Master's Program in Political Science

Each semester, you need to register online for those examinations you would like to take at the end of the lecture period. You will need to do so within a period defined by Student Services.
If you are a bachelor’s student, you will also need to register for all courses that you are meant to take in the respective semester as per the degree plan (including social skills courses). That way, the Student Services’ electronic campus management system (Portal²) keeps track of which student has already attended which courses and how often they have taken exams in those courses.

PLEASE NOTE: The exam registration period falls within the lecture period, which means that you cannot register for your examinations via the campus management system before the lecture period starts.
Each semester, the periods during which you can register for exams will be published on the Student Services’ website. Online registration is done via Portal².

A research intern­ship is an integral part of the master's program. To obtain the required 8 ECTS credits, you must either:

• complete a six-week intern­ship at a social science research institution (academic or non-academic) or
• attend a two-week summer school with an empirical focus on the social sciences.

In case you work as a research assistant for one of the professors at the Department of Political Science or in a related field, your work may be recognized as an intern­ship as well.

Every student in the master's program in Political Science must write a report after the intern­ship: guidelines for the intern­ship report.

For more information or if you have general questions about the intern­ship or summer schools, please contact our Intern­ship Office.

We encourage you to go abroad during your studies. Go to the “International” section for more information.

If you would like to have the courses and examinations you take at a university abroad recognized, please contact the program managers/departmental exchange coordinators before leaving. They will discuss the courses you plan to select with you. By concluding a Learning Agreement, it is usually possible to stay within the regular period of study.

You can apply for leave of absence during your studies citing a valid reason (section 61 subsection 1 of the Act on Higher Education of the Land of Baden-Württemberg (LHG)). A valid reason is for example sickness or a semester abroad. Your period of absence should not exceed two semesters. In exceptional cases a longer period of absence may be granted.
Please submit your application for leave of absence to Student Services. 

Portal² is the University of Mannheim’s campus management system. Using the portal, you can, for example, view the course catalog, create a course schedule, and register for examinations.

Portal²

ILIAS is the e-learning platform we use at the University of Mannheim. On this platform, teachers can upload important course material, such as lecture scripts and slides, to make them available to you. If you have not yet joined the ILIAS group that corresponds to one of your courses, please contact the teachers of the respective course or their secretaries. The University IT will help you in case you have any technical questions.

ILIAS

Structured doctoral programs

The center for Doctoral Studies in Social and Behavioral Sciences (CDSS)  offers doctoral programs in Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology in close collaboration with the School of Social Sciences at the University of Mannheim.

Students interested in pursuing a doctoral degree at the CDSS have the opportunity to apply for the 'CDSS Associate Member Program' in the first year of their master's program.

Doctoral studies at a chair

In addition to the structured doctoral program offered by the CDSS the School of Social Sciences also provides students with the opportunity to acquire a doctoral degree under the supervision of a member of the School.