| Degree awarded | Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) |
|---|---|
| Duration and credits | 6 semesters; 180 ECTS credits |
| Starts in | October (winter semester) |
| Language of instruction | German |
Politics is a process that seeks to distribute social resources in a binding manner. But how do politics, the economy, justice and society interlink with each other? What are the effects between them? How are conflicts of interest handled? Studying the B.A. Governance and Public Policy programme, you will deal with the structure and organisation of the state and its institutions. The programme also looks beyond nation-states, as it explores the roles of other political actors, such as international and non-governmental organisations and the mass media. You will look at the challenges within our society as well as in the globalised world from different perspectives and find solutions using methods informed by different academic disciplines.
As part of the programme, you are also given the opportunity to complete one of two double degree options, studying international relations at the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia) or Scienze politiche e delle relazioni internazionali at the University of Parma (Italy).
This degree programme gives its students access to careers in international organisations, associations and political parties, in media and public relations organisations, in the public administration, in foundation trusts or political advisory institutions as well as in education institutions. Depending on your chosen focus modules, a variety of other professional areas in private companies will open up for you. In addition, the interdisciplinary nature of the programme gives you further career prospects at the intersection of different academic disciplines.
The degree programme is divided into four module areas. As part of the programme, you will write a dissertation on a topic chosen from one of the focus (area B) or extension modules (area C).
A) Principles of Political Science
B) Political Science Focus Module Groups
C) Political Science Extension Module Groups
D) Foreign Language and Internship
A) This module area imparts essential methods and theory from the subject disciplines represented in the four introductory module groups: political science and methods in sociology, economics, society in transformation, and public law.
B) In module area B, you will gain advanced knowledge of political science. Here, you will choose two of the three focus module groups offered: governance/public policy, political theory and intellectual history, or European and international politics.
C) Building on your prior knowledge gained in module area A, you will consolidate your theoretical and methodological expertise in one or more part disciplines by choosing three of eighteen extension module groups offered.
D) In the practice-oriented module area D, you will gain subject-specific language skills. Depending on the track you choose, your language programme will have a social science, legal or business/economics focus. You can choose from the following languages: Chinese, Czech, English, French, German as a Foreign Language, Indonesian, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish or Thai. Moreover, you will complete a compulsory two-month internship in Germany or abroad in this module area.
For further details, please consult the Academic Advice Service's infosheet (German) and the module catalogue (German).
This degree programme starts in the October (winter semester) each year.
Prospective students with a higher education entrance qualification from Germany or the EEA region (e.g. German Abitur or the Austrian Matura) can enrol directly for this degree programme during the enrolment period.
This year, the University of Passau was ranked in the top 10 of universities in Germany on StudyCheck, the German web portal where students review their degree programmes. Based on the ranking, StudyCheck issued the University with a "TOP Universität in Deutschland 2025" award ("top University in Germany").
In the universities category, Passau was ranked 6th in Germany and reached the first place among Bavarian universities.
If you are interested in governance and public policy, these degree programmes might also be worth checking out:
The Academic Advice Service is the first port of call for all enquiries related to studying at the University!
Drop us a line: advice@uni-passau.de
