Master in Political, Economic and Legal Philosophy (PELP)

Master in Political, Economic and Legal Philosophy (PELP) is one of 5 English-taught Philosophy programmes at master’s level in the register, offered by 4 institutions. 3 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland; this programme lists EUR 1,453 a year. 3 are at a public university, where EU, EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters.

PELP is a master's programme at the University of Graz that looks at politics, economics and law through a philosophical lens. It is run jointly across disciplines, and the teaching language is German and English. The programme can be taken wholly in English, so you should check which parts are taught in German if you want to study in both languages.

What you study

The programme combines theory with practice. You take political, economic and legal questions and scrutinise them from a philosophical angle, with a focus on norms. In Graz the course choice is broad, particularly on democracy and climate justice. The emphasis throughout is on devising problem-solving strategies that are founded on norms.

Teaching happens in interdisciplinary seminars at various faculties, and there is plenty of room to specialise. The programme sits in the subject areas of society and democracy, social and ethical issues and religion, and law and economy.

How the programme is organised

It is a full-time or part-time master's worth 120 ECTS, spread over four semesters. The structure is built to let you combine work and study.

There is also a double degree option with Ruhr University Bochum. If you take that route you spend a mandatory semester abroad at the partner institution, worth 30 ECTS. Graz covers democracy and climate justice; Bochum lets you specialise in moral and market-related issues.

Who it suits

It suits students who want to investigate political, economic and social issues from both a normative and a philosophical perspective. One student on the programme puts it this way: if you care about equitable coexistence in society, want to question accepted processes and norms, and enjoy debating with other people, PELP fits.

The interdisciplinary seminars and the many chances to specialise mean you should be comfortable moving between faculties rather than staying inside one department.

Admission, language and next steps

To be admitted you need a completed bachelor's degree or a degree worth at least 180 ECTS. Full details of the admissions procedure and current deadlines are on the university's main admissions page. There is no central application portal: you apply directly to the University of Graz, and its own page gives the application period.

Teaching is in German and English, and the whole programme can be taken in English. If you plan to study in German too, check with the institution which parts are taught in which language.

After the master's you can go on to a doctoral programme. The content of your master's is evaluated during the admission process. As a public university, Graz charges no tuition to EU/EEA and Swiss students within the standard duration plus two semesters; other students pay a fee per semester.

The master's program PELP aims to contribute to the investigation of social phenomena by encouraging students to consider conceptual and substantial connections between the disciplines of social, legal and economic sciences in their own, ideally philosophically motivated, research work. In that context, practical philosophy has the following tasks: to investigate the connection between the above-mentioned disciplines and to investigate and test their methodical presumptions; furthermore, to define the principles and criteria of normative evaluation and highlight the normative implications of economic and political-legal behaviour.

Double degree programme in cooperation with the University of Bochum.

There is no central application portal in Austria: you apply to the institution, here University of Graz. A public university sets the admission requirements and dates for this level, so read them on the programme page. Entrance examination, as the register states it: An admission or aptitude procedure applies (see the programme page). Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, the student residence permit and housing.