Degree
Bachelor of Arts
Semester fee
71 Euro
Start of the program
Winter semester
Standard length of the program
6 Semester
Place of study
Eichstätt
Part-time studies possible
No

In the undergraduate Bachelor’s degree program in Politics and Society, you will acquire comprehensive knowledge in the fields of political science and sociology. You will also learn to apply this interdisciplinary knowledge in a practical context. The Bachelor's program in Politics and Society offers great individual freedom: You can choose from three specialization profiles and design your studies either with an international (semester abroad) or research-oriented focus (research internship at the KU). The fact that the program also includes ethical aspects characterizes the Bachelor in Politics and Society just as much as small groups and personal support.

The program in detail

Contents

The Bachelor’s program in Politics and Society has a standard length of six semesters and consists of required, required elective and elective courses.

Structure

Semesters 1 and 2

In the first two semesters, you will start by completing a large part of the required area. On the one hand, you will get to know the comparative, theoretical-philosophical, and international perspectives of political science. On the other hand, you will discover sociology from a theoretical, process-oriented, and empirical-social research perspective. As further key skills for the job market, the required area also offers basic knowledge in the areas of communication, business administration, and statistics. In addition, you will discuss science and ethics.

Semesters 3 and 4

For the third and fourth semester, you can choose your individual focus areas from three profiles: World and Europe, Politics and Communication, and Society and Social Processes. You have additional flexibility throughout your studies in the free elective area, which you can for example use for courses in other subjects or language courses.

Semesters 5 and 6

In the fifth semester, you will either study abroad or gain practical research experience in a current study project at the KU. At the end of your studies, you will write your Bachelor's thesis in semester six.

The program in awards and rankings

The Bachelor’s program in Politics and Society was accredited by ACQUIN in 2012 and re-accredited by AQAS in February 2018 until 2023.

Rankings and assessments

StudyCheck2024

KU students and alumni have voted for their University to be Germany's most popular university in the 2024 ranking of the online portal StudyCheck. This is the third time in a row, as KU was also voted the most popular university in 2021 and 2022. The ranking was based on over 78,000 evaluations for more than 500 higher education institutions and universities. 97 percent of students questioned for the ranking would recommend studying at the KU to others. 

"There is no better praise for a university than almost 100 percent of students and alumni agreeing: I can only recommend studying at the KU! That is why we are very pleased with the ranking’s outcome, because it expresses the high level of satisfaction of our students," says KU President Prof. Dr. Gabriele Gien.

More ranking results

Studying abroad

For finding a suitable institution for your stay abroad, you can choose from a broad network of partner universities with approx. 300 universities worldwide. The KU International Office supports students in the planning phase and provides information on different financing possibilities for stays abroad.

Practical connection

An internship of at least six weeks is an integral part of the Bachelor's degree program in Politics and Society. You can complete it during a lecture-free period of your choice in both public and private institutions. Possible internship institutions include administrations, ministries, offices of political parties, interest groups and social associations, non-governmental organizations, media, companies, or representations of political foundations abroad. Furthermore, you can also decide to complete the optional research internship at the KU. Furthermore, this profile phase also offers rhetoric courses and field trips.

For individual advice and support in finding an internship and financing possibilities, the KU Career Service and the International Internship Service are happy to help.

Career possibilities and professional fields

Career prospects

The interdisciplinary Bachelor's degree program in Politics and Society is not only the ideal preparation for a Master's program, but also provides students with the professional foundation for a wide range of career opportunities. Thanks to a deliberate practical orientation, the teaching of key professional skills, as well as the opportunity to choose an individual focus during the profile phase, graduates will have access to professional fields both in the public and private sector. In addition, the KU Career Service offers a wide range of personal counseling and coaching for your career entry. 

What students say about the program

"The Bachelor’s degree program in Politics and Society is a great degree program for anyone who is interested in current political and social processes! I especially like the opportunity to set my individual focus areas. The vast choice offered in the profile and elective area allows you to pursue your own interests.…

"The Bachelor’s degree program in Politics and Society is a great degree program for anyone who is interested in current political and social processes! I especially like the opportunity to set my individual focus areas. The vast choice offered in the profile and elective area allows you to pursue your own interests. Also the choice of seminars leaves room to design your own study program! Furthermore, the excellent supervision and support by the lecturers is a huge advantage. Due to the small student groups in seminars, you can build a good relationship with your lecturers. In addition, students receive personal support and individual advice at all times!”

- Antonia Müller(2020)

"I study Politics and Society in the 4th semester and I can only absolutely recommend this degree program. We attend excellent courses that are not overcrowded and deal with different perspectives on the subject of politics and society. The small size of the University is an absolute advantage; the staff-to-student…

"I study Politics and Society in the 4th semester and I can only absolutely recommend this degree program. We attend excellent courses that are not overcrowded and deal with different perspectives on the subject of politics and society. The small size of the University is an absolute advantage; the staff-to-student ratio is excellent. No matter when and no matter what questions and concerns you might have, you will quickly receive feedback and support from the lecturers. The possibility of integrating a semester abroad in the study plan is also great and the KU offers a very wide range of partner universities. Everyone will definitely find something to suit their taste. Finally, I was also convinced by the possibility of additional specialization that is possible from the third semester onwards.”

