Master's Degree Program in Peace and Security Studies (M.A.)

The consecutive Master's program Peace and Security Studies (M.A.) is offered in cooperation between the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy (IFSH) and the University of Hamburg. It is aimed at graduates of humanities, social sciences, or law degree programs (at least 180 ECTS or 240 ECTS for the one-year variant). It combines interdisciplinary courses from the social, natural, and humanities sciences, ethics, and law, providing both theoretical foundations of peace and security research as well as empirical methodological skills. In seminars, lectures, and research projects, participants engage with topics such as disarmament, peacekeeping, and current conflicts. A central practical module includes excursions, career-oriented block seminars, and a minimum ten-week internship with a report. The program concludes with an independent master’s thesis with a standard completion time of six months (four-semester variant) or four and a half months (two-semester variant), demonstrating interdisciplinary research competence and problem-solving skills in complex security policy fields.

Admission requires proof of a first university degree (180 ECTS or 240 ECTS), relevant professional experience, internships or voluntary engagement in the field of peace and security policy, as well as German and English language skills according to university regulations. Application documents include the STiNE online form, a motivation letter (max. 8,000 characters), a tabular CV, degree certificate/transcript of records with grade average, proof of relevant activities, and language certificates. The online application is exclusively via the University of Hamburg’s STiNE student information system during the period 15.02.2026 to 31.03.2026. Selection criteria are the grade of the first degree, professional and voluntary experiences, as well as motivation and suitability as stated in the motivation letter. The program qualifies graduates for demanding positions in academia, government agencies, international organizations, and NGOs.