For International Students

Department for Political Science at RWTH Aachen University

The Department for Political Science (IPW) at RWTH Aachen University is part of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. The department consists of four chairs; Political Theory and History of Political Ideas, Political Systems and Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Didactics of Social Sciences. About 20 research fellows and post-docs/lectures work at IPW.

In cooperation with the Institute for Sociology, the Department of History, and the Department for Catholic Theology, IPW offers a three year bachelor program in Social Sciences. For approximately 500 bachelor students the department provides about 20 political science lectures and seminars. Lectures regularly held are “Introduction to Political Science”, “Introduction to International Relation”, “Introduction to Political Systems and Comparative Politics”, “Introduction to Political Theory and History of Political Ideas”, “Introduction to International Law” as well as “The Political System of Germany”. In contrast to commonly large and anonymous courses at German universities, classes at IPW (especially seminars) are smaller, more personal and students enjoy a more private atmosphere as well as staff’s direct support. Around 25 to 30 students attend each class.

IPW offers a two years Master’s program in Political Science with a specialization in International Relations or Political Theory and Political Systems. Master classes cover topics such as advanced Political Theory or International Relations, Democratic Theory, Security and Strategic Studies, Theory and History of International Relations, Governance or European Integration. Beside these programs, the department also offers a teacher’s education program.

The department library provides approximately 40.000 academic publications and a broad selection of periodicals.

Most courses are open for international students and are taught in German. Term papers might be written in English (supervisor’s agreement granted). A B1-language level in German is required for visiting international students (e. g. Erasmus+) and a C1-level for all students who plan to attend the Master programm.

IPW does not provide opportunities for Erasmus internships.

IPW’s research focuses on the following topics: Political Theory, the process of coming to terms with the past (Vergangenheitsbewältigung), Democratic Theory, Comparative Politics (in Western Europe and in the trans-Atlantic area), European Integration, the Political System of Germany, Theory and History of International Relations, International Political Economy, International Law, Security and Strategic Studies, Development Studies, Peace- and Statebuilding.

Mahir Tokatlı (international@ipw.rwth-aachen.de) is the department’s coordinator for all international students.

RWTH Course catalogue: RWTH-Online