International Relations (MIB), M.A.
The master's degree in International Relations at the KU serves to provide an in-depth academic examination of international relations, political issues, economics - especially economic policy, recent history and international law. The interdisciplinary course attracts students from all over the world who, thanks to the flexible structure of the program, can tailor the course to suit their needs and professional goals, and some of them can be completed in English. The master’s course comprises 120 ECTS and the standard period of study is four semesters.
Programme facts
| Degree | Master of Arts (M.A.) |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 semesters, 120 ECTS |
| Language of instruction | German |
| Required German | C1 |
| Study mode | Full-Time |
| Start | Winter semester |
| Application | Directly to the university, winter semester until 01.03 |
| Admission | Admission restriction (NC): a competition of school grades |
Will I get in
The programme has an admission restriction: the average grade of your certificate, converted to the German scale, decides. The cut-off changes every year — last year's value shows the order of magnitude, not a promise.
How the selection works and how strong the competition is — we go through it against your certificate when we select programmes for you.
Programme selection →What you study
The International Relations course consists of a compulsory, compulsory elective and elective area. In the compulsory area, 40 ECTS have to be acquired and the internship (10 ECTS) completed. The modules refer to
The full curriculum and the programme's parameters are part of programme selection: we compare them with your profile.
Pick programmesCareer
The aim of the MIB is to qualify graduates for positions of responsibility in international organizations, constitutional bodies, administrative authorities, research institutions, the media and non-governmental organizations. The course achieves this in particular through seminars with a focus on international political fields and the corresponding skills; through special career advice or information events on working for international organizations; as well as through your own professional network beyond your studies. Today, for example, MIB alumni work in the Federal Foreign Office, the Federal Statistical Office, at embassies, political foundations, in research centers, in science or in the private sector - all over the world.
Requirements and application
| Previous education | A university degree with six theoretical semesters in a degree in politics, society, history, economics or languages with at least an overall grade of 2.5 (“good”) or law with at least an overall grade of “satisfactory” |
|---|---|
| Language | German C1 — confirmed by a certificate when you apply |
| Application | Directly to the university, winter semester until 01.03 |
The procedure and the set of documents depend on your certificate. We check the university's requirements against your documents and give you a list: what to submit, how to certify and translate it, where and when to apply.
Check the requirementsHow to get into this programme
- 1Check your certificate and its recognitionDirect admission, a year at a university at home, or Studienkolleg first — this decides the whole plan.
- 2German up to C1 and a certificateDSH or TestDaF has to be passed before you apply.
- 3Documents and translationsCertified translations of the certificate and transcript, an APS if required. 3–4 weeks.
- 4Application directly to the university until 01.03Send the documents well before the deadline — an incomplete application cannot be completed after it.
- 5Admission, visa, movingPlan 2–3 months for the visa and the blocked account in parallel.
How to apply
You can submit the application yourself or with our help — the university decides on admission in both cases.
Applications go through the university's portal or uni-assist. Typical mistakes:
- ×incorrectly made certified copies and translations
- ×a wrong set of documents
- ×the application submitted the wrong way
- ×errors or gaps in the application form
- ×the application submitted at the wrong time — too early or too late
An incomplete or incorrectly prepared application is excluded from the selection — it can no longer be corrected after the deadline.
StudyInFocus does not represent the university and does not influence the admission decision. We do not sell study places and do not guarantee admission — this is a service for preparing and submitting documents on the applicant's side.
If your level is not enough yet
The two most common stoppers are a language level below the requirement and a certificate without direct admission. Both can be solved, but they take months — plan them now, not after a rejection.
Questions about this programme
What language level do I need?
When do I need to apply?
Don't postpone the application
The deadline is 01.03.2027 (138 days left). Language, translations and the document check take months, not weeks. In 30 minutes we will build a plan backwards from the deadline and tell you honestly whether you can make it.