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Political science at FU Berlin requires a GPA of 1.0 (equivalent to a US 4.0 or straight-A in the UK system) – as competitive as psychology. Private universities offer an alternative: over 15 programmes in political science and public management, all without admission restrictions – from €259/month distance learning (IU) to the Hertie School Master of Public Policy in Berlin.
- All study programmes in political science at a glance
- How much does political science cost at a private university in Germany?
- Is distance learning a good option for political science?
- What are the admission requirements for political science?
- How much do political scientists earn in Germany?
- Frequently asked questions about studying political science in Germany
- Related programmes at private universities
All study programmes in political science at a glance
We have a total of 19 courses in the field of Political Science.
Master of Public Policy
- Hertie School
- 4 Semester
- Berlin
- from 1604 € monthly
- English
Politics, Administration & International Relations
- Zeppelin University
- 8 Semester
- Friedrichshafen
- German or English
Executive Master of Public Administration
- Hertie School
- 2 Semester
- Berlin
- from 1604 € monthly
- English
Politics, Administration & International Relations
- Zeppelin University
- 4 Semester
- Friedrichshafen
- from 805 € monthly
- German or English
Economics, Politics, and Social Thought
- Bard College Berlin
- 8 Semester
- Berlin
- from 1408 € monthly
- English
Public Management
- IU International University of Applied Sciences
- 2 Semester
- online
- from 449 € monthly
- German
International Relations: Politics and History
- Constructor University
- 6 Semester
- Bremen
- from 1667 € monthly
- English
Public Management
- IU International University of Applied Sciences
- 6 Semester
- online
- from 259 € monthly
- German
Public Management
- University of Applied Management
- 7 Semester
- Ismaning (Munich)
- from 450 € monthly
- German
Society, Media and Politics
- Constructor University
- 6 Semester
- Bremen
- from 2388 € monthly
- English
International Relations & Global Politics
- Zeppelin University
- 4 Semester
- Friedrichshafen
- from 825 € monthly
- English
Data Science for Public Policy
- Hertie School
- 4 Semester
- Berlin
- from 1428 € monthly
- English
Public Management
- European Distance Learning University Hamburg
- 6 Semester
- Hamburg
- from 317 € monthly
- German
Public Management & Digitization
- Zeppelin University
- 4 Semester
- Friedrichshafen
- from 825 € monthly
- German or English
Master of International Affairs
- Hertie School
- 4 Semester
- Berlin
- from 1438 € monthly
- English
Political Science and Management
- European Distance Learning University Hamburg
- 4 Semester
- online, Hamburg
- from 397 € monthly
- German
Public Social Management
- University of Applied Management
- 7 Semester
- Ismaning
- from 495 € monthly
- German
Security and Resilience Management for Disaster and Civil Protection
- Fresenius University of Applied Sciences
- 7 Semester
- Idstein
- from 420 € monthly
- German
How much does political science cost at a private university in Germany?
Tuition fees range from €259/month for distance learning to €2,388/month at international elite institutions. Total programme costs span from €9,547 (IU, master’s) to €85,950 (Constructor University, bachelor’s). For comparison: comparable programmes in the US cost ~$30,000/year, in the UK £9,250/year domestic or £20,000+ for international students – German private universities are significantly cheaper.
Distance learning: the most affordable option
The IU and the Euro-FH offer bachelor’s and master’s programmes in public management and political science as distance learning – from €259/month. Both programmes are taught in German and designed for working professionals.
| Course | University | Duration | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Management, Master of Arts Distance learning program | IU International University of Applied Sciences | 2 Semester | from 9547 € total from 449 € monthly | |
| Political Science and Management, Master of Arts Distance learning program | European Distance Learning University Hamburg | 4 Semester | from 12704 € total from 397 € monthly | |
| Public Management, Bachelor of Arts Distance learning program | IU International University of Applied Sciences | 6 Semester | from 15063 € total from 259 € monthly | |
| Public Management, Bachelor of Arts Distance learning program | European Distance Learning University Hamburg | 6 Semester | from 15216 € total from 317 € monthly |
On-campus programmes: from Zeppelin to Hertie
The campus programmes differ sharply – not just in price, but in language, target audience and career trajectory. Zeppelin University in Friedrichshafen offers bilingual bachelor and master programmes from €19,320. The Hertie School in Berlin is Germany’s leading policy school, offering dual degrees with the LSE, Sciences Po and Columbia University – entirely in English. Constructor University in Bremen and Bard College Berlin provide English-taught liberal arts and IR programmes.
