Double Master's Programme in
European Studies
This website is currently being revised for the 2025 application process until expected December.
If you would like to find out about the specific programme details of the Double Master's Programme in European Studies, please click here.
To be admitted to the Double Master’s Programme, you will need to submit your application at Maastricht University. To file a successful application, you need to fulfil the entry requirements and pass the selection procedures of both universities.
Subject-related requirements at the University of Cologne
| Completed bachelor's degree | Application in the case of unfinished Bachelor studies: In cases where present Bachelor studies have not been fully completed, application is permitted if the candidate has earned at least 80% of the required credits and will have achieved the remaining results by 30 September at the latest. The specific admission criteria governing the designated course of study (including the overall grade) must already have been fulfilled on the basis of the exam results available at the time of application. |
| Bachelor's grade | at least 2.7 (German grade) |
Subject-related requirements specifications on the allocation of courses to the subject areas | - at least 36 ECTS credits in the field of Political Science
- at least 9 ECTS credits in the field of Methods in Social Sciences
PDF of personal subject-related admission criteria (see application documents) |
English requirements at the University of Cologne
The Double Master's Programme is in English so it is essential that your English language skills meet the necessary requirements. You can show your English language skills by submitting one of the following English language proofs:
Accepted proofs of English language skills: |
TOEFL1 | 72 ibt
TOEFL iBT® Home Edition and TOEFL iBT® Paper Edition are accepted in addition to the regular test |
| IELTS Academic1 | 5.5 Accepted in addition to the regular test: IELTS Indicator and IELTS Online |
| Cambridge2 | B2 First (FCE),
B2 Business Vantage (BEC Vantage),
C1 Advanced (CAE),
C2 Proficiency (CPE) |
| Bachelor's degree2 | Bachelor's degree totally taught in English (Please submit a proof that your Bachelor's degree programme was completed 100 % in English: e.g. Diploma Supplement or an official letter from the university clearly confirming this).
With bachelor double degree: at least one year must have been completed in an English-speaking country. |
| Master's degree2 | Master's degree totally taught in English |
| Native2 | has to be verified by school certificates |
| German school leaving certificate (e.g. Abiturzeugnis) | After the end of class 11 (G8) or class 12 (G9) at least 5 points in German grading system must be demonstrated.
If the higher education entrance qualification was obtained at Rudolf Steiner schools (Waldorf school), the grade at the end of the last class with at least 5 points will be considered. |
| School leaving certificate from a member state of the European Union2 | The school leaving certificate explicitly states English language proficiency at level B2 in a separate sentence. Only the grade is not sufficient. |
| International/ European Baccalaureat | accepted |
1 validity for two years 2 unlimited validity
Subject-related and English requirements at Maastricht University
Selection procedure
All candidates need to submit their application via Maastricht University. Maastricht University and the University of Cologne both revise the applications with regard to their specific entry requirements and selection procedure.
We can only include students to the Double Master's Programme who have received an admission at Maastricht University and who reach the minimum score and receive an admission at the University of Cologne to the M.A. Political Sciences in which the double degree option is integrated in. You can find details on how to calculate the score at the "Admission test & selection procedure" section on the application website of the M. A. Political Sciences. In the "Admission results" section, you can also find out what the minimum score was in the last two admission rounds. For more details on the selection procedure at Maastricht University, please visit their website.
In case you are interested in studying the Master in Political Science at the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences of the University of Cologne (and not solely the double degree option), you need to file an application directly at the University of Cologne. Here you can find information on the application and selection procedure.
If your application to the Master European Studies (Research) is accepted at Maastricht University but rejected for the double degree option with the University of Cologne, you can study the European Studies Master’s programme at Maastricht University with one of the other options offered.
Fees & financing
Application
For the Maastricht University: please see the information on handling fees on the website of Maastricht University.
For the University of Cologne: If you have obtained your bachelor's degree outside Germany, please note the handling fees for uni-assist.
Study
At Maastricht University: You have to pay tuition fees during your first year of studies (approximately €2,530 per year for EU/EEA students and €16,600 per year for non-EU/EEA students ). During the second year of studies, you only need to register for the month in which you submit your master's thesis in order to graduate from Maastricht University and will have to pay 1/12 of the applicable tuition fee. For more details on the tuition fees, please see the information on tuition fee at the website of Maastricht University).
At the University of Cologne: You have to pay a social contribution (Semesterbeitrag) during your second year of studies (approximately €320 per semester; including a public transport pass for the city and the surrounding area).
Costs for rent, living expenses and learning materials must be paid by the student.
Financing
You can find information on financing your studies here.
