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Information for prospective students

The MSc in International Political Economy (MSc IPE) is an international and interdisciplinary two-year Master's programme designed to combine the analytical strength of economics with global insights from political science. Students acquire the knowledge and skills expected of an economist and, at the same time, gain expertise in international relations, issues of development, security, and international policy. The programme provides training in quantitative as well as qualitative research methods. The MSc IPE is jointly offered by the University of Texas at Dallas and the University of Marburg and successful students will receive a degree from both universities (double or dual degree programme). Students are required to spend one year of study at each university.

Programme participants will develop an up-to-date understanding of the subject of study (i.e., an awareness of leading theories, criticisms, and limitations, as well as recent advances in research). In addition, they will be taught how to use this acquired knowledge to analyse real-world circumstances within an economic paradigm and discover appropriate and feasible solutions. 

Targeted Group

The MSc in International Political Economy is targeted at students who have already earned a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent in 
(i) economics or a related field or 
(ii) political science or a related field. 
Admission of the former group is handled at Marburg; admission of the latter group in Dallas. The requirements for students with an economics-oriented undergraduate degree, applying through Marburg, are at least 72 ECTS from economics or relevant methods (e.g., mathematics, statistics) and at least 54 ECTS from purely economic courses. As the Master's programme is taught in English, fluency in English at the C1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is required. Prospective students should be interested in learning about international topics from various, sometimes conflicting, points of view. They should be interested in deepening the content and methods already encountered in their previous degrees, but also interested in widening their perspectives to learn about theories and research methods used outside their previously-studied discipline as well as apply them to real-world problems. Moreover, they should be open to questioning previous beliefs and willing to engage in critical discussion. 


Application to the Programme

Information about the application process can be found under the heading 'Application'. All applications must be submitted via 'uni-assist', an online university application service for national and international students. The online application system is available between May and July. International students who require a visa for Germany are advised to submit the application materials as early as possible. Please note that the university does not accept direct applications!

After Finishing Your MSc in Marburg

You can apply to a wide variety of national and international organisations or corporations for a career in economic analysis or business. Typical private-sector jobs are related to risk analysis, imports and exports, or multinational corporations. Work in the national government sector can include a variety of jobs, for instance, at various ministries, e.g., Foreign Affairs, Economics, or Development. You can also apply to international organisations (e.g., United Nations, World Bank, etc.) or nongovernment organisations (NGOs). Or you can pursue an academic career by studying towards a PhD. 

Specific IPE study areas facilitating the qualification for a specific area of employment

Note that the MSc IPE allows focussing on specific study areas that could be helpful for finding a specific type of job after graduation. Below please find a selection of courses that are particularly relevant for the various potential areas of employment. However, not all of the listed courses are offered in every year and it may not be possible to attend all of them within the usual span of two years.

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