Understanding politics in a complex world

Political Science (pre-master)

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Study power and politics in a rapidly changing world

In the pre-master’s programme in Political Science you will learn how power works with regards to important political issues and dilemmas at the local, national, and global level.

The programme is aimed at removing substantive and methodological deficiencies required for entering the Master’s programme Political Science. It offers a well-balanced and diverse programme, and provides a challenging intellectual journey.

You have to complete the pre-master’s within one year. Therefore, it is not possible to re-enrol for the pre-master’s.

VU Master's Event

Saturday 8 March 2025

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1st year

Course Schedule

The programme starts with an introductory substantive course called State, Power and Conflict and is followed by a number of courses focused around academic skills and methods such as statistics, academic writing, and qualitative methods. The knowledge and research skills you gain will be tested at the end of the programme via an extensive research paper.
After successfully completing the Political Science pre-master’s, you are admissible to the Political Science Master’s programme in the following academic year.

The pre-master’s programme consists of 30 ECTS.
The study load is equally divided over the academic year.
Classes and seminars take place on Friday’s.
Every credit equals 28 hours of study. This means that a 6-credit course takes 168 hours of study.
You have to successfully complete the pre-master’s programme within one academic year. Pre-master's results are valid until 1 September of the following academic year.
The tuition fee amounts to half of the regular college tariff.

Courses

Pre-master's State, Power and Conflict
Pre-master's Social Research Methodology
Pre-master's Tutorial Academic Writing Political Science
Pre-master's Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
Pre-master's Political Science Research

Check the study guide for more information.

Want to sign up for the pre-master's Political Science?

Check the admission requirements

Political Science (pre-master)

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