Study program

University

City

Universität Hamburg

Peace and Security Studies

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Subjects: Sociology, Law

M.A.

Degree

English & German

Language

Winter semester: 15 Mar

Application Deadlines

1 Year (starting: Winter semester)

Duration

Free

Tuition fees (per semester)

Starting: Winter semester
Mode of admission:: local admission restriction
Application:: directly at University
Study mode:: On campus

5 reasons why to choose this Study Program

A unique master’s program

This one of a kind program in Germany teaches important knowledge about international peace and security policy, combined with a broader view from other areas such as international law, peacekeeping and conflict, peace research in the natural sciences, peace ethics, and political security economics.

Brilliant career prospects

After completing this master’s program, you’ll have the skills required to continue an academic career in research or teaching in the field of peace and security. This program will prepare you to work in national and international organizations, public administrations, professional associations, private companies, and the media.

Gain practical experience

During the second semester of this program, you can spend several months at one of the partner institutes (KoFrieS - Cooperation Network for Peace, Research and Security Policy) conducting praxis-oriented research or writing your master’s thesis.

Study at a “University of Excellence”

Universität Hamburg is one of Germany’s largest universities and the largest education and research institution in northern Germany. The university was successful in the Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State Governments and was chosen as one of ten “Universities of Excellence”.

Benefit from field trips to main German and international institutions

As part of the program, students take part in field trips to different institutions such as the Bundestag in Berlin, the OSCE in Vienna, or the European Parliament in Brussels.

How do you want to continue?

Go to course website

Course description

Is one of your career goals to work towards achieving peace and security in the world? If the answer to this vital question is yes, then this program is for you! During your studies in the M.A. in Peace and Security Studies, you will study peace and security from a social science, economic, scientific, ethical, and legal point of view. You’ll learn and practice research methods that will open the doors towards working in major international organizations or academic institutions.

Target Groups

Curriculum

Study mode

Career prospects

The M.A. in Peace and Security Studies is intended for holders of a first bachelor’s degree. It is targeted to highly qualified graduates and academically trained practitioners from different fields such as:

Social sciences
Natural Sciences
Education
Law
Media
Psychology
Education
Other relevant subjects

For students who are interested in advancing their career opportunities in the field of peace and security studies.

Special Program Features

Diverse perspectives of peace and security

This master's program combines theory and practice and has a unique interdisciplinary focus that combines social-sciences, ethics, human rights, and economics to study peace and security issues.

A current and important study approach

The main courses of this master’s program are based on topics about foreign policy development, current conflicts, structural problems, and strategies for avoiding or minimizing violent conflicts.

Great University and partner Institutes

This program is offered jointly by Universität Hamburg together with the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at Universität Hamburg (IFSH), leading academic and security policy institutions, and think tanks in and outside of Germany, as part of the Cooperation Network for peace research and security policy (Kooperationsverbund Friedensforschung und Sicherheitspolitik—KoFrieS).

Accreditations

HRK Internationalization Audit

The "Internationalization of Higher Education Institutions" audit is part of the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) EXPERTISE Internationalisation project. Since 2009, it has been supporting HRK member universities in strategically aligning their internationalization and anchoring it permanently within the institution.

Family-Friendly Higher Education Audit

The “Family-Friendly Higher Education” audit serves to systematize and develop the existing regulations, activities, and opportunities. It aims to create a reliable framework offering a scope of individual arrangements. Employees and students must be able to achieve a healthy balance between their studies/work and their family commitments, including childcare and care duties.

Diversity Audit

The "Shaping Diversity" audit from the Stifterverband aims to help universities to develop and implement diversity strategies. The Stifterverband is the joint initiative of companies and foundations that provides holistic advice, networking, and support in the fields of education, science, and innovation.

AQAS

The “Agency for Quality Assurance through Accreditation of Study Programs” is a German founded non-profit association, which is authorized in Germany and Europe to conduct external evaluation procedures for universities.

