Field guide · Germany
Social sciences master's in Germany
Political science, sociology, economics, international relations and public-policy master's at German public universities — English-taught, backed by DFG-funded research.
Programmes133in Germany
Universities65
Duration24 mo105 of 133
Tuition (non-EU)€332 – €21,400recorded fees, 44 of 133
About social sciences master’s in Germany
Germany's social-sciences master's coverage sits at Humboldt Berlin, Free University of Berlin, Heidelberg, LMU Munich, Mannheim, Bonn, Bremen, Hertie School (Berlin) and the Hochschule für Politik (TUM) — with additional depth at Göttingen, Freiburg, Konstanz and Cologne. Political science and international relations concentrate in Berlin (Hertie, HU, FU) and Heidelberg; economics at Bonn, Mannheim and LMU; sociology and area studies at Bremen, Bielefeld and Göttingen. Research funding flows through DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) and the WZB Berlin Social Science Center. Public tuition is essentially free (semester contribution €150–€400); Baden-Württemberg charges €1,500/semester for non-EU students. IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 88 is the common English bar.
Top schools in Germany
Ranked using THE / QS /ARWU where available.
Technical University of Munich
Munich · 2 programmes
THE #26
University of Cologne
Cologne · 2 programmes
FT MiM #37
Heidelberg University
Heidelberg · 1 programme
THE #47
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Munich · 7 programmes
QS_WORLD_2025 #59
University of Bonn
Bonn · 1 programme
ARWU #61
RWTH Aachen University
Aachen · 3 programmes
THE #92
Freie Universität Berlin
Berlin · 3 programmes
QS_WORLD_2025 #97
University of Tübingen
Tübingen · 6 programmes
THE #98
University of Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau · 3 programmes
ARWU #101
Universität Hamburg
Hamburg · 2 programmes
THE #125
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Berlin · 6 programmes
QS_WORLD_2025 #126
University of Münster
Münster · 3 programmes
ARWU #151
Leipzig University
Leipzig · 2 programmes
ARWU #201
Ruhr University Bochum
Bochum · 2 programmes
ARWU #201
University of Potsdam
Potsdam · 1 programme
THE #201
Programmes by school
Up to three programmes per top school — click through for admission facts and tuition.
University of CologneCologne
RWTH Aachen UniversityAachen
Freie Universität BerlinBerlin
University of TübingenTübingen
University of FreiburgFreiburg im Breisgau
Universität HamburgHamburg
University of MünsterMünster
Leipzig UniversityLeipzig
Ruhr University BochumBochum