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The Central State Office for Distance Learning (ZFU) has approved the course Political Science & Management under the number 181418c. Who this German-taught M.A. suits – and what you need to qualify
This programme fits internationally minded professionals who want to bridge politics and management while studying remotely in German. Typical profiles include: public affairs or communications specialists in multinational companies who need stronger policy analysis and leadership skills; staffers from ministries, NGOs or political foundations aiming to step up to strategy or management roles; consultants or business graduates moving into policy, regulation and EU affairs. You study largely online, with a short on-site component in Hamburg, and earn a 120-ECTS Master of Arts.
Admission requirements
Formal routes to admission and key conditions:
- First degree route: a completed undergraduate degree (usually at least 180 ECTS) plus relevant professional experience.
- Recognition of foreign qualifications: international Bachelor’s degrees are accepted if they are comparable to a German first degree. You submit official transcripts; certified translations may be required. Equivalency is assessed individually.
- Without a first degree: experienced managers can qualify via the university’s master entry track. In addition, admission is possible with a completed vocational training plus at least 10 years of professional experience, including 6 years in leadership (individual assessment).
- Language of instruction: the programme is taught in German. Proof of sufficient German for academic study is required; the university specifies accepted certificates during admission.
- English requirement: English at level B2 is required for selected course content and literature.
- No numerus clausus (NC) and flexible start dates.
- Mandatory attendance: plan for 6 days on site in Hamburg (48 hours) plus 4 online seminars (20 hours) during your studies.
Note: For master’s admission, an Abitur is not required; eligibility is based on your first degree or an approved non-traditional route with substantial work experience.
Personal requirements
Distance learning at master’s level demands consistent self-management and realistic planning. Expect about 30 hours per week of study time in the standard track, including reading German-language materials, preparing assignments and exams, and participating in online seminars. You need very good German comprehension and writing for academic texts, plus solid English (B2) for selected readings. Reliable internet, a quiet workspace and the discipline to keep weekly momentum are essential.
- Plan ahead for the on-site block in Hamburg (travel, potential visa, time off work).
- Coordinate time zones for live online sessions and assessments.
- Set a weekly study schedule, break modules into milestones, and protect focus time.
- Be comfortable discussing policy, economics and management topics in German.
If you bring perseverance, structured time management and strong communication skills in German, you can complete this programme fully online from abroad aside from the short Hamburg attendance phase.
What will you study in the Political Science and Management (M.A.) at European Distance Learning University Hamburg?
The programme is taught in German. You need advanced German to follow courses and sit exams (around C1 level is advisable). This is a Fernstudium – German for distance learning – at a private Fachhochschule (a German university of applied sciences) with 120 ECTS and a Master’s thesis at the end.
You build an integrated view of politics and business. Core political science includes topics like ideas, methods and models of political science, comparative government and policy analysis/policy design. You connect this with applied perspectives on globalisation and governance and European decision-making.
Management and leadership run throughout. You will work on leadership for executives, project management and communication and negotiation techniques. These modules translate political insights into concrete action in organisations, public institutions and companies.
Economics for policy rounds out your profile: micro- and macroeconomics/international economics, economic interests and EU policy, and global economic relations. You learn to read economic drivers behind policy choices and to argue with data.
Contemporary practice fields deepen your applied skills: media management and public relations, political psychology, and sustainable management and resources. A current-topic unit on AI as a game changer trains you to assess emerging technologies in policy and management contexts.
Electives and special formats: an interactive online simulation, “Lobbying in the European Union”, lets you take roles as lobbyist or politician and negotiate a regulation to experience Brussels politics first-hand. An optional international seminar can expand your perspective. The programme concludes with the Master’s thesis, where you address a relevant research or practice problem.
Quality assurance for distance learning in Germany includes approval by the ZFU – the German state authority for distance-learning courses (ZFU number 181418c).
How does the Political Science and Management distance programme work?
You study fully at a distance with structured online materials, regular assessments and limited mandatory seminars. Exams are available online, so you can complete most requirements from abroad; however, there are six on-site days in Hamburg that require travel to Germany.
