Master in International Politics and Governance

International Politics and Governance at Roskilde University trains you to work on problems that cross borders: climate change, security, online disinformation, public health. The programme is closed for new applicants. Only students with a bachelor's degree from Roskilde University that carries a legal right of admission (retskrav) can still be admitted.

What you study

The programme sits where international politics meets public administration. You look at how international politics shapes governance, how governance shapes politics, and what that means for international institutions, governments and other organisations trying to solve cross-border policy issues.

Four mandatory courses run through the first year:

• International Civil Servants and Public Administration (10 ECTS)
• International Policy Analysis (10 ECTS)
• International Institutions and Politics (10 ECTS)
• International Public Economics (10 ECTS)

You also take Advanced Methodology (5 ECTS) and work on projects: Applied International Policy (15 ECTS) and, in the third semester, Project in Applied International Politics and Governance (15 ECTS). The teaching draws on international politics, economics, law, public policy, administration and management.

How the programme is organised

Roskilde University uses Problem-oriented Project Learning, and that shapes the whole degree. You and your team formulate research questions, choose research designs, carry out the research and write reports that you present and defend at an oral exam. Project work takes up half of your credits, and a member of faculty supervises every project.

Courses ask you to take part in discussions, exercises and excursions. You are expected to prepare in groups. In the third semester you choose between two variants. Variant A is an elective course in Advanced Methodology (5 ECTS), an elective Advanced study seminar (10 ECTS) and the project (15 ECTS). Variant B is a project-oriented internship (30 ECTS). You can also spend a semester on exchange at a partner university abroad. The degree ends with a Thesis in International Politics and Governance (30 ECTS).

Who it suits

This master's suits you if you want to understand both the politics of international agreements and the practical work of implementing them. You should be comfortable working independently in teams, asking your own research questions and defending your findings. The programme is taught in English, and students and faculty come from different countries, so you will work in an international environment. Much of student life happens on the Roskilde campus, where you meet for classes, project work and supervision.

Admission, language and next steps

The programme is closed for admission. The only route in is the legal right of admission (retskrav) that comes with certain bachelor's degrees from Roskilde University: the Samfundsvidenskabelig bachelor or the International bachelor in Social Sciences, with International Studies as a single subject bachelor, or International Studies combined with Politik og forvaltning.

Teaching is in English. Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland study free of charge; other students pay a fee set by the institution. If you are considering a related master's, applications from outside Roskilde University go directly to the institution. Check the university's study guidance office for advice on content and admission.

Master’s applications go straight to Roskilde University, not through optagelse.dk, and the institution sets its own deadline. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, residence permits and housing.