Master of International Affairs (MIA)

The Master of International Affairs (MIA) prepares students for careers requiring a profound understanding of today’s global policy challenges in government, diplomacy and international organisations. 

Key facts

• Two-year, full-time programme
• Taught entirely in English, in the heart of Berlin
• Practice-oriented curriculum, incorporating professional development workshops, an international negotiation course and a summer internship
• Earn an MA degree that qualifies for a job-seeking visa in Germany (up to 18 months) after graduation
• No GRE required for admission
• No application fee!

Specialise in one area of international affairs

At the end of your first semester, you will choose one of the following areas of concentration:

• International security – tackle today's global security problems in national governments, international organisations, NGOs, think tanks and academia, as well as the private sector.
• European governance – gain a solid foundation in the EU's internal workings and explore the interaction between EU and national law, politics and policy.
• Human rights and global governance – focus on human rights and international law, and understand the complex challenges posed by multi-national policymaking.

Dual-degree programmes

Want to gain even more international experience? Spend one year at the Hertie School in Berlin and one year at a world-renowned partner institution, and get a foot in the door in two countries! At the end of the two-year programme, graduate with a degree from each university. For the MIA programme, the Hertie School has dual-degree programmes with the following partners:

• Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto
• Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University
• School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University
• Bocconi University

Scholarships available

The Hertie School offers full and partial scholarships covering between 10% and 100% of tuition fees. We grant tuition waivers for the entire period of study and allocate them on a rolling basis up until the final application deadline on 1 May. However, we encourage prospective students in need of financial assistance to apply by our priority deadline on 1 February.

About half of our students receive a financial aid offer from the school, and most students rely on a mixture of tuition waivers, external scholarships, loans and student jobs to finance their studies. Additionally, since the Hertie School is accredited by the US Department of Education, candidates from the US can also apply for US federal student aid (FAFSA), US Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards and the US Department of Veterans Affairs Aid to fund their studies.

Apply today!

We are currently accepting applications for the MIA programme. Check out the admission requirements, read our Frequently Asked Questions page, and submit your documents via our online application portal today. There is no application fee. We also do not require the GRE for admission.