Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (1 year)

Our PPE MA programme addresses the challenges faced by an increasingly globalised and complex world society. In today's world, real problems are too complex to be understood from the angle of individual academic disciplines. Thus, our programme conveys a systematic understanding of how economics and politics are embedded in social, political, and cultural affairs, and creates an awareness of their philosophical and ethical implications. The programme focuses on institutions and organisations as hubs in an interconnected world. It rests on three conceptual pillars: "Global Economic Development", "Global Governance", and "Philosophy and Society".
The first key area, "Global Economic Development", addresses areas such as international political economy within current social evolution, the international balance of power, and economic influences. It also includes courses on topics such as climate, environment, and poverty. "Global Governance" covers a full range of issues relating to political control, control failure and conflict at global, national and local levels. In the third key area "Philosophy and Society", the focus is on philosophy and politics in global society and on questions concerning global justice, the social contract, and political philosophy, as well as on basic skills in scientific analysis.
On a more concrete level, the programme addresses questions such as the following: How do institutions and organisations shape economic and political processes? What is the role of transnational institutions and organisations in economic and political change? What functions can informal and social networks fulfil in this context? How can the social contract of national communities be translated into wider international circumstances? Which specific conditions have enabled Germany to handle the recent financial and economic crisis relatively well?
For a quick overview over the structure and content of the programme, see http://www.uni-wh.de/fileadmin/media/w/MPPE_60.pdf

Applicants for the English-language programme can choose between a version with 120 credits (ECTS) and a shorter version with 60 credits (the latter requires a minimum of 240 credits acquired in previous coursework). We cooperate with organisations and business enterprises to ensure a strong practical orientation. All students are encouraged to spend at least one semester at partner universities abroad, and to choose from a wide range of courses at the Faculty of Humanities and Arts of Witten/Herdecke University. Studium fundamentale is an integral part of the programme.
Witten/Herdecke University (founded in 1982) is Germany's first and most distinguished private university. It was the first German university to start a very successful PPE BA programme. PPE at Witten corresponds to an internationally acknowledged profile which is booming worldwide. Successful applicants will enjoy all the benefits that make Witten/Herdecke University the leading German private university: tailor-made teaching and learning formats, excellent student-teacher ratios, and innovative teaching concepts. Fundamental studies in humanities and arts form an integral part of all curricula.
The programme is open to graduates of economics, philosophy, humanities, social and political sciences and other disciplines related to the three key areas "Global Economic Development", "Global Governance" and "Philosophy and Society".

Educational organisation

Please see: http://www.uni-wh.de/fileadmin/media/w/MPPE_60.pdf

Study abroad unit(s)

Our international office helps students to organise their studies abroad. This is not obligatory, but we encourage our students to go abroad for at least one semester.

Forms of assessment

Witten/Herdecke University traditionally uses a wide range of teaching forms and forms of assessment, which are handled in a flexible way. Often, professors and students discuss and decide jointly on forms of assessment.

Course objectives

Graduates are well qualified to identify political and economic factors that influence processes of social change in institutional and organisational settings, to analyse them with appropriate methodological tools, and to develop responses to global challenges at national and international level. They have acquired a sound basis of economic, political, and philosophical expertise. Moreover, they have developed a reliable awareness of transdisciplinary connections. This particular combination of perspectives makes them competent agents in businesses, in politics, and in academic contexts.

Language requirements

English:
TOEFL: 92
IELTS: 6.5 (with a minimum of 6.0 in each section)
CEFR: B2

Academic requirements

The programme addresses graduates of economics, humanities, social and political sciences, and of other disciplines related to the three key areas "Global Economic Development", "Global Governance" and "Philosophy and Society". Direct admission to the PPE MA is possible for BA graduates (at least 180 ECTS in total) that have at least 60 ECTS in the fields economics and political science or 60 ECTS in philosophy. In principle, the programme is also open for applicants with different backgrounds. However, typically these applicants will receive an offer only conditionally upon a number of preparatory courses to be completed before enrolment. For further questions, please contact the heads of the programme.

We hand-select our students via a thorough admission process which is of central importance for our university. The core question for you as an applicant and for Witten/Herdecke University is whether or not we are suited to each other. Our individual selection procedures focus not on an applicant's school grades, but instead on character, job experience, future plans, and personal interests.

