International Political Economy (MSc Double Degree) Marburg University

University of Texas at Dallas

The programme language is English.

Programme Description
The Master of Science in International Political Economy is an international and interdisciplinary two-year Master's programme designed to combine the analytical strength of economics with global insights from political science. The programme provides training in quantitative as well as qualitative research methods. The Master of Science in International Political Economy is jointly offered by the University of Texas at Dallas and the University of Marburg. Successful students will receive a degree from both universities (through this double or dual degree programme). Students are required to spend one year of study at each university. The Master of Science in International Political Economy is targeted at students who have already earned a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent in (i) economics or a related field or (ii) political science or a related field. Admission of the former group is handled in Marburg; admission of the latter group in Dallas.
Programme participants will develop an up-to-date understanding of the subject of study (i.e., an awareness of leading theories, criticisms, and limitations, as well as recent advances in research). In addition, they will be taught how to use this acquired knowledge to analyse real-world circumstances within an economic paradigm and discover appropriate and feasible solutions.

Programme Structure
Students with an economics background start the MSc in International Political Economy programme at Marburg and move to Dallas after two semesters, whereas students with a political science background start in Dallas and move to Marburg after two semesters. During the course of their studies, students earn a total of 120 credit points in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). Credits acquired at Dallas will be converted into ECTS and vice versa. Courses are structured in modules, some of which are required and some of which are electives. Most modules contain various courses from which students can choose those in which they are most interested (subject to availability; not all courses are offered in all semesters). Most courses deal with general or specific aspects of economics or politics, but some courses emphasise research methods. The Master's thesis is written over a period of four months, during which the student works independently on an academic research topic under the supervision of an experienced professor.
The following list is an example of module choice across all four semesters. The specific courses offered within each module might vary from year to year, but the main qualifications acquired in each module are the same.

Students starting at University of Marburg
Semester 1 & 2: Marburg

• Research Methods
• International Economics
• Economics Electives

Semester 3 & 4: Dallas

• Research Methods
• International Politics
• Political Science Electives
• Master's Thesis

Students starting at University of Texas at Dallas
Semester 1 & 2: Dallas

• Research Methods and Economics
• International Politics
• Political Science Electives

Semester 3 & 4: Marburg

• Research Methods
• International Economics
• Economics Electives
• Master's Thesis

15 July for the following winter semester

Following the Bologna guidelines on European university education, the course is structured so that 30 credit points (ECTS) should be achieved every semester. The different modules in the Master's programme add up to 120 ECTS. The following section gives an overview of the programme structure and its modules.

• Research Methods (24 ECTS points)

To accommodate the increasing demand for economists equipped with methodological skills, students are trained in a variety of analytical tools. This module will also help to prepare students to write their Master's theses and academic essays in general.

• International Politics (20 ECTS points)
• International Economics (12 ECTS points)
• Economics Electives (36 ECTS points)
• Political Science Electives (10 ECTS points)
• Master's Thesis (18 ECTS points)

The final phase of the course is the Master's thesis, which provides students with the opportunity to apply the skills acquired during the taught part of the programme. Students may choose a research topic in economics or political science, within which they will undertake theory or public policy-oriented research using a multitude of possible methods under the guidance of an experienced professor.

Every student spends one year in Marburg and one year in Dallas. Depending on the student's background, the Master's thesis is written either in Marburg or in Dallas.

No tuition fees

There is a semester fee, which includes the mandatory student union membership (required by state law) and a free travel pass for public transport in the state of Hesse and beyond, as well as access to subsidised accommodation and meals. In the summer semester of 2025, the semester fee amounted to approx. 420 EUR. 
https://www.uni-marburg.de/en/studying/life-at-umr/finance

Living costs depend on individual lifestyles and on regional prices. The Marburg foreigners' registration office ("Ausländerbehörde") requires international students to prove that they have at least 934 EUR per month at their disposal in order to cover their living costs.
https://www.uni-marburg.de/en/studying/life-at-umr/finance

Bachelor's degree or its equivalent in economics or a related field or in political science or a related field.

