The Politics of Reform 6
Deliberative Democracy 6
Master's specialisation in Political theory
Power in Political Theory 6
Contemporary Debates in Political Theory 6
Elective course / Internship 6
Deliberative Democracv or Just War Theory 6
Urban Political Theory 6
Master's specialisation in Conflict, Power and Politics
Conflicting Theories: Applving Theoretical Approaches of Conflict 6
Theories of Comparative Politics: Structure, Identity and Choice 6
International Security 6
Internship / Elective 6
Just War Theory 6
Master's specialisation in Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Politics
Gender and Diversity in Organisations 6
Power in Political Theory 6
Political Representation and its Challenges 6
Gender, Conflict and Security 6
Elective course or Internship 6

Depending on which degree students are pursuing in Bamberg, they choose modules from the following focus areas.

 BambergNijmegen
Master of Arts in Politicial Sciences with Specialisation in International and European Politics
PWM-IE-V: European Policy and Politis 6
PWM-IE-HS2: International Institutions 8
PWM-IE-HS3: European Integration 8
PWM-IE-HS4: Foreüm and Security Policy 8
PWM-IE-HSS: International Politics 8
Master of Arts in Politicial Sciences with Specialisation in Political Theory
PWM-PT-V: Classics in Normative Political Theory 6
PWM-PT-HS2: Selected Topics in Normative Political Theory 8
PWM-PT-HS3: Selected Topics in Positive Political Theory 8
PWM-PT-HS4: Classics in Positive Political Theorv 8
PWM-PT-HSS: Analytic Methods in Political Theory (usually only offered in German) 8
Master of Arts in Politicial Sciences with Specialisation in Comperative Politics
PWM-VP-V: Political Institutions 6
PWM-VP-HS2: Methodological issues in Comparative Politics 8
PWM-VP-HS3: Selected Topics in Comparative Politics 8
PWM-VP-HS4: German Politics (usually only offered in German) 8
PWM-PS-HS: Elective Module from Political Sociology 8

Masterarbeit

Students who wish to obtain a degree with a specialization in Bamberg must write their Master's thesis with the chair/professor who offers the specialization in that specialization.

 BambergNijmegen
Dual Degree Thesis Bamberg12 
Dual Degree Thesis Nijmegen 18

Bewerbung und Zulassung

For students starting the program in Bamberg, the application for the double degree program always takes place in the winter semester as part of the application for the Master's program in Political Science. The application phase for the winter semester 2024/25 begins with the opening of the online application for the Master's degree programs and ends on

24.06.2024

The following documents/evidence must be submitted for the application (in addition to the usual documents for the Master's application):

  • Letter of motivation in English or German;
  • Proof of English language skills at level C1 via:

    • Three-year Bachelor's degree program at a Dutch university successfully completed
    • Successful completion of a Bachelor's degree program taught entirely in English (in one of the following countries: EU/EEA countries, Australia, Canada (with the exception of Quebec), New Zealand, United States of America)
    • TOEFL iBT: 2: 90 & subscores 22 (Home Edition will not be accepted!)
    • IELTS Academic: 2: 6,5 overall. Subscores 2: 6,0, writing subscore 2: 6,5
    • Cambrigde C1 Advanced: Overall minimum score 176, minimum component score 169, minimum writing component score: 176
    • Cambridge C2 Proficiency: Overall minimum score 180, minimum component score 169, minimum writing component score: 176

Basic information on the application procedure can be found here:

>>>General information on the application procedure (Bamberg)

>>>General information on the application procedure (Nijmegen)

>>> Tuition fees at Radboud University

The enrollment for the second year at Radboud University is done by the students themselves, but of course they are accompanied by the double degree coordinator in Bamberg.