Labour Policies and Globalisation University of Kassel

Study in Germany and engage with pressing questions of the transnational trade union and labour movement together with fellow students and activists from around the globe. The MA programme Labour Policies and Globalisation (LPG) at the University of Kassel offers a specialised opportunity to deepen your understanding of current theories, research findings, and methods – ranging from crises in the global economy and labour struggles to union strategies and just transition policies.

This one-year, English-language Master’s programme is designed for participants with prior practical experience in trade unions, workers’ organisations, social movements, or civil society. It brings together an international cohort and focuses on the challenges facing unions and labour movements in times of multiple and overlapping crises. Combining academic rigour with practical engagement, the programme integrates theoretical learning with excursions, case studies, and a six-week internship in an international labour organisation or related institution.

With its strong emphasis on research, the programme qualifies students for independent academic work as well as for analytically grounded policy and organisational practice. It aims to develop and communicate practical responses to the social and labour policy challenges posed by globalisation and its manifold crises. This objective is pursued within an international and interdisciplinary framework, providing students with a critical understanding of key theoretical approaches as well as the actors and processes shaping the global political economy.

Special emphasis is placed on the representation of workers’ interests and the role of social movements. Through a theory-driven examination of these issues and the integration of practice-based elements, students are enabled to apply their insights in both academic and professional contexts, including trade unions, international organisations, NGOs, and research institutions.

The programme is intended for applicants seeking to strengthen their analytical and strategic capacities within the global labour movement. Admission is competitive and requires a relevant professional or activist background. Apart from a contribution towards excursions and the regular semester fee, the programme is free of charge. A limited number of scholarships is available for selected candidates from the Global South.

The one-year Master's programme starts in the winter semester at the University of Kassel. During the winter semester, the students need to complete the following mandatory modules: 

• Module 1: Process of Globalisation 
  • One World Seminar 
  • Trade Union Strategies in a Global Economy 
  • Governance of Globalisation
  • The Role of Labour in the Global Political Economy
• Module 2: Research Methods
  • Lecture
  • Seminar
  • Tutorial

For the joint degree, second semester courses will take place at the Berlin School of Economics and Law. During the summer semester, the students are expected to complete the following modules: 

• Module 3: Global Challenges to Labour 
  • Global Workers' Rights 
  • Decent Work in Global Value Chains 
• Module 4: Economics and Legal Responses to Globalisation 
  • Economic Policy and the Role of Trade Unions 
  • Elective 

Students are expected to write the Master's thesis during the summer semester. 

Forms of teaching and studying include colloquium, workshops, internships, tutorials, excursions, and lectures.

Following the first semester, students will have to complete a six-week internship. The internships are an integrated and compulsory part of the Master's programme. They provide unique insights into the work and activities of the Global Union Federations, international trade unions, labour-related research foundations, German trade unions, or works councils of German-based transnational companies. During the internship, students will be working on specially assigned projects that are part of the global activities of the host organisations. At the end of the internship they will have to write a report on their activities.

The programme provides substantial help in finding appropriate internship opportunities.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in economics, law, pedagogy or social sciences
• A total of 240 acquired ECTS credits are required. In case you have earned less than 240 credits during your BA studies, it is still possible to be admitted to the LPG programme. The admission will then be conditional, contingent upon your completing the missing credits during your MA studies by completing more courses or extending your studies by one or two semesters.
• Advanced knowledge on issues of labour relations and at least one year of practical experience in the representation of workers' interests are required. Proof is provided by submitting references and/or letters of recommendation issued by the organisation where the experience was obtained.
• A letter of motivation (maximum three pages long) covering the following questions:
  • How are your previous qualifications and your prospective professional aims and aspirations related to the Labour Policies and Globalisation programme?
  • What is your experience and knowledge in the field of labour relations?
  • Which challenges can you identify for trade union work in the context of a globalised economy and how can these challenges be researched (research proposal)?

Exceptions to the eligibility criteria are decided by the Selection Committee.

The semester contribution (391.27 EUR for the 2026 summer semester) includes the "Deutschlandticket", which allows you to use all regional trains and local transport throughout Germany free of charge! You will also receive discounts on meals in the canteens and much more.

To cover their personal expenses while studying in Kassel or Witzenhausen, students are advised to budget between 950 and 1,100 EUR per month for accommodation, food, health insurance, books and other miscellaneous expenses.

Students can apply for various part-time jobs, including positions as a student assistant or tutor on campus. The University of Kassel's Career Service can help you find a part-time job.

A limited number of scholarships is available to students from the Global South with a strong trade union background.

Applicants who wish to be considered for a scholarship should inform the programme coordinator at glu.germany@uni-kassel.de during the application period.

The Career Service of University of Kassel offers individual support to facilitate a successful transition from academic to the professional world. Especially for international students aiming for a career in Germany, the Career Service provides workshops, reviewing application documents, networking with alumni and individual counselling. Learn more about the Career Service.

You can find useful information on accommodation, how to find a place to live, and the private housing market in Kassel and on the Witzenhausen campus on the University of Kassel website. More on accommodation in Kassel and Witzenhausen.
International students enrolled at the University of Kassel can choose to stay in a private accommodation or in a student hall of residence ("Wohnheim"). Around the campuses, there are about 1,000 rooms available in the student halls. Further information can be found at the Website of Studierendenwerk Kassel. Rent for a room varies from 260 to 545 EUR per month, depending on location and facilities. Students can choose between single apartments with en-suite facilities and shared flats with fellow students.