Peace Research and International Relations - Master

Application deadline: 31 May.

Start of study program: October.

Successful applications are selected on the basis of their B.A. degree grade, internships or other professional activities in a field related to peace research or international relations, as well as awards for academic or any other subject-related achievements.
It is recommended that applicants have achieved at least 60 ECTS in Political Science during their Bachelor’s degree. Admission to the program without prior knowledge of Political Science is not impossible, but unlikely.
For the application, you will need the following documents:

• Proof of higher education entrance qualification
• Bachelor's degree certificate
• Complete Transcript of Records with a final grade or calculated grade average
• CV in tabular format (in English)
• Motivational letter (1-2 pages, in English)
• Proof of English language qualification (for all applicants whose first language is not English)
• If applicable: proof of qualifications, awards, and achievements

For more information, please visit: https://uni-tuebingen.de/de/158562

A Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, International Relations or a comparable subject is required for this Master’s degree program. The final grade (GPA) must be at least "good" (2.5, upper second class or equivalent).
Applicants must provide proof of their knowledge of English at the level of B2/C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

The M.A. Peace Research and International Relations program is conducted in English. You will need to have knowledge of the English language at the B2/C1 level in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and prove this at the time of your application. Beyond that, there are no further language requirements in this program. You do not need to prove knowledge of the German language.  

For a list of accepted proof of English language proficiency, please visit: https://uni-tuebingen.de/de/158562#c868500

In Germany, the everyday language for shopping, in restaurants and on the street is German. We highly recommend you learn some German when you study here.

The Master's program focuses on research-based learning in relation to core questions of peace, conflict, and international politics. These include the processes and structures of violent conflicts and how they are embedded in broader structures of international politics as well as the opportunities and possibilities of cooperation between a variety of actors in coping with such conflicts. The program involves the critical re-thinking and further development of central concepts, institutions and strategies of violence prevention and peaceful conflict transformation based on methodologically substantiated and theoretically informed research. In addition, it covers core ethical questions of international politics as well as the normative foundations of peace.

After successful completion of this Master's program, students will be able to analyze complex problems of conflict, war and peace as well as of international relations broadly speaking. They will have acquired essential knowledge of theories and methods in this field as well as the core empirical issues and their contexts. They will be able to apply this knowledge in the identification and analysis of novel problems of international politics, to independently develop theoretical ideas, and to critically evaluate policies addressing conflicts and other transnational issues.

To this end, the four basic modules teach the theoretical and methodological foundations of the discipline. These modules are as follows: (1) Theoretical and Methodological Perspectives, (2) Normative and Critical Perspectives, (3) Global Governance and (4) Analyzing Armed Conflicts. In the elective area, students are free to pursue their own areas of specialization and study interests. There are numerous opportunities for in-depth study, ranging from courses on international law to peace education. In addition, four regularly offered excursions provide the option of underpinning theoretical knowledge with practical experience.

For more information, please visit our website: https://uni-tuebingen.de/de/158550

The roots of MAPIR date back to the 1960s when a group of students and lecturers in one of Germany’s oldest Political Science departments founded the Working Group on Peace Research. This was institutionalized with the appointment of Volker Rittberger as the Chair in International Relations in 1972. In the following, the Working Group developed into one of the first centers for Peace Research and International Relations in Europe. Its past members include Tanja Brühl, Peter Mayer, Frank Schimmelfennig, Daniela Schwarzer, Wolfgang Wagner, Bernhard Zangl and Michael Zürn, among many others.
Later, the former German version of the M.A. Peace Research and International Relations has been one of the first Master’s degrees with a focus on studying peace, conflict and international relations in Germany. Since 2020, the study program is taught completely in English to do justice to the international discipline and to better prepare students for later academic or other careers, for which good, specialized English skills are becoming increasingly important. The program is designed as a consecutive and research-oriented degree program. In addition to academic teaching, the program offers study trips, lecture series as well as workshops with experts who work for international organizations, NGOs, and think tanks.

The standard duration of the MAPIR is four semesters or two years with a total of 120 ECTS. Of these, 81 ECTS are acquired in compulsory modules M1-M4 and the final exam module M20, and 39 ECTS in elective modules.

It is recommended to attend the compulsory courses during the first and second semester, as they cover thematic and methodological basics. First elective courses can be added in the second semester and completed in the third semester. The third semester is also well suited for a semester abroad. The fourth semester is reserved for the compulsory final module, which includes the Master's thesis, a colloquium on it and the final oral examination. This study plan is recommended to be able to complete the program within the standard period of study, but it is not obligatory, so that courses can be taken in other semesters according to one's own interests and needs.

Most courses are offered in the form of seminars, only three of the basic modules include lectures. Seminars and study trips provide ample opportunity to develop student’s own interests and skills in relation to specific conflicts, policy areas, theories and/or methods.

For more information, please visit our website: https://uni-tuebingen.de/de/158553

Optional time abroad
You may choose to spend some time abroad as part of any study program. You should start planning it 12 to 18 months before your departure. 
Here you will find general information and advice on studying abroad. In addition, some departments have their own subject-specific services providing information on studying abroad.

The degree manual describes the goals and structure of a degree program. In the module handbook you will find details of the type of modules offered and their respective workloads as well as the classes, requirements, and assessment. An ideal course plan is set out in the degree manual to help you plan your studies. The degree manual and the exam regulations help you to understand the framework and conditions of your program, and enable you to choose the right modules/ classes.

You can find the current version of the degree manual of the M.A. Peace Research and International Relations on our website: https://uni-tuebingen.de/de/158553#c868434

The exam regulations contain the legally binding regulations for a degree program. They set out, for instance, which modules must be taken, and which assessment must be completed in order to successfully complete the degree program. The exam regulations also regulate how often exams may be repeated, which deadlines apply to assessment, and how the final grade is calculated. The exam regulations and the module handbook help you to understand the framework and conditions of your program, and enable you to choose the right modules/ classes.

You can find the current version of the exam regulations of the M.A. Peace Research and International Relations on our website: https://uni-tuebingen.de/de/158553#c868434

MAPIR offers a comprehensive qualification for a wide range of professional activities in administration and societal organizations, policy consulting and mediation, business, and science at national and international levels.
Past graduates have built their careers in

• the diplomatic service,
• international as well as non-governmental organizations,
• science and research,
• development cooperation and conflict management,
• the media,
• political education.

Advice and internships
The University’s Career Service assists with careers orientation and getting started in your profession. Jobs and internships can be found in the Praxisportal.

Polis e.V. is the alumni network of former students at the Institute of Political Science: http://www.polis.uni-tuebingen.de/
You will find information about the general Alumni Association Tübingen on their website: https://uni-tuebingen.de/en/alumni/