| Course | University | Duration | Language | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Master of Public Administration, Master of Public Administration On-campus program | Hertie School | 2 Semester | English | from 19250 € total from 1604 € monthly | |
| Politics, Administration & International Relations, Master of Arts On-campus program | Zeppelin University | 4 Semester | German or English | from 19320 € total from 805 € monthly | |
| International Relations & Global Politics, Master of Arts On-campus program | Zeppelin University | 4 Semester | English | from 19800 € total from 825 € monthly | |
| Public Management & Digitization, Master of Arts On-campus program | Zeppelin University | 4 Semester | German or English | from 19800 € total from 825 € monthly | |
| Politics, Bachelor of Arts On-campus program | Karlshochschule International University | 6 Semester | German | from 19800 € total from 550 € monthly | |
| Data Science for Public Policy, Master of Science On-campus program | Hertie School | 4 Semester | English | from 34500 € total from 1428 € monthly | |
| Master of International Affairs, Master of Arts On-campus program | Hertie School | 4 Semester | English | from 34500 € total from 1438 € monthly | |
| Master of Public Policy, Master of Public Policy On-campus program | Hertie School | 4 Semester | English | from 38500 € total from 1604 € monthly | |
| Politics, Administration & International Relations, Bachelor of Arts On-campus program | Zeppelin University | 8 Semester | German or English | from 46000 € total | |
| International Relations: Politics and History, Bachelor of Arts On-campus program | Constructor University | 6 Semester | English | from 60000 € total from 1667 € monthly | |
| Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, Bachelor of Arts On-campus program | Bard College Berlin | 8 Semester | English | from 67576 € total from 1408 € monthly | |
| Society, Media and Politics, Bachelor of Arts On-campus program | Constructor University | 6 Semester | English | from 85950 € total from 2388 € monthly |
Part-time programmes
Three programmes are designed for working professionals in the public or social sector. The University of Applied Management near Munich offers Public Management and Public Social Management as part-time bachelor’s degrees, while Fresenius University offers a specialised MBA in security and resilience management. All three are taught in German.
| Course | University | Duration | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Security and Resilience Management for Disaster and Civil Protection, Bachelor of Science Part-time program | Fresenius University of Applied Sciences | 7 Semester | from 17890 € total from 420 € monthly | |
| Public Management, Bachelor of Arts Part-time program | University of Applied Management | 7 Semester | from 18900 € total from 450 € monthly | |
| Public Social Management, Bachelor of Arts Part-time program | University of Applied Management | 7 Semester | from 21585 € total from 495 € monthly |
Funding: BAföG, scholarships and loans
German and EU students are eligible for BAföG (state financial aid) – including for distance learning. Non-EU students are generally not eligible for BAföG. However, other options exist:
- Hertie School scholarships: Need-based and merit-based, open to international applicants
- DAAD scholarships: The German Academic Exchange Service funds international master’s students across disciplines
- Political foundations: Konrad-Adenauer, Friedrich-Ebert, Heinrich-Böll and others fund political science students (German proficiency usually required)
- KfW student loans: Up to €650/month, available to EU citizens and some non-EU residents
Is distance learning a good option for political science?
Yes – particularly for careers in the German public sector. Germany faces a massive retirement wave: hundreds of thousands of civil servants and public employees will retire by 2030. Graduates with public management qualifications are entering a job-seeker’s market with high job security and predictable salary progression under the TVöD/TV-L collective agreements (Germany’s standardised public sector pay scale).
The distance learning programmes at IU and Euro-FH are tailored for this: flexible scheduling, study alongside work, total costs under €16,000. A bachelor’s qualifies for the upper-intermediate civil service (TVöD E9–E11), a master’s for the higher civil service (TVöD E13+).
Important distinction from campus programmes: Distance learning primarily prepares for careers in public administration, NGOs and associations. For international organisations (UN, EU Commission, NATO) or high-level policy consulting, the English-taught campus masters at the Hertie School or Zeppelin University are the stronger choice – and the language barrier does not apply.
What are the admission requirements for political science?
Private universities in Germany have no NC (Numerus Clausus – the GPA-based admission restriction at state universities). At state universities, the NC for political science ranges from 1.0 at FU Berlin (equivalent to a US 4.0 GPA or straight-A A-levels) to 3.0 at Uni Frankfurt – some are admission-free.
| State university | NC (WS 2024/25) | GPA equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| FU Berlin | 1.0 | US 4.0 / UK A*A*A* |
| Uni Leipzig | 1.2 | US 3.8+ / UK A*A*A |
| LMU Munich | 1.4 | US 3.7 / UK A*AA |
| Uni Düsseldorf | 1.6 | US 3.5 / UK AAA |
| HU Berlin | 1.7 | US 3.4 / UK AAA |
| Uni Hamburg | 1.8–2.6 | US 3.3–2.5 |
| Uni Frankfurt | 3.0 | US 2.0 / UK CCC |
| Uni Hannover | admission-free | – |
| All private universities: no NC | ||
For international applicants
German private universities accept a range of international qualifications:
- IB Diploma: Accepted by all private universities
- A-levels (UK): Three A-levels typically satisfy the general university entrance requirement
- US high school diploma: Usually accepted with AP exams (3+) or SAT/ACT scores. Some universities accept it directly.
