This is made possible through close cooperation with academic institutions in Germany and abroad that share a thematic affinity with the work of the IFSH. This network of partners offers a wide range of seminars, interesting internship opportunities, and the chance to engage with scholars and faculty from various disciplines.
The diversity of the program is also reflected in the wide range of academic backgrounds represented among its students. While many come from the social sciences, others have backgrounds in fields such as engineering, education, or law — often complemented by relevant professional experience.
This combination makes our graduates highly sought‑after professionals in academia, politics, civil society organizations, and the private sector.
Applications open every year on 15 February. We look forward to receiving yours!
Please note: the programme is tuition‑free.
Peace and Security Studies M.A.
Working for peace—whether in academia or in professional practice: the Master’s program Peace and Security Studies (M.A.) provides a strong foundation for both career paths. Since the winter semester of 2002, the program has been offered as the only one of its kind in Germany, uniquely combining security policy issues with perspectives from peace research.
The Master’s program is designed for university graduates who have already completed at least one degree (admission requirement: 180 ECTS credits). Applicants who hold 240 ECTS credits may apply to shorten the program to two semesters.
The programme provides foundational knowledge of key topics, theories, and methods in peace and security research and introduces students to the principles of practice‑oriented work in the field. In seminars, students engage with relevant challenges and explore possible courses of action. They become familiar with practical tools for addressing these challenges and learn to assess them from a normative perspective grounded in peace studies.
The Master of Arts in Peace and Security Studies combines research-based and practice-oriented learning and has an interdisciplinary focus: it imparts knowledge and skills at the intersections of the social sciences, law, and the humanities, as well as the natural sciences and ethics.
Our degree programme is no standardised mass operation. Instead, it offers close links to research and teaching relevant to current issues. Many of the seminars are offered by the institute’s researchers specifically for our MPS students and cover up-to-date subjects.
I work behind the scenes to provide a reliable framework. This allows our students to focus entirely on issues of peace and security.
