Bachelor of Arts in Politics, Administration & International Relations | PAIR
Are you interested in global issues such as climate change, migration, international security, inequality and distributive justice, social cohesion or the consequences of digitalization? You have the desire to really understand these challenges of our time after graduating from school and to become part of the solution?
What all these problems have in common is that they are political in nature, can usually only be solved through international cooperation, and touch on fundamental ethical aspects. In the interdisciplinary undergraduate program in Politics, Administration & International Relations | PAIR, contemporary problems such as those mentioned above are addressed from all three aspects.
What can you expect from the Bachelor of Arts in Politics, Administration & International Relations | PAIR?
In this program, you will learn about political and administrative decision-making processes and institutions at the national and international level and how to analyze their social impact using scientific methods.
Located in the Department of Political and Social Sciences at Zeppelin University (ZU), you will immerse yourself in the seminars of the undergraduate program, especially in the global changes in politics, administration and society. Due to the interdisciplinary orientation, you will learn to link the global references of the above-mentioned challenges with questions of the social legitimacy of political decisions and their legal-administrative implementation.
During excursions to places such as Berlin or UN organizations in Geneva, you will learn about politics not only from a theoretical but also from a practical perspective. An integral part of the teaching portfolio is the Berlin seminar offered at least once a year on topics such as “Governance” or “Inequality, Poverty and Wealth”. In the seminars, you will meet guests from politics, associations or civil society and visit relevant institutions on site.
Through profound methodological training, you will learn to analyze what really moves you in a scientific and responsible way. According to your personal interests, you have the opportunity to deepen your knowledge in an inspiring university environment and to orientate yourself professionally with the bachelor's degree.
Excursions to Berlin and the UN in Geneva
During excursions to places such as Berlin or UN organizations in Geneva, you will learn about politics not only from a theoretical but also from a practical perspective. An integral part of the teaching portfolio is the Berlin seminar offered at least once a year on topics such as “Governance” or “Inequality, Poverty and Wealth”. In the seminars, you will meet guests from politics, associations or civil society and visit relevant institutions on site.
Through profound methodological training, you will learn to analyze what really moves you in a scientific and responsible way. According to your personal interests, you have the opportunity to deepen your knowledge in an inspiring university environment and to orientate yourself professionally with the bachelor's degree.
Top positions in rankings for the Bachelor PAIR
Through profound methodological training, you will learn to analyze what really moves you in a scientific and responsible way. According to your personal interests, you have the opportunity to deepen your knowledge in an inspiring university environment and to orientate yourself professionally with the bachelor's degree.
Course facts and information about the Bachelor in Political Science, Administrative Science & International Relations
- Qualification: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
- Standard period of study: 8 semesters (4 years)
- ECTS points: 240
- Course language: German and English
- Language skills: Good knowledge of English is necessary
- Course begins: Fall semester (September)
- Fees per semester: 5,750 euro
Interested? Please note the language requirements
Although quite a few courses at ZU are offered in English, it is not possible to complete the Bachelor in Politics, Administration & International Relations entirely in English. Language skills in English are preferred, while German is an absolute necessity. ZU requires very good proficiency in German language on C1 level for all degree-seeking applicants. Applicants who have not learned German as a native language must provide proof of German language proficiency (level C1).
Research focus & teaching content
The outstanding quality of the undergraduate program has been confirmed several times in the past by top positions inrankings. The satisfaction of our students with the study program is with approx. 80% far above the German average.
The focus of the teaching of the four-year bachelor's program Politics, Administration & International Relations | PAIR is fed by the research fields of the participating chairs.
Optionally, you can choose one of the following three tracks and specialize further in the course of your studies.
In the track "International Relations" you will deal with international security policy, international political economy, development cooperation, governance of the European Union and international organizations as well as international law.
The track "Public Management, Public Policy & Digitalization" deals with organizational theories, sustainable governance and public policy, public entrepreneurship and corporate governance in the public sector, policy field analysis, administrative law, as well as digitalization processes in business and administrative informatics.