- Indian 12th Standard: Generally accepted at private universities (state universities may require Studienkolleg)
- Other international diplomas: Check anabin.kmk.org for recognition of your specific qualification
Language requirements for English-taught programmes (Hertie, Bard, Constructor): IELTS 6.5+ or TOEFL 90+. For German-taught programmes (IU, Euro-FH, most part-time): DSH-2 or TestDaF 4×4 (C1 level).
How much do political scientists earn in Germany?
With a master’s degree, the entry salary in the German public sector is around €4,750 gross per month (TVöD E13 – a collective agreement covering all public employees). That is roughly €2,850–3,100 net after taxes and social contributions. Bachelor’s graduates start at €3,100–3,500 (TVöD E9–E11). For comparison: political scientists in the UK earn £28,000–35,000 starting, in the US $50,000–65,000.
| Qualification / position | Entry salary (gross/mo) | With experience |
|---|---|---|
| B.A. (TVöD E9–E11) | ~€3,100–3,500 | ~€4,100–4,500 |
| M.A. / MPP / MPA (TVöD E13) | ~€4,750 | ~€5,500 |
| Senior advisor, PhD (E14–E15) | ~€5,100 | ~€6,800 |
| Department head / senior civil service (A13–A16) | ~€4,800–8,500 | |
In the private sector, entry salaries for master’s graduates range from €4,200 to €4,800. Careers in policy consulting, management consultancies with a public-sector focus, or corporate affairs departments can command significantly higher salaries.
Career paths for political science graduates
- Policy consulting: Think tanks (Bertelsmann Foundation, SWP, WZB), foundations, public affairs, lobbying
- Public administration: Federal and state ministries, municipal government, EU institutions
- International organisations: UN, NATO, EU Commission, GIZ, OSCE
- Media & communications: Political journalism, press offices, PR, public relations
- Private sector: Corporate affairs, compliance, ESG/sustainability, strategy consulting
- Academia: Universities, research institutes (WZB, GIGA, Max Planck)
Frequently asked questions about studying political science in Germany
Not at private universities – all are NC-free. At German state universities, the NC ranges from 1.0 at FU Berlin to 3.0 at Uni Frankfurt; some, like Uni Hannover, have no restrictions. Private universities offer guaranteed admission without GPA requirements.
Yes. IU and Euro-FH offer bachelor’s and master’s programmes in public management and political science as distance learning – from €259/month. However, all distance learning programmes are taught in German.
Political science is the academic discipline – analysing political systems, international relations and political theory. Public management is more applied and prepares for managing public institutions: administration, municipal management, non-profit organisations. Both are represented in this category.
Yes – but only at select universities. The Hertie School (MPP, MIA, EMPA, Data Science for Public Policy), Bard College Berlin, and Constructor University offer fully English-taught programmes. Zeppelin University offers bilingual (German/English) programmes. All distance learning and part-time programmes are in German only.
EU/EEA citizens need no visa. Non-EU students need a student visa (Studienvisum), which requires proof of admission, health insurance, and a blocked account with ~€11,904/year (~€992/month). After graduation, a job-seeker visa (up to 18 months) allows you to find work in Germany. During your studies, you may work 120 full days or 240 half-days per year.
Living costs depend on the city: €800–1,000/month in smaller cities (Friedrichshafen, Bremen, Ismaning), €1,000–1,200/month in Berlin, Hamburg or Munich. This covers rent (~€400–700), health insurance (~€110), food (~€200–250) and transport (~€50 with the Deutschlandticket).
Yes. All programmes listed here are state-recognised (staatlich anerkannt) and follow the Bologna system (bachelor’s/master’s with ECTS credits). Degrees are recognised across the EU and through credential evaluation services like WES (US/Canada), UK ENIC (UK) and NACES members worldwide. The Hertie School is specifically comparable to LSE or Sciences Po in international reputation.
Entry salary with a master’s: ~€4,750/month gross in the public sector (TVöD E13 – a collective pay agreement). Bachelor’s graduates start at ~€3,100–3,500. In the private sector (consulting, public affairs), €4,200–4,800 is typical. With experience and leadership roles, salaries reach €6,000–8,500/month.
Related programmes at private universities
- Business Administration – for those leaning more towards economics and management
- Social Work – social pedagogy, counselling, youth services
- Law – legal studies and public law
About the Author Christian Wolf
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