- Cedric Nappert(2020)

The KU

Sommerresidenz Luftbild

Campus

Short distances on campus at the KU save time and avoid stress. The KU is a campus University with modern facilities. The buildings on campus are located close to the Eichstätt old town. Although the University and its campus has grown, it is still characterized by short distances: In Eichstätt, everything can be reached within ten minutes’ walking distance. On campus, green spaces such as the Hofgarten are the perfect places to relax. The garden of the Kapuzinerkloster is also used by different student initiatives for their projects. The canteen is located at the heart of the Eichstätt campus and has a sun deck and cafeteria that leave nothing to be desired.

Studierende vor der Zentralbibliothek

What sets the KU apart

Studying at the KU is more than just acquiring specialist knowledge. We broaden our horizons together and take on responsibility in and beyond the individual degree programs. The KU has a particular focus on topics such as personal development, sustainability, social skills and social commitment.

It offers its students the possibility to study and work in a welcoming atmosphere and benefit from outstanding support and comprehensive service offers, a well-stocked library, a broad range of sports and leisure activities and a large global network of approx. 300 partner universities. Our team at the International Office helps you to plan your semester abroad and the KU Career Service provides comprehensive advice and support for embarking on your professional career.

Do I have to be Catholic in order to study at the KU? Do I have to deal with Catholic contents during my studies?

No, the KU is open to students of all faiths and beliefs.

At the KU, just as at all state universities, there is freedom of research and teaching. This means that our degree programs focus on the subjects for which you have enrolled – free from external influences.

As a student at our University, you will notice what our understanding of being a Catholic University means for us in one thing in particular: The University’s focus is on the individual person. The talents and potential of all those who teach, study, work and carry out research at the KU form our most important foundation – regardless of their religion or beliefs, nationality, ethical, cultural or social background, disabilities, gender, sexual orientation or age.

This is why we promote your best possible academic education through personal support and an ideal staff-to-student ratio. At the same time, the KU is more than just a place for earning your degree: We attach particular importance to imparting social skills and advancing our students’ sense and value orientation in addition to providing them with a high level of academic and methodical qualification.

Our aspiration for our University is to build bridges between science and society and to make knowledge available for society as well as to integrate impulses from outside the University into our research and teaching practice. We aim to make a valuable contribution to social coexistence, to the free democratic basic order and to preserving creation. 

Isn’t Eichstätt quite small for a university town?

With a population of around 15,000, it is probably the smallest university town in Europe. For our students, this means living and learning in a friendly and informal atmosphere. Whether it is on the way to a lecture in the morning, at the canteen for lunch or in the pub in the evening, you will often come across people you know. It is easy to meet people in Eichstätt! By the way, the KU’s “living room” is the Theke, a bar run by students for students. Here, people meet for parties, jam sessions, karaoke evenings or a cozy round of table football.

A small town also means short distances: The library, the swimming pool, the cinema or the supermarket – everything can be reached in a few minutes on foot or by bike. The town is located right in the heart of the Altmühltal natural park – a real paradise for climbers, canoeists, hikers and cyclists just around the corner.

Should you still reach a point when you feel too cooped in, you can breathe big city air easily near Eichstätt. Ingolstadt with its 135,000 inhabitants is only a few kilometers away and offers a variety of shopping and nightlife options.

The location

Ortsschild Eichstätt
University town of Eichstätt
Willibaldsburg
Willibaldsburg
Bootsfahrer auf der Altmühl
Canoeing on the Altmühl river
[Translate to Englisch:] Biergarten
Relaxing and celebrating in beer gardens

Eichstätt and the surrounding Altmühltal natural park are not only a popular destination for culture enthusiasts and nature lovers, but also for cyclists, climbers, canoeists and fossil collectors. Located between Munich and Nuremberg, the city impresses with its Baroque setting and southern flair combined with modern and prizewinning architecture as well as a broad variety of cultural offerings and leisure activities. 

The Baroque park at the heart of the campus and the nearby banks of the Altmühltal river are the KU’s “green living room”. Another big advantage: all University facilities are just a short walk away from each other.

More on the study location Eichstätt

Advisory Service

Some offers and study conditions are different for international students – our International Office is happy to provide help and support. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our team. We are happy to accompany you on your way to the KU and hope that we can welcome you in person soon!

David Guevara
David Guevara
Coordinator Welcome Services and International Campus
Building Domplatz 8  |  Room: DP8-203 | Campus Eichstätt

Application

Requirements
General university entrance qualification (Allgemeine Hochschulreife)
Language requirements
DSH 2
Application period winter
May 01 - Jul 15
Admission restriction
No
Selection procedure
No

The application process for international applicants is now completely digital. You can register online in our application portal and carry out and submit your application. After you have carried out the application and uploaded your documents, you do not need to send your documents to us again by post. You do have to submit certified true copies only if you are admitted at the time of enrollment.

Depending on the course of study, you may be asked for information on internships, professional experience, etc. Please upload the relevant documents in the upload area for all the information you provide, even if these are not mandatory fields!

Before you start the application process, please read the additional information on this page, in particular the information on the respective (German) language requirements and university entrance qualifications.