The track "Political Behavior & Institutions" covers topics such as decision and game theory, political actors and institutions, theories of democracy and the state, and political attitudes, voting systems and voting behavior.
Look into the tracks
International Relations
- Internat ional Political Economics
- Inter national Organizations & Institutions
- Governance & Development
- International Law
- International Security Policy
- Governance & Law of the European Union
- ...
Political Behavior & Institutions
- Elections & Electoral Behavior
- Political Attitudes & Political Behavior
- Decision & Game Theory
- Political Communication
- Social Psychology
- Political Actors & Institutions
- ...
Public Management, Public Policy & Digitalization
- Organizational Theories
- Management, Leadership & Public Corporate Governance
- Administrative Law
- Comparative Public Policy Analysis
- Business Informatics & Digitalization
- Public Sector Informatics & Digitalization
- ...
Areas of research of our professors'
Our academic chairs conduct research on a wide variety of topics. Here is a sample of our research projects:
Chair of Comparative Politics, Focus on European Institutions
Prof Dr Christian Adam
- Comparative policy research
- evidence-based policy
- moral policy
- Public Health Policy
- Policy Implementation
- Administrative discrimination
- Governance in the European multi-level system
- Juridification of European policy
Prof Dr Joachim Behnke
- Electoral systems, in particular reform of the German electoral system
- Political Philosophy
- Theories of justice
- Theory of democracy
Chair of International Relations
- International Perspectives on Democracy and Autocracy
- International Organizations
- Regional Cooperation in the Global South
- International Sanctions Policy
Endowed Chair of Artificial Intelligence
Prof Dr Mateusz Dolata
- Artificial Intelligence
- Hybrid Intelligence
- Collaborative Intelligence
- Collaboration Engineering
- Computer-Supported Cooperative Work
Chair of Public Administration & Public Policy
Prof Dr Steffen Eckhard
- Public Administration and Public Policy
- Artificial Intelligence
- Text-as-data
- International Organizations
- Conflict Management
Prof Dr Martin Elff
- Social Structures and
- political behavior
- Strategic Voting
- Political positions of parties and
- Electoral decisions of citizens
- Political information and public opinion
- Measuring democracy
- Quantitative research methods in political science
Prof Dr Steffen Hurka
- European Union
- Legislative Policy and Organization
- Policy Formulation and Implementation
- Policy Complexity
- Design logics of democratic laws
Chair of Public Law, Tax & European Law and Regulatory Law
Prof Dr Georg Jochum
- Constitutional law, European law and national and European fundamental rights
- regulatory law
- tax law
Chair of International Security Policy
- International and regional security institutions
- Emotions and International Conflicts
- Regional integration and global order
The Open Government Institute | TOGI
- Administrative Informatics
- Digitization of the public sector
- Electronic Government
- Open Government
- Smart government & smart cities
- Real-time government
- Artificial intelligence in the public sector
Chair of Public Management & Public Policy
Prof Dr Ulf Papenfuß
- Sustainable Public Corporate Governance
- Integrated governance in group/network structures
- self-regulation
- Governance innovations and sustainable change in digital transformation processes
- impact-oriented governance
Detailed descriptions of the research topics can be found on the relevant academic chair pages of the Political & Social Sciences faculty.
Study Program & Course
The degree structure of the four-year undergraduate program in Politics, Administration & International Relations | PAIR consists of four phases - the Zeppelin Year, the Major Phase, the Humboldt Year, and the Bachelor Phase.
Zeppelin Year
- The Zeppelin Year is unique in Germany and gives you enough time for your personal orientation during the first two semesters of your studies. It gives you the opportunity to gain your first research experience and provides you with the necessary methodological knowledge and scientific basics.
Major Phase
- The major phase starts with your second year of study. In the compulsory modules you build on the scientific foundations for your further studies. With the elective modules and the possibility to focus on one of the three tracks, the program offers you a maximum of flexibility.
Humboldt Year
- During the Humboldt Year, starting in the sixth semester, you have the opportunity to work on a research project supervised by a lecturer or to deepen your knowledge in a special area of the program. Our students also deliberately use this study period to spend time abroad at one of our partner universities around the world.