The process consists of four steps:
Step one: submit complete application documents (see Apply now!).
Step two: submitted applications are assessed with a focus on criteria such as personality, talent and ambition.
Step three: applicants are informed in writing that they are invited to an admission seminar, or that their application has been rejected.
Step four: in an admission seminar, applicants will as a rule be video-interviewed by three different teams of two interviewers each, for 30 minutes respectively. Interviewers are members of the business or political community, UW/H lecturers and alumni. We will offer you a place only if you convince all your interviewers that you will be an asset to our university.

They will want to know about your personality, talents, ambitions and experiences. Subject-related knowledge is of minor importance in these interviews. For applicants who are unable to come to Witten, interviews may be organised via Skype.

For more information see
http://www.uni-wh.de/fileadmin/media/w/w_studium/Studieninteressierte/Bewerbungsunterlagen/PPE_Master/application_procedure_MA-PPE.pdf
and
http://www.uni-wh.de/en/economics/applicants/suited-to-each-other/

Enrolment fees

1. Cost contribution per application: 100 EUR - payable at the time of application
2. Social contribution per semester: 52.50 EUR
3. Contribution for the semester ticket per semester: 182.22 EUR - cost for a semester ticket covering public transport in the Rhine/Ruhr area as well as regional trains in North Rhine-Westphalia

Costs of living

Approx. 700 EUR per month to cover personal expenses including rent
Living expenses in Witten and the Ruhr Area in general are comparatively low by German standards, although great cultural activities are on offer, such as the European Capital of Culture "Ruhr 2010" and a lively nightlife scene. See e.g.: http://www.ruhr-tourismus.de/en.html or http://www.ruhr2010.de

Funding opportunities within the university

Fellowships offered by the Hochschulwerk (student union) in cooperation with DAAD allocate an allowance of approx. 700 EUR per month. Witten/Herdecke international students who meet the following criteria are eligible:

• Student originates from a lower income country (annual GDP/capita less than 10,000 USD).
• Student possesses a registration certificate or successful application for a degree programme at Witten/Herdecke University. Students must have a confirmation letter from the University Witten/Herdecke, affirming their definitive admission to the university.
• Student has a personal need of funding.
  http://www.hochschulwerk.de/scholarship.html

Arrival support

Initial contact between new students and Witten/Herdecke University usually takes place in the video-interview during the selection process. As the selection process is accompanied by students who are already enrolled at Witten/Herdecke University, applicants get to know future fellow students on this occasion and develop first personal contacts with the student community. When they then arrive at Witten/Herdecke University for the start of their studies, freshmen have already tapped into the student network. In many cases, fellow students help with a pick-up service from the airport or from the train station, accommodate new students in their shared flats or arrange for private accommodation in order to integrate them into the network. This has the positive side effect that hotel expenses may not be necessary.
Before classes start, second-year students arrange two so-called "welcome weeks" for new students. Participation of freshmen is voluntary, but almost all new students attend these welcome weeks. In the first week, all students spend time together at a separate location in order to get to know each other and to start student life with common experiences. In the second week new students are introduced to the university and surroundings and the university presents itself to the students.
On the first day of classes, the faculty welcomes the new students in an informal ceremony.

Services and support for international students

International students receive support from the international relations coordinators of the respective faculty. This support includes the sending of a welcome package including information on registration, important semester dates, contact persons, as well as life in Witten. Furthermore, international coordinators and student assistants organise a pick-up service at the airport or the train station and help with administrative issues such as registration, opening a bank account or visiting local authorities for visa issues. Witten/Herdecke University offers German language courses at beginners' and advanced level free of charge for registered students. Foreign languages can be learned in a Tandem System, which pairs native speakers with non-native speakers. Course programme coordinators assist with course registration and study plan issues.

Accommodation

Witten/Herdecke University does not have a dormitory, but nearby towns provide many opportunities for flat renting. The student union (Hochschulwerk) runs a platform with information on available accommodation in Witten and surroundings. Furthermore, international relations officers and student assistants help in finding off-campus accommodation, e.g. in shared flats. As new students come to Witten/Herdecke University for the selection process, they make contact with student community networks on this occasion and can also receive help from fellow students in finding private accommodation.