IR Without German: English Master's in Germany

You want to study International Relations (IR) or Political Science in Germany but don't speak German? Good news: at master's level there are surprisingly many English-taught programmes — especially in IR, public policy and global studies. The honest news: an English master's gets you into the lecture hall, but part of your IR career will still need German. This post explains the no-German route to an IR/political-science master's straight.

#1. English IR / public policy master's are plentiful

At bachelor level it's hard: political science/IR is mostly taught in German (C1) at bachelor level, and English bachelors are rare. At master's level the picture flips completely. These programme types are very common in English:

• MA International Relations
• Master of Public Policy (MPP)
• MA Political Science / Comparative Politics
• MA Global Studies / Global Governance
• MA Peace & Conflict Studies
• MA International Affairs / International Studies

Most of these run fully in English. Some German helps in daily life, but you can reach lectures, your thesis and graduation without German.

#2. Concrete programmes: public vs private

Here are the best-known programmes on the English-taught IR/public-policy scene. Public universities are almost tuition-free; private schools (above all the Hertie School) are expensive but prestigious and strong on network.

Location note: Berlin is Germany's hub for IR careers — the Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt), think-tanks (SWP / DGAP / ECFR), NGOs and international organisations cluster there. Studying in Berlin is a real advantage for internships/network.

#3. Requirements: bachelor + English + sometimes motivation/work experience

Typical requirements (2025/2026, varies by programme — always verify):

• Relevant bachelor: political science, IR, sociology, history, law, economics or a related social science.
• English proficiency: usually IELTS ~6.5–7.0 or an equivalent TOEFL.
• Motivation letter: very important in IR/public-policy programmes — why this field, why this school, which topic draws you.
• Work/internship experience: some MPP programmes (such as the Hertie School) prefer or require a few years of work experience.
• References, CV, sometimes a writing sample.

Honest expectation: the IR/political-science master's is reading- and writing-heavy, theory- and analysis-focused. Some public-policy programmes also include quantitative modules (statistics/economics).

#4. Fees: public is tuition-free, privates like Hertie are expensive

In short (2025/2026, approximate — verify):

• Public university, most states: no tuition; only a ~€150–350/semester contribution (a transport ticket may be included).
• Baden-Württemberg: roughly €1,500/semester for non-EU students (this cluster is mostly Berlin/Bremen/Erfurt/Leipzig, but mind BW programmes).
• Private schools (Hertie School): much more expensive — total tuition can run into the tens of thousands of euros; scholarships/discounts exist, though. Verify the figure directly with the school.
• Living costs: independent of tuition; depending on the city around €930+/month, possibly to be shown in a blocked account (for the visa, verify).

#5. The "no-German" trap: internships and public sector need German

Here's the part few people state clearly. An English master's solves the study, not the whole IR career:

• International organisations (UN/EU/OECD), think-tanks' English projects, international NGOs: English-friendly — you go far in English.
• German public bodies / ministries / the Federal Foreign Office: almost always require German (often C1).
• Internships/Praktikum (the key to a career): many Berlin-based think-tank and NGO internships require German; without German your pool shrinks sharply.
• Diplomat note: joining the German foreign service (Auswärtiges Amt diplomat) requires German citizenship — an honest limit until you hold it.

Bottom line: come with an English master's, but learn German in parallel from day one. Even B1-B2 opens internship doors; C1 opens the policy/public-sector route. The "come without German, never learn it" plan is a trap in IR — because here internships + network are everything.

#6. Application & DAAD

• Application channel: some programmes go through uni-assist, others directly to the university/school (Hertie direct). Check each programme page individually.
• Timeline: for the winter intake (October), applications usually close the spring/summer before; if you need work experience/a writing sample, start early.
• DAAD scholarships: for the master's, the DAAD offers various scholarships, some targeted at public policy. Competitive; apply early. Verify details on daad.de.

#7. Conclusion & honest advice

An IR/political-science master's without German is genuinely doable in Germany — English programmes such as FU Berlin IR, Bremen BIGSSS, Hertie School, Willy Brandt Erfurt, TU Dresden and Leipzig Global Studies are plentiful; at public universities they are tuition-free (privates like Hertie are expensive). But don't forget two things: (1) IR is a generalist field where internships + network + languages decide your career; (2) English teaching gets you into the lecture hall, but many internships/jobs require German — learning German in parallel is a strategic must. Aim for an ecosystem-rich city like Berlin, take your motivation letter seriously, and start German from day one.

Related: Studying International Relations / Political Science in Germany — international student guide · Working in IR and policy in Germany — organisations & reality · What to do with a political science/IR degree — the job market · How university prestige and rankings work in Germany · Master's vs the Job-Seeker Visa — two career keys.

This post reflects the situation in early 2026. Fees (especially private schools like Hertie), admission requirements, English/German proficiency rules, and visa/living-cost rules can change; verify on the universities'/schools' official pages and daad.de before applying.