When applying to Marburg, the following criteria must be fulfilled:
At the time of application, students should have been awarded at least 72 ECTS credits in economics, business administration, or economics-related methods (e.g., mathematics, statistics), with at least 54 ECTS credits in economics.

Please note that the latter admission requirement reflects roughly one and a half years of full-time study of economics courses in a narrow sense, which means that, for example, business administration, accounting, management, marketing, etc. do not count towards the necessary credits for admission.

For further details, please take a look at: https://www.uni-marburg.de/en/fb02/studying/study-programmes/international-political-economy/factsheet-application-1-1.pdf.

A precondition for successful application is a confident command of the English language (European language classification scheme C1 or better, which is roughly equivalent to IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL (Internet-based): 95 points, TOEIC: 945 points).

15 July for the following winter semester

No

Within certain legal limits, job opportunities are available for international students. Fluent German is required for most jobs. Employment for international students must be approved by the foreigners' registration office. There are hardly any legal restrictions on taking academic assistant jobs at the university.

Further information on job opportunities and university career services: https://www.uni-marburg.de/en/studying/life-at-umr/work-1

The market situation for accommodation is not easy in Marburg. However, the university assists international students in finding suitable and affordable accommodation. The student services office ("Studierendenwerk Marburg") maintains student residence halls with a total of approx. 2,100 units. Apart from single rooms, there are two- to three-room flats for student families. Only students registered at Marburg University are entitled to a place in a residence hall. The "Konrad Biesalski House", in which handicapped and non-handicapped students live together, offers round-the-clock assistance. A bus service and services such as physiotherapeutic exercises and massage baths are offered. Many students live in private accommodation or shared flats. The supply of flats in the centre of Marburg is limited, especially in the Old Town ("Oberstadt"). The situation on the outskirts of Marburg and in the immediate vicinity is better. There are good bus connections. Experience shows that demand for accommodation is highest at the beginning of each semester (April, October), so you should start looking for accommodation around the end of the previous semester (February, July) if possible.
https://www.uni-marburg.de/en/studying/life-at-umr/housing

Our Career Advisory Service supports students transitioning from their studies to professional life. Each semester, Marburg University offers a wide range of workshops and events on topics such as job applications, career planning, and entering the workforce, which are open to students from all faculties. In one-on-one counselling sessions, some in cooperation with the Employment Agency’s Career Team in Marburg, students receive advice regarding career orientation and career options in Germany. Our staff support students in integrating their strengths, interests, and values in order to actively shape a rewarding career path.

International students at Marburg University can profit from a profound support structure that accompanies them throughout their study journey. Our student orientation portfolio covers orientation programmes, mentoring programmes, workshops, seminars, intercultural training, get-togethers, and leisure activities. Counselling services advise on all aspects of studying and living in Marburg, ranging from peer office hours and housing support services to the general study advisory service.

Marburg University is not just a German university steeped in tradition. Founded in 1527, it is also the oldest Protestant university in the world. It has been a place of research and teaching for nearly five centuries. Currently, approx. 21,200 students are studying in Marburg, and international students comprise 22% of the student body. With the exception of the engineering sciences, almost all scientific disciplines are represented at Marburg University. Numerous organisations complement and enrich the university’s range of services. These organisations carry out special research activities or support Marburg University in the areas of communications, information technology, and foreign languages.

Total number of students
21,200

International students
22%

The university is an integral part of the scenic town of Marburg, which lies 100 km north of Frankfurt. Marburg is situated on the Lahn River and is marked by the castle on the hill. With its 80,000 inhabitants (approx. 50,000 in the centre), the town has over 21,000 students and about 4,000 people working for the university. The saying "Other towns have a university; Marburg is a university" reflects the unique historic atmosphere of the city. Wherever you are in town, you are part of a vibrant academic community. Marburg can easily be reached by plane, public transport, or by car. For detailed descriptions of the different routes to Marburg and to find one's way around the town, see: https://www.uni-marburg.de/en/studying/life-at-umr/transport.