- 1st - 2nd Semester | Zeppelin Year
to the extent of 60 ECTS-Credits
- 3rd- 7th Semester | Major Phase
to the extent of 120 ECTS-Credits
- 6st - 7th Semester | Humboldt Year
to the extent of 30 ECTS-Credits
- 8th Semester | Bachelor Phase
to the extent of 30 ECTS-Credits
Practical orientation, study abroad & connections
The undergraduate program in Politics, Administration & International Relations | PAIR is characterized by its interdisciplinarity. On the one hand, the program combines the three sub-disciplines International Relations, Political Behavior & Institutions, as well as Public Management, Public Policy & Digitalization.
On the other hand, you can take up to four modules from the other ZU degree programs. In this program, you will learn why it is so important not only to apply the methods and theories of a scientific discipline, but also to study in a problem-oriented, interdisciplinary manner. Our aim is that after your studies you will be able to fundamentally grasp social problems and find interdisciplinary solutions for them. Our special track concept also helps you to take personal preferences into account and to orient yourself concretely in different professional fields.
Exciting courses or internships at home or abroad, or a semester abroad at one of our worldwide partner universities, also open up new academic and professional perspectives and the chance to expand your language skills.
With the research-oriented perspective of the Bachelor's program and the acquired methodological skills, the possibility of an academic career with a subsequent gradiate program is also open to you.
Internationality
In the PAIR study program, approximately 40% of the seminars are held in English.
In addition, we offer students outstanding partner universities around the world.
Here is a small selection:
- SciencesPo, Paris (France)
- Maastricht University (Netherlands)
- University Twente (Netherlands)
- University of Bergen (Norway)
- Universidad de los Andes, Bogotà (Columbia)
- American University, Washington (USA)
- Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong (China)
- University of California, San Diego (USA)
- University of Zurich (Switzerland)
- University of California, Berkeley (USA)
- University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (South Africa)
Study Fees & Financing
The tuition fees for the four-year bachelor's program in Politics, Administration & International Relations | PAIR are €5,750 per semester. Monthly payment of tuition fees is also possible, please contact the Admissions Team.
We award scholarships not only for exceptional achievements, but also to applicants with a strong commitment to cultural, political or social issues.
No financial obstacles should stand in the way of an excellent education, which is why we offer you individual financing options for your studies at ZU.
Scholarships are not only available for young people who have achieved exceptional results - we also offer scholarships to applicants with experience beyond success or with a strong commitment to cultural, political or social issues.
Application & Assessment Center Pioneers Wanted!
There is no numerus clausus for our degree programs. The really interesting question is whether you are right for our university and whether our university is right for you. Can you enrich our university with your curiosity, your questions and your thirst for knowledge and would you like to be part of an inspiring environment during your Bachelor's degree?
You can apply for a place at Zeppelin University with all the necessary documents via the applicant portal. If your application is evaluated positively, you will receive an invitation to one of the upcoming selection days.
To find out whether Zeppelin University and you are a good match, every applicant goes through ZU's own selection process, Pioneers Wanted!, which gives you the opportunity to find out more about our university on the selection day and at the same time gives our university an insight into your fields of interest and ways of thinking.
In order to be able to take part in the selection day if your application is suitable, you select a suitable selection day for you during your online application in the applicant portal. Please note the relevant application deadlines so that we can consider your application documents.
What our alumna says
"I decided to study PAIR at Zeppelin University after graduating from high school in order to pursue my fascination for European and international cooperation and to lay the foundation for a career in this field. What I particularly liked about my studies - apart from the unique location by the lake - were the small course sizes, the engaging discussions and the great inspiring people who helped me to grow beyond myself.
Today I work as a consultant at the Federal Foreign Office."
Louisa Singer, graduate 2019
Program Responsibility | Academic Contacts
| Phone: | +49 7541 6009-1431 |
| Room: | Semi 0.02 |
| Phone: | +49 7541 6009-1405 |
| Room: | FAB 3 | 0.71 |