FAQs Applicants

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FAQs Applicants

 

 

 

  1. As far as I understand, the degree programme does not guarantee that the second year will be spent in Jena. What does that depend on? Is the DAAD scholarship the reason, or the achievements of the students? How many  students ( on average)  do have the opportunity to spend the semester in Jena? If you have not received a scholarship, but have the opportunity to finance your studies in Jena, is it still possible to get a double degree?

 

In most cases, all students go to the 2nd.Year to Jena. If it fails, it is usually a lack of language skills or examination performance. All students and this applies to all non-German students at a German university, must complete a TestDaf language test so that they can be admitted to the FSU Jena for M.A. in Political Science. This will take place at the end of the 1st year. The year takes place in Ukraine and the students are intensively prepared and promoted before that. (They spend this year in Ukraine having intensive preparation for the language test)

If you have to pay tuition fees at NaUKMA depends on whether you qualify for one of the “budget places” in the application process or not. 

As a rule, we have provided sufficient DAAD scholarship places for all students for their stay in Jena. The scholarship covers all housing and maintenance costs in Jena adequately. However, if there are unusually many students in the first year in Kiev, the scholarships will be awarded according to previous academic achievements. This case has occurred very rarely in the more than 10 years of DES existence.

Of course, students can also apply for other scholarship programs or finance their stay in Jena themselves.

 

  1. What are the main steps of the application process? 

 

Three application steps have to be taken into account for the application:

 

For the two admission tests in political science, you should go to the Admission Office (Приймальна комісія) until June 5, 2020 (at best a few days earlier) at NaUKMA Ilinska 9, Kyiv, come and register for the two tests.

At the end (mostly on the day of the last recording exam at the end of July) there is a personal interview with me and the DAAD lecturer and the DES coordinator, but here we are testing German language skills (the way your CV sounds shouldn‘t be a problem for you:) and if you’ve been a little busy with the program.

For the content preparation of the examination in political science we recommend the following sources:

 

  1. Is it possible to write the master’s thesis in German, or only English is required?

 

The Master’s thesis (from 2019 is only a joint work) is supervised by a German and Ukrainian lecturer. Therefore, it is usually advisable to write the work in English, so that both sides can evaluate the work. If the two supervisors are equally Ukrainian or German, these languages can of course also be agreed upon.

 

  1. Which subjects are the course concerned with? Is there a module overview anywhere? Did I understand correctly that courses are taught in both German and English? How long, how many semesters?

 

The program has been modularised since 2019. This means that there are 11 topic modules with specific learning objectives and ECTS points. You can find an overview in our program description (http://des-kyiv.org/study_program/). The degree programme is harmonised for the two years and at both universities and examinations are mutually recognised. Since the lecturers are Ukrainians, Germans and international guests, the teaching languages are approximately German (50 %), English (25 %), Ukrainian (25 %).

 

  1. Does the study also require an internship? Is it supposed to be in Ukraine?

 

The course includes internships during the lecture-free period (semester holidays). The conditions are the same as with all other MA programs of NaUKMA. Of course, the internship can be found at home and abroad. The DES team will be happy to advise on this during the 1st.Academic year.

 

  1. Can you apply for a German scholarship when studying? And participate in German programmes? Do you have the same rights as a German student?

The double master’s degree programme “Germany and European Studies” is unique in bilateral university cooperation between Ukraine and Germany.

 

With a joint MA-work and a coordinated module plan, the candidates will each receive a German and a Ukrainian diploma. During the time at the FSU Jena, the students are enrolled at the FSU and have the same rights and duties as all other students at this university.

 

For the entire 2 years, the students are supported by the DAAD. There is a full scholarship for the stay in Jena as well as partial scholarships after achievement during the time in Kyiv. In addition, students of the DES programme are free to apply for further scholarships to finance their studies.

 

  1. How is the study process going, according to the German scenario, or after the Ukrainian one? Is it a 5-day week, or the lectures and seminars take place, for example, 3 times a week? Do you have the opportunity to work during your studies?

 

The DES degree programme is a full-time study and is fully integrated into both universities, NaUKMA and FSU Jena. In the respective locations, the lectures take place according to the local regulations. In general, the study consists of a weekly, one- or two-hour sessions. In addition, there are guest lectures and block seminars with international lecturers, which take place a few days at a time. As a rule, examinations and written performances take place in the last two weeks. At NaUKMA, the academic year is divided into three trimesters. The German system in Jena includes two half-year semesters (October-February and April-July).

We advise students to spend a lot of time, especially at the beginning, in order to better estimate the individual workload. There are also tasks during the semester, such as writing a housework (1500 to 4000 words) or preparing a presentation, which makes it impossible to have a 40 hours full-time job by the way.

 

  1. Which courses can we choose in Jena?

 

In Jena, there is a pool of courses, which are offered in the regular program M.A. Political Science. In general, master students in Germany have the freedom to choose courses that correspond to the learning objectives of the modules. So there is no “specified timetable” as is often the case in Ukraine.

 

  1. What prospects do the graduates have after their studies?

After successful completion, students will have careers in the capitals of Ukraine and the EU. Many of our graduates then work in the field of politics and administration, e.g. parliaments, parties, ministries or other authorities. A considerable proportion of alumni also work in NGOs, the media industry or further in science (as doctoral students, for example). