BA International Relations: Politics and History

About the course

A three-year, 180-credit degree taught in English that draws on political science, history, law and philosophy, with modules in international relations, modern European history, international political economy, international law, and foreign policy and diplomacy. It includes research methods and statistics modules, a mandatory two-month internship and a study-abroad option in the fifth semester.

Entry requirements for Irish students

• Germany’s recognition rules (KMK/ZAB on anabin) say the Leaving Certificate gives direct university entry only with the right subject mix: six subjects, including two languages and Maths, with at least two at Higher Level at H5 or better and the rest at O6/H6 or better. Humanities need nothing extra, but social sciences also need Higher Level Maths at H5 or better, and it is not published which group this degree falls into. LCA and LCVP are not accepted. Confirm with admissions.
• Constructor University says that if your school qualification does not give direct admission to a German university, enrolment may require standardised test results (such as the SAT or ACT). Otherwise SAT/ACT scores are optional. You apply with transcripts, a CV, a motivation statement and an optional recommendation letter; no entrance exam or interview is published.
• English: proof of English is required (for example IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 4.5 on the new scale, Duolingo 110). Native English speakers, and applicants taught exclusively in English for at least six years, are exempt, which should cover most Irish school leavers. Confirm this with admissions.

How to apply

1. Check your subjectsCheck your Leaving Cert subjects against the German entry rules and ask admissions whether Higher Level Maths at H5 is needed for this degree.
2. Apply online earlyApply on the Constructor University portal between 1 October 2026 and 1 February 2027 for Early Action, or by 15 July 2027 at the latest under rolling admissions.
3. Upload documentsUpload proof of identity, school reports, a CV, a motivation statement, proof of English (or your exemption) and an optional recommendation letter. Send your Leaving Cert results in August.
4. Accept and prepareAccept your offer, pay the enrolment fee, arrange campus housing and arrive for orientation in the last week of August 2027; classes start in early September.

Costs

• The programme page lists tuition of €11,925 per semester (€23,850 a year) for the Fall 2027 intake, plus a one-off enrolment fee of €640 for EU students. This is higher than the 2026/27 rate of €10,000 per semester (€20,000 a year) on the university’s cost sheet. On-campus accommodation is extra (listed as €4,000 for September to May in a shared room), and the 2026/27 cost sheet also shows a meal plan and small semester charges. No application fee is mentioned. All students are considered for academic achievement scholarships.

At a glance