Teaching language and language proof
The teaching and assessments are in German. To succeed, you should have advanced German (roughly C1 CEFR) for academic reading, writing and discussion. Several modules involve English-language sources, so B2 English reading ability is helpful.
Learning format and study materials
This is a flexible Fernstudium. You learn with digital study materials, audio study guides, webinars, learning apps and tutor feedback. Self-paced study is combined with scheduled interactive sessions. As a Fachhochschule, the university focuses on applied learning with case work, simulations and project tasks.
Exams and taking them from outside Germany
You can sit written exams online or at exam centres in Germany. Monthly exam dates provide flexibility, and online proctoring enables completion from abroad. Coursework, projects and the Master’s thesis are submitted digitally.
Mandatory on-site sessions in Germany
There are six compulsory attendance days in Hamburg (48 hours in total) plus four online seminars (20 hours). Plan for one short in-person block; this makes the programme not 100% remote. A long-stay student visa is typically not necessary for distance learning, but you may need a short-stay visa depending on your nationality for the on-site days.
Workload, time models and live-session timing
The programme carries 120 ECTS over 24 or 32 months. Expect about 30 hours per week in the standard study plan; the extended track spreads the workload and reduces weekly hours. Live online sessions follow German time zones (CET/CEST), usually scheduled on weekday evenings or compact blocks.
Distance-learning oversight: the course holds ZFU approval (181418c), a German state quality check specific to Fernstudium formats.
What does the Political Science and Management cost?
The regular fee model is €397 per month. Over the standard duration of 32 months, the total comes to €12,704. This typically covers study materials, access to the online campus, regular exams and the scheduled seminars; travel and accommodation for the Hamburg attendance days are extra and should be budgeted separately.
You pay in monthly instalments in euros. If you pay from outside the Eurozone, your bank or card provider may add currency conversion or transfer fees. The university offers a free extension of up to 16 months (12 months if you choose the 24-month model), which helps you avoid extra tuition if life gets in the way. Additional fees can arise for resits or optional services; plan a small buffer.
What careers and recognition does the Political Science and Management offer?
You earn a 120 ECTS Master of Arts aligned with the Bologna framework. The programme is accredited without conditions for the period 2025-03-27 to 2033-03-26 via the university’s internal accreditation system under the German Accreditation Council. ECTS credits and Bologna compatibility support international recognition, and the degree comes from a German, state-recognised university of applied sciences.
Career paths span public, private and non-profit settings where policy and management intersect. Typical roles include:
- Policy officer, adviser or senior associate in ministries, parliaments, parties or government agencies
- Public affairs, lobbying or corporate relations roles in multinational companies or industry associations
- Consultant in management or policy consulting, or analyst in think tanks and political foundations
- Programme or communications lead in NGOs, international organisations, or civic education institutions
- Media and PR/media management functions with a policy focus
Salaries vary by country and sector. In Germany and neighbouring EU markets, public-sector pay follows fixed bands; corporate public affairs and consulting tend to pay more, especially with leadership responsibility and international exposure.
Who is the Political Science and Management right for - and who not?
This Master’s suits working professionals who want an applied political science degree with strong management content, completed largely online with one short on-site block in Germany.
- You want an internationally usable, Bologna-compliant Master of Arts (120 ECTS) from Germany.
- You prefer distance learning with flexible exams (online or monthly sittings) and structured tutor support.
- You aim for roles linking policy and business: public affairs, consulting, government, NGOs or corporate strategy.
- You value practice formats such as the EU lobbying simulation and modules in leadership, communication and project management.
There are also clear cases where this programme is not a good fit. Read these carefully before you apply from abroad.
- You need an English-taught programme. Teaching and assessment are in German.
- You cannot travel to Germany for the mandatory six attendance days in Hamburg.
- You need a 100% online degree with no on-site components.
- Your schedule cannot accommodate roughly 30 hours per week of study in the standard track.
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