Political Science (Bachelor's Degree Subject)Contemporary, multifaceted, and exciting

Political science is a rich and particularly topical area of study which is closely linked to our everyday lives. Political decisions shape how we live together as a society, defining our freedom to act, our duties and our rights. Accordingly, to study political science is to investigate these concepts in depth, and ask questions such as: How do generally binding rules come into being, and how are they enforced? How do European institutions operate, and how are international relations shaped? Why does conflict occur, and how is it resolved?

This makes for a multifaceted and exciting study program. Students at bachelor level will first develop a strong foundation in political science theories and methods, which are then built upon as they learn additional skills that equip them to analyze political structures and processes. The constantly evolving bachelor’s program offers an opportunity to develop specialist knowledge of political systems in one or more world regions.

Focal areas of teaching and research

Political science at the University of Basel places a strong emphasis on international relations, as well as comparative studies between and within political systems. Another key feature of the program is that it combines content-related and methodological foundations with specialist knowledge on the student's chosen world region, thereby allowing students to pursue their specific interests in one or more regions. Other key areas of academic focus are democracy, political representation, peace and conflict studies, and the European Union.

The program’s specialized approach enables diverse teaching and research collaborations with other humanities and social sciences departments. The focus on world regions complements and expands upon courses offered by other institutes and faculties. The geographical and cultural aspects of courses offered by the Center for African Studies, the Institute for European Global Studies and the departments of Middle Eastern Studies, Eastern European Studies and Literary Studies make them an ideal complement to the political science program.

The bachelor’s program offers a solid theoretical, methodological and thematic academic foundation. It comprises three classical branches of political science: comparative politics, international relations, and political theory. Students will become familiar with different government systems and political actors, and will grapple with the factors that shape decision-making processes, as well as conflict and cooperation between political actors in different world regions. The Regional Focus and Consolidation modules in Political Science Consolidation / Further Political Science allow students to tailor the course to suit their chosen specialty. Concurrently, students will also develop skills in scientific working techniques, research design, and application of quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods. Furthermore, the interdisciplinary nature of the social sciences is taken into account by means of the Broader Social Sciences module.

Short profile

DegreeBA in Political Science
TypeDegree subject
Start dateSeptember
Credit points180
Program structure

The bachelor's degree is the first degree. It comprises a total of 180 credit points (CP). Political Science is studied as one of two degree subjects, each worth 75 CP. In addition, there are free electives (30 CP).

One ECTS credit point corresponds to approximately 30 hours of work.

Subject combination

The diverse understanding of theories and methods in political science provides an ideal basis for interdisciplinary study and allows for many beneficial combinations with other subjects. In addition to subjects from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, a second bachelor's degree subject can also be an extra-faculty subject.

The free electives are at the free provision of all students. It is generally used to acquire general skills (foreign languages, IT, rhetoric, etc.), interdisciplinary learning (non-subject or interdisciplinary courses), further deepening of one's own subject studies or the acquisition of a certificate.

Language of instructionGerman
Fachbereich

Political Science

Bachelor’s admission requirements

The Student Administration Office at the University of Basel is responsible for admitting students to bachelor’s programs in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. This is based on the admission regulations of the President’s Office:

  • with Swiss educational qualifications, 
  • foreign educational qualifications, or
  • as a visiting student (not working toward a degree at the University of Basel)

Holders of a Swiss federal Maturität certificate will be admitted to all bachelor’s degree programs.

If you have any further questions, please consult the information provided here.

Registration dates

Students must register for their bachelor’s or master’s degree program within a specified timeframe – even in cases of delayed registration.

Information events

The University of Basel organizes regular information events for bachelor’s and master’s programs. Details can be found on the <link de/fakultaet/aktuelles/ - external-link-new-window "Öffnet internen Link im aktuellen Fenster">events page</link> of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. 
Some subject areas also offer their own separate information or welcome events. Please consult the page for the relevant subject area for event dates and locations.

Bachelor Prüfung & Abschluss

Fristen und Termine Bachelorstudium (siehe Merkblätter unter Dokumente und Merkblätter)

Zur Bachelorprüfung können sich Studierende anmelden, die im zu prüfenden Fach 60 KP bzw. im Studiengang 120 KP erbracht und die für den Abschluss zählenden Seminararbeiten im zu prüfenden Fach oder im Studiengang absolviert haben. Der Nachweis erfolgt durch Vorlegen der Modulzuordnung.

Es kann neu auch nur ein Fach pro Session geprüft werden. Das bedeutet, die beiden Bachelorprüfungen können auf zwei Sessionen verteilt werden (Achtung: nur bei Studienfächern – bei Studiengängen ist eine Trennung der beiden Prüfungen nicht möglich).

BA-Prüfungen: Auf Grund der freien Verfügbarkeit von KI-Textgeneratoren (wie bspw. ChatGPT) hat die Phil.-Hist. Fakultät beschlossen, die Durchführungsart der BA-Prüfung anzupassen. Mit dieser Anpassung soll die Eigenleistung der Studierenden sichergestellt werden. Neu werden ab FS23 die BA-Prüfungen wieder in den Räumen der Universität unter Aufsicht geschrieben. Dabei handelt es sich um digitale «bring-your-own-device» Prüfungen. Die Prüfungstermine bleiben unverändert bestehen. Prüfungskandidat*innen beachten bitte unbedingt das aktualisierte Merkblatt zum Ablauf der BA-Prüfungen sowie das neue Anmeldeformular (Studienfach, Studiengang). Bei Rückfragen wenden Sie sich an die Studienadministration.

 HS 2024FS 2025HS 2025FS 2026HS 2026
Anmeldeformulare (Studienfach / Studiengang) verfügbar ababgelaufen20.01.2501.09.2526.01.2631.08.26
Anmeldezeitraumabgelaufen03.03. - 21.03.2529.09. - 17.10.2509.03. - 27.03.2628.09. - 16.10.26
Schriftliche Prüfungenabgelaufen05.05. (NEU) & 09.05.2505.12. - 12.12.2511.05. - 18.05.2604.12. - 11.12.26
Notenmitteilungenabgelaufen01.07.2523.01.2601.07.2615.01.27
Abschlussantragformulare spätestens verfügbar ababgelaufen02.06.2505.01.2601.06.2604.01.27
Prüfungseinsicht und Antrag auf Abschlussabgelaufen04.08. - 22.08.2526.01. - 13.02.2603.08. - 21.08.2618.01. - 05.02.27
Diplomfeier26.04.2518.10.2518.04.2617.10.2617.04.27

Unter Vorbehalt nachträglicher Änderungen.

Continuing on to a master’s degree

A bachelor's degree qualifies graduates for entry to subsequent master’s level programs. Dependent on the subject options chosen at the bachelor level, it may permit entry to a master's in a different subject area.

Career opportunities

Besides employment in NGOs, international organizations, research groups and private sector firms, this bachelor’s degree can also prepare graduates for positions in politics, administration, business and media requiring independent, methodical and analytical thinking and work.

Academic advice

Teaching committee

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