Admission requirements

Necessary documentation:
— Completion of a first degree in sociology or a comparable degree program at a university or vocational academy that is officially recognized in Germany and qualifies the degree holder for a profession
— Proof of English proficiency (B2) and proficiency in one other foreign language (B1) More on language skills

German language requirements

International applicants and German applicants with a foreign university entrance qualification are kindly advised to read the requirements for German-language courses.

Notes on the application process

If, at the time of application, proof of the first degree qualifying the applicant for a profession is not yet available, the application will be considered under the precondition that 80% of the credit points attainable for the degree have already been achieved based on completed module examinations or the final thesis and the colloquium (if applicable). A certification from the awarding institute of higher education (examination office) serves as proof of the above-mentioned academic achievements. You can find the appropriate form on the Admissions Office website.

General information about the degree program

The degree program is geared toward students who have earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology or a related subject (in Dresden or elsewhere) and would like to consolidate, expand and empirically found their sociological knowledge.

The objective of the Master’s degree program in Sociology is to equip graduates with expansive academic and scientific knowledge of sociology and prepare them to recognize complex sociological matters and problems using scientific methods, to analyze these matters appropriately and critically on the basis of current discourse, and to find and evaluate potential solutions.

Students acquire the necessary skills for addressing intricate and changing problems and issues by applying expert sociological knowledge. They also attain the specialized and general technical and conceptual skills that are required for research-oriented work at universities and non-university research institutions and that can be applied in practical fields dealing with research. These include public and private facilities, commerce, research alliances and media.

In order to undertake research and application-oriented tasks, graduates acquire the skills to expertly recognize and classify societal and cultural developments, to develop strategies for handling these, and to assess alternative solutions.

Upon completion of the Master’s degree program, students will also have learned the essential subject matter for pursuing a PhD in the field.

Study contents

The structure of the degree program is cumulative, spread across four semesters. The program is divided into sociological core courses (60 ECTS) and focus courses (ECTS). In the sociological core courses (1st and 2nd semester), students expand, consolidate and specialize the knowledge gained in their Bachelor’s degree program. They also conduct a research project over the two semesters.

Three concentrations are available in the core courses:
— “Cultures of Modernity”
— “Social Inequality”
— “Interaction and Communication”
Students can either combine these concentrations equally (general studies) or focus on one of them (specialized studies). The fourth semester is dedicated to writing the Master’s thesis (30 ECTS).

To facilitate the transition for students arriving from other locations or changing subjects within TU Dresden, all students take the same courses in the first semester. This semester also offers a glimpse into the three concentrations. In addition to a lecture series, students attend three research seminars from the concentrations, one of which they will continue with in the second semester as a research project. They will decide at the end of the first semester which concentration they would like to pursue or elect to follow the general studies path.
The focus courses (3rd semester) include sociological and interdisciplinary content, and students may choose to include a vocational internship. Alternatively, students may also choose to study abroad during the third semester.

View the module descriptions

Structure

Core courses (90 ECTS credit points, including 30 ECTS credit points for the Master’s thesis)
Focus courses (30 ECTS credit points)

For the focus courses, students can choose between

— Sociological and interdisciplinary studies
— An internship
— Studying abroad

or combine the internship with interdisciplinary studies.

Further information on the elective compulsory field of the focus courses at the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Science

Stay abroad

Would you like to spend a semester abroad? Whether it is a semester of studies, an internship or a language course abroad, you will definitely benefit from the international experience. You can improve your knowledge of your subject and language skills, establish new contacts, make friends, get to know other cultures, and much more. You can find further information on the International Office’s website.

Occupational fields

The Sociology Master’s degree program comprises broad-scale knowledge of social contexts and complex problems as well as their historical roots and global interdependence. Training in empirical social research methods enables graduates to take part in empirical research projects as well as to launch their own independent social research. They are well prepared to pursue a range of careers, meaning that they have many opportunities for professional development. However, the degree program does not qualify them directly for all of the occupations listed below. Sociology is not directly linked to any industry or occupational field. Choosing a focus and individual concentration as well as gathering practical experience through internships or side jobs is therefore highly recommended so students can already prepare to transition to gainful employment during their studies.

Private sector: human resources consulting and development, marketing, public relations, organizational and corporate consulting

Statistics, market research and opinion polling: statistical offices of the federal and state governments, commercial market research and opinion polling, work management, quality management

Public administration with the municipal, state and federal authorities: planning, city marketing, organizational consulting, equal opportunities work, press and public relations

Healthcare and social endeavors: health insurance and insurance funds, healthcare associations, human resources consulting, healthcare development and management, marketing and market research

Education: public and private educational institutions, training and continuing education at companies and beyond, adult education, educational and academic advising, educational planning and organization

Organizations in culture and politics: cultural institutions, foundations, international organizations and authorities (EU, UN), parliaments and political parties, advisory and academic roles, public relations, project management, political consulting, research

Journalism: journalistic positions (writing), editing and moderation in print, on the radio, online and on television, program development, media research and publishing

Research and teaching: training students at universities and other institutions of higher education, participation in research projects at universities and non-university research bodies, publication

Study documents

The official announcements of TU Dresden include all published regulations . Please use the search bar to find the document you need: Official proclamation

The regulations are also available on each institution’s website.

Contacts

Admissions Office

Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Science

International Office

Additional information