The Master’s Program in Political Science

Program Format 
Starting in 2015 a completely redesigned Master’s Program in Political Science is offered at the University of Salzburg. Since 2016 the courses are taught fully in English as working language. The program comprises 120 ECTS credits (whereby one credit corresponds to 25 hours of academic work) and requires 4 semesters of study. A systematic overview as well as the whole curriculum of the program, containing in-depth descriptions of the contents and learning outcomes of the modules, can be downloaded below.

Why Salzburg?
Good reasons why to consider Salzburg as your ideal location for MA study are all of the following:

• the high quality of research and teaching combined with its international orientation
• highly flexible and individualized designs of the study program to suit your needs
• small class sizes and interactive format
• individual attention and excellent mentoring
• cooperation with the Salzburg Centre for European Union Studies (SCEUS)
• close interaction with predominantly international students of the EUS Master program
• attractive, scenic, and safe location with great overall infrastructure

Further details about the study content:
 Courses MA Political Science 2023/2024

The program at a glance
Folder MA Political Science 2016
Systematic Overview Curriculum MA Political Science 2016
Curriculum MA Political Science 2016
Examination Record MA Political Science 2016 (pdf)
Examination Record MA Political Science 2016 (xls)
Recommended Plan of Study MA Political Science 2016

Admission Criteria and Tuition Fees
Admission is contingent upon completion of bachelor’s studies in Political Science or an equivalent academic program by an Austrian or international post-secondary institution. If such equivalency can not be fully established, students will be required to take additional coursework of up to 45 ECTS credits.

No tuition fees are required for students from the European Union as long as they do not exceed the program’s normal length of four semesters. However, a small obligatory activity fee (currently € 18.70/semester) in support of the Austrian Student Union is collected from all students. Exceptions apply to third-country nationals who are charged tuition fees of € 745.42 per semester.

Detailed information on how to apply for a graduate study at the University of Salzburg can be found under the following link.

Objectives
The program’s stated objectives are for students to acquire highly specialized knowledge about the field of study along with advanced methodological skills. Program  participants will also learn how to develop innovative research questions, compose seminar papers that are theoretically and methodologically well-grounded, and defend their arguments in oral presentation. Graduates of the program will be able to critically analyze and evaluate complex political subject matters and gain a rich expertise on which to draw in the professional practice.

Contents
The MA program in Political Science allows for individualized course programs based on your personal interests, needs, and preferences. The program is divided into four thematic areas of which students will need to select two in order to develop their concentration of study. These four thematic areas are:

• Democracy and Legitimacy,
• Comparative Politics,
• Multilevel Politics – Austria and Europe, and
• International Relations.

The courses, which all entail a workload of 6 ECTS points, are organized in the following modules:

Modules	Contents	ECTS Points
EM1-4	elective modules: 2 out of 4 thematic areas (1 proseminar basic texts, 2 specific seminars per area)	36
CEM1-2	compulsory elective module: either advanced methods or applied course (1 seminar)	6
M1	compulsory module: advanced thematic courses (2 seminars)	12
M2	compulsory module: methods (2 seminars)	12
M3	compulsory module: master’s seminar	6
	master’s thesis	30
	master’s exam	6
	elective courses	12

Completing your Master’s Degree
The end of your Master’s Degree is approaching? Congratulations and all the best for the remaining exams! This Info Sheet MA Degree is intended to help you complete all the final administrative steps of your studies quickly and easily.

Please note: To avoid delays please complete the steps in the order as described here. Please check whether all requirements are met, otherwise no administrative processing can take place! If you have any other questions regarding the administrative procedure please contact Mag. Nikolina Sokic ().

• Dr. Franz Fallend, Chairman of Political Science Curriculum Committee
• Email:
• Phone:  + 43 662 8044 6618