Requirements for transferring to the Master's program in Political Science (M.Sc.)
The new Master's program in Political Science (M.Sc.) will be introduced at the start of the 2025/2026 winter semester. Students who are already enrolled in the Master's program in ‚Politikwissenschaft‘ (M.A.) in the 2025 summer semester can continue their studies in this program until the end of the 2027 summer semester. After that, they can continue their studies in the Master's program in Political Science with the degree Master of Science. Students already enrolled in the Master's program ‚Politikwissenschaft‘ at the University of Cologne in the summer semester 2025 can, upon request, transfer to the Political Science program in the winter semester 2025/2026 ff. with the transfer of credits already earned. This does not apply if all examinations for the degree program ‚Politikwissenschaft‘ have been passed or registered by the end of the 2025 summer semester.
The application form will be available here. The form can be uploaded via the WiSo inbox. Informal requests for change cannot be processed.
Applications can also be submitted via the other usual channels (by post, using the contact form at the WiSo Student Service Point, or by fax). Further information can be found here.
The Joint Examination Board has established the following provisions for such a change:
- An application for transfer can be submitted after the end of the second registration period for the 2025/2026 winter semester (September 25, 2025).
- Students are required to keep a transcript of records (ToR) documenting their achievements in the old master's program in ‚Politikwissenschaft‘. Therefore, be sure to create a Transcript of Records for the Master's program in ‚Politikwissenschaft‘ from Klips BEFORE you submit your application for transfer to the Examination Office. Once your achievements have been transferred to the Political Science program, it will no longer be possible to retrieve a transcript from the program ‚Politikwissenschaft‘, even for the Examination Office.
- Once the application has been submitted, it is no longer possible to register for further examinations under the old examination procedure. It is not yet possible to register for examinations under the new examination regulations at this point in time; this can only be done after the changeover procedure has been completed.
- Exams dated September 30, 2025 and earlier will be transferred to the new degree program. If such an exam has not yet been graded at the time of the change, it will be transferred at a later date. Please inform the Examination Office as soon as a pending exam result has been received to ensure timely transfer.
- Exams and exam registrations dated October 1, 2025 and later will be transferred to the new degree program.
- Course registrations for the 2025/2026 winter semester and beyond that were made under the old Master's program in ‚Politikwissenschaft‘ will be transferred.
- The transfer to the master's program in Political Science cannot be reversed.
- Once the transfer process has been completed, you will receive written notification at your sMail address. From this point on, you can then register for courses and exams in the Master's program in Political Science.
- Exams in the Master's program in Political Science can be taken no earlier than October 1, 2025. This also applies to the Master's thesis.