Global Political Economy and Development (MA GPED) University of Kassel

Courses are held in English (100%).

PROGRAMME PROFILE

The two-year Master’s programme in "Global Political Economy and Development" is a research-oriented graduate programme that leads to the degree of Master of Arts in Global Political Economy and Development. It introduces students to the institutions, actors, and processes characterising globalised capitalism, North-South relations, and development cooperation. It focuses on the global level, but it also looks at regional and national settings from a comparative perspective. Our curriculum stands out because it approaches political economy from a North-South perspective that is informed by development theory and practice and postcolonial perspectives.

The programme is interdisciplinary and is taught by scholars with a variety of disciplinary backgrounds, among them political science, sociology, and economics. The curriculum is based on a pluralist understanding of political economy and covers both mainstream and critical perspectives. It stresses the importance of an integrated research approach, which links empirical analysis with methodological and theoretical considerations. Moreover, there is a practical component to GPED: students are expected to complete a two-month internship at NGOs, international organisations, research centres, etc.

INTERNATIONAL SCOPE

The student body is truly international: about 75 percent of the students are from other countries than Germany. Guest lecturers from partner universities around the world regularly offer classes. Field research in preparation for the MA thesis can be supported by a limited number of research grants. For more information, please see the website of the Global Partnership Network (GPN).

RELEVANCE

Globalisation has challenged conventional thinking still heavily attached to the nation-state and has called into question the traditional separation between the economy and the political sphere. Reflecting on this, the Global Political Economy and Development Master’s programme offers students a comprehensive perspective on the world economy as well as the political dynamics, institutions, and actors that shape it and the imaginaries of development and progress that permeate it. It investigates the forces of globalisation and its contestations and critically analyses contemporary forms of political and economic governance on the global level as well as actors and policies in international development.

A COMPETITIVE EDGE ON THE JOB MARKET

In the wake of globalisation, a critical understanding of the global political and economic dynamics, time spent abroad, and good language skills give graduates a competitive edge in the job market. Correspondingly, the Master’s programme aims at facilitating learning on how to interpret and analyse transnational economic and political processes and how to cooperate with peers from all over the world. In so doing, it prepares graduates for careers in areas concerned with globalisation and development, for example, in international organisations, NGOs, consultancies, journalism, and academia. Thanks to its focus on both theory and empirical research, it provides rigorous training for students who are interested in pursuing a PhD after graduation.

Students are expected to join the Welcome Week at the beginning of October. 

Classes take place in person, located at the Kleine Rosenstrasse 1-2 or on the main campus of the University of Kassel.

Application Deadline for International Students: 15 July

Please visit our website for up-to-date deadlines!

The following core courses are offered:

• Foundations of GPED (first semester)
• From Colonialism to Globalisation (first semester)
• Governance of the World Market: Institutions and Actors in Trade, Finance and Development (first semester)
• Theories of Global Political Economy and Development (second and third semesters)
• Research Methods (second and third semesters)
• Master's thesis plus colloquium (fourth semester)

Specialisation optional courses are offered in the following fields:

• Labour in the Global Economy
• Politics of Money, Debt and Finance
• Issues of Postcolonial Political Economy
• Gender and Race in Globalisation
• Global Governance and Development Cooperation
• Global Political Ecology and Environmental Politics
• European Integration and Migration Policy
• Urbanisation and Agrarian Studies
• Postcolonial, Decolonial and Post-Development Theory
• State, Civil Society and Social Struggles

An internship of at least eight weeks is to be completed during the summer breaks. Programme advisers will assist students in finding the appropriate internship.

No tuition fees

Each semester, students pay a registration fee (currently 356.82 EUR) that covers the cost of the "Deutschlandticket" (which allows students to travel all over Germany with regional trains and local public transportation) and also allows them to eat at the university's refectories and cafeterias at reduced prices. The fee may vary slightly from semester to semester, depending on university regulations.

In order to cover personal expenses while studying in Kassel, it is recommended that students budget around 750 to 1,000 EUR per month for accommodation, food, health insurance, books, and miscellaneous expenses.

• Bachelor's degree in social sciences, political science, economics, law or a related field with a study period of at least 6 semesters;
• Minimum cumulative grade of "good" or "upper second-class honours", or an equivalent to 2.5 on the German grading scale;
• The Bachelor's degree profiles must indicate good knowledge of political science or economics or social science;
• Knowledge of the English language equivalent to level C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages;
• One year of socio-political engagements or relevant volunteer/work experience (e.g. international organisations, political institutions, university politics, NGOs, etc);
• A motivation letter (two to three pages long) covering the following aspects:
  • relation between previous qualifications and prospective professional aims to the MA GPED
  • description of your socio-political commitments
  • explicit motivations for studying the MA GPED
  • discussion of one specific problem of the global political economy or "development"

Proficiency in English is necessary for participation in the programme. Non-native English speakers should present one of the following certificates: TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English, DAAD Sprachzeugnis or an equivalent certificate. The score needed for admission is 95 points in TOEFL (iBT, Internet-based), 7.0 in IELTS or C1 in Common European Framework of Reference of Languages. Applicants who have completed their first degree entirely in English are exempt from this requirement.

German language proficiency is not required at the time of application. Applicants are not expected to demonstrate B2 or any specific level of German language competency.

Application Deadline for International Students: 15 July

Please visit our website for up-to-date deadlines!

No

Students can apply for various part-time jobs or work as student assistants on campus. Please have a look at www.uni-kassel.de. Some departments also provide positions as tutors or working students.

International students enrolled at the University of Kassel can choose between staying at a student residence hall ("Wohnheim") or private accommodation. There are about 1,000 rooms available in the student residencies around the campus. Please have a look at https://www.studierendenwerk-kassel.de/en/wohnen/. Rent for a room varies between 200 and 350 EUR per month depending on the location and facilities. Students can choose single apartments with en-suite facilities or a shared flat with fellow students. Private furnished or unfurnished accommodation in Kassel is also available and can be found in the local paper, on flyers on campus, or on the Internet (e.g. social media).

GPED students have access to German courses before the start of the semester and during the semester offered by the Language Centre of the University of Kassel. They can access one course for free.