Grundständige Studiengänge
Master-Studiengänge
Weitere Studienmöglichkeiten
- Aufbaustudiengänge
- Wissenschaftliche Weiterbildung
- Gasthörer*innen
- Angebote der Goethe Business School
- Graduiertenakademie
- Universität des 3. Lebensalters
Comparative Democracy (Master of Arts)

![]() |
Overview
Conditions of admission
Applications
Course content and focus areas |
Comparative politics and comparative democracy studies are core components of political science and not least due to current challenges such as the rise of populism and nationalism, extremism, disenchantment with politics and various structural socio-economic challenges (e.g. globalisation, deindustrialisation, technological change) are topical, relevant and exciting. In this area, the Master programme offers a comprehensive range of courses that teach theoretical, analytical, methodological and empirical skills in a pluralistic and structured manner. The degree program aims at four main goals:
The curriculum of the Master program evolves on the basis of nine intertwined modules. With these modules, the program aims to advance cumulative learning. Furthermore, it aims to blend training in basic research skills with problem-oriented perspectives on the issue of democratic governance. With its problem-oriented approach the program aims to further an active and creative learning environment that helps students to develop an open minded and critical approach to academic learning and democracy as the program’s main subject. The introductory phase of the program (Modules A, B, C) provide you with a broad Master-level introduction to the study of comparative democracy. It equips you with the theoretical, methodological, and practical skills to analyze politics and lays the foundation for your entire study program. We strive to facilitate close contact between you and your teachers in order to closely supervise your academic development during this phase of your studies. The three mandatory modules D1, D2, D3 are designed to study key topics that evolve from comparative research on democracy. The three modules cover comparative democracy research from a sociological, institutional, and policy perspective. All modules stress cross-national but also longitudinal comparisons as a means to explore core issues in democratic governance. The organizational logic of the modules follows the ‘policy cycle’ from citizens (their preferences, norms, values, behavior, culture, etc.) via interest aggregation and representation (for example through parties, unions, employers, lobby groups, etc.) to the output side of public policy-making (covering crucial areas such as welfare states, varieties of capitalism, patterns of inequalities, etc.) as well as the policies’ impact back citizens. Students thus receive and are equipped both with a broad overview as well as with detailed insights into the political processes of “comparative democracy”. Gaining practical experience in an internship Independent research through research internship Internationally connected |
Detailed information | |
Degree |
Master of Arts in Comparative Democracy |
Duration |
The standard length of study for the Master of Arts is 4 semesters. |
Languages of instruction |
English |
Start of the programme |
The study programme starts at the beginning of the winter semester. |
Student advisory service |
Alexander Simon Please find office hours and further information on student advising at the Department of Social Sciences here. |
Admission requirements |
You should have a strong interest in the theoretical and empirical study of comparative politics and a willingness to engage in self-organized learning. The subject-related admission requirement for this degree program is a Bachelor's degree in the same subject or in the same field of study or an equivalent degree.
Related courses of study are those in which political science and social science coursework and examinations (especially political science basics and subfields as well as social science methods) amounting to at least 60 credit points (CP) according to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) have been acquired.
All information on the application procedure, deadlines and formal requirements, the documents to be submitted and the link to the application portal (Uni-Assist) can be found here.
|
Provisional admission |
If the university entrance qualification for the consecutive Master’s programme (namely the Bachelor’s degree) has not yet been completed, you can apply for the programme with a transcript of records on the basis of at least 80% of the required for the bachelor's degree CP (normally 144 credit points). This provisional certificate must be issued by an office authorised to award grades or issue certificates. If a student is admitted, this will be on a provisional basis. |
Mode of admission | Admission to the programme is restricted. After the admission requirements have been checked, a ranking may take place in accordance with the selection statutes: Decisive for the selection of study places is 70% the grade of the degree required for the Master's program and 30% the grade of the letter of motivation. |
Documents to be submitted |
|
Deadline for applications |
01.05. - 15.06. |
Address for applications | Online application portal for Master’s programmes |