Requirements

Qualification Requirements

The application requirements for the Study program in “Peace and Security Studies” are:

Bachelor (undergraduate) degree

Previous bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in:

Not specified

Min ECTS required:

240 ECTS

The 240 ECTS from previous studies are usually obtained through four years of study. If you have completed a three-year Bachelor’s Degree (180 ECTS), you can compensate the missing 60 ECTS by other university studies (e.g. summer schools, E-learning courses, additional university language courses etc.) before the deadline specified by the Board of Admissions and Examinations. In this case, it is important to enclose a confirmation from your university that the additionally acquired ECTS have not been counted in the 180 ECTS.
As you will obtain a full master’s degree (300 ECTS), it is necessary to prove that you already have 240 ECTS from your previous Bachelor's or Master's studies or other university Diplomas. Please ask your ECTS-advisor or the institution at which you obtained additional ECTS to certify or confirm all additionally achieved ECTS.

There is also the possibility to receive additional credits for certain experiences upon request.
In this case, please enclose a written request to your application. Check:

More Info

GPA

A grade reflecting excellent academic achievement in a degree completed at a German or foreign university, or a successfully completed degree from a German or foreign university together with proof of professional experience in the field of peace studies or security policy.

Language Requirements

The following certificates are recognised as proof of your language proficience.

English

CERF English

min B2

IELTS

min 5.5

TOEFL CBT

min 230

TOEFL iBT

min 88

TOEFL pBT

min 570

German

DSH

min DSH 2

TestDaF

min TDN 4

Goethe-Zertifikat

min B2

Does the university recognize "other equivalent language certificates"?

yes

Additional information:

How many lectures are in English? What level of English and German language skills is required? Some of the lectures will be held in English. For example, during the 2015-16 academic year, 15 out of 46 offered lectures are held in English and further 21 lectures contain crucial parts in English. Furthermore, students have the opportunity to choose whether to take their oral and written exams in German or English, independent of each lecture’s working language. English and German are working and examination languages of equal rights for the students throughout the whole course of studies. Good passive understanding of both languages, however, is essential and it is also a prerequisite for admission. https://ifsh.de/file/study/en/FAQs-Bewerbung_EN.pdf - page 5. Only native speakers are exempted from language test.

Application & Admission

Application Deadlines

Locked

For Candidates with previous degree from

Winter Semester
(starting in October)

Summer Semester
(starting in April)

Germany

Winter semester: -

Summer semester: -

Another EU Country

Winter semester: -

Summer semester: -

Rest of the world

Winter semester: -

Summer semester: -

Application Procedure & Selection

Mode of admission:

local admission restriction

Admission test/interview:

None

Application:

directly at University

Application Fee:

none

Application Documents

Online-Application form

More Info

Curriculum vitae in tabular form

More Info

First University-Level Degree Copy

Degree from a university or school of applied sciences with proof of at least 240 ECTS.

Certified translations and originals of all diplomas must be handed in for the enrollment procedure at the University of Hamburg in August.

Information on whether your foreign degree is recognized in Germany can be found on the platform of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany: anabin. If you cannot find your degree program there, please contact anabin directly. To find more about the topic, click on the "More Info" button.

More Info

English Language Certificate → Language Requirements

Copy of the English language certificate

German Language Certificate → Language Requirements

Copy of the German language certificate

Proof of Professional Experience

Proof of relevant work experience where available.

Letter of Recommendation

If applicable, additional documentation offering evidence of your particular suitability to this course of study (e.g. letters of recommendation, scholarships, or grants).

Further Information

Your personal contact

Dr. Patricia Schneider

Academic coordinator

Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy

Beim Schlump 83

20144 Hamburg

Contact Details:
+49 (0)40 86 60 77-20

Study program administration

Questions regarding the procedure for applications

Contact Details:
+49 (0)40 86 60 77-10
studiengangsverwaltung@ifsh.de

Information Package

Get further information in one click!

Get your copy of the Module Handbook of the M.A. in Peace and Security Studies!

For registered users only.

For more information please check the

Course Website