Structure and Content

The Master's programme "Democracy and Governance in Europe" gives you an in-depth instruction in European politics, its requirements and influences. You will learn to master the complexity of multilevel governance and to competently navigate innovative methods of analysis and theories. Above all, we would like to provide you with the tools to analyse current developments at all levels of European policy in detail and draft solutions. Our seminars addressing with current issues of European politics such as Brexit, migration policy or right-wing populism provide an excellent opportunity for this.

You will also consider the relationships to the EU's neighbouring regions and its involvement in the international system. Here, you will have the opportunity to engage with professionals like Nathalie Tocci (Advisor to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini) and Mathias Jopp (Director of the Institute for European Politics in Berlin).

In Tübingen, we offer you an integral approach of political science to European Studies. Democracy and Governance in Europe are the central guiding themes. You will study central and normative questions of governance and the relationship between democracy and economy.

The IfP is one of the "hot spots" for gender sensitive European Studies in Germany. Therefore, gender perspectives are systematically considered. Moreover, you will become acquainted with the variance in political systems in Europe and the implications of the European integration process for these systems.

Deliberately distinguishing ourselves from more interdisciplinary study programmes, we make sure you gain in-depth understanding of the analytical concept of multi-level governance and the application of comparative methods. Thus you will learn to merge the horizontal perspective and a vertical analysis of interacting levels into a comprehensive perception.

Our elective courses provide you with the optimal opportunity to prepare yourself for your future career. Let your interests and career aspirations guide you as you immerse yourself in particular theoretical or practical aspects of our field. You will profoundly engage with the research focuses of the institute. Our newly structured plan of mandatory electives gives you the opportunity to specialize in "The Role of the EU in International/Global Policy" or "Public Policy" with a focus on European social politics. Furthermore, the mandatory electives include advanced courses in European law, interdisciplinary European Studies (Economy, Sociology, History) and language classes. The elective course plan includes the possibility to prepare yourself for your future career doing an internship.

The Institute for Political Science maintains excellent relationships with first-class universities offering European Studies programmes in other European countries, as for example Sciences Po Paris and Aix-en-Provence, The University of Florence, The University of Leuven and the University of Timisoara.

Also outside of Europe, the University of Tübingen has several excellent partners with their own European Studies focus, such as Georgetown University (USA), McGill University (Canada), and MGIMO in Moscow (Russia).

The Master's programme offers a mobility window to study abroad, usually in the third semester. It is not obligatory; however, we recommend our students to seize the opportunity. For more information, please visit the institute’s homepage PIAS (Studying Political Science Abroad). You will find detailed information on the partner universities, the application process and the academic recognition (in German).

Please note: Universities outside of the European Union might have earlier application deadlines! Further information on this issue is provided by the International office.

In case of questions, please don’t hesitate to contact student councillor Martin Große Hüttman.

Internships are not mandatory, but your study programme allows for an internship of six to twelve weeks. Your study advisors will support you in finding an internship suited to your field. You also have access to the common internship and job offer database of the University, the "Praxisportal". There, you can find numerous internships in the fields of society, politics, economy, science and administration. Furthermore, You can rely on the many contacts and experiences of the alumni of the IfP.

If you plan an internship in an administrative body within another European country (or you are an international student and plan a internship in one of the administrative bodies of Baden-Württermberg) you may want to apply for a scholarship by the Walter-Hallstein-Programme of the Baden-Württemberg Foundation. Applications are possible in the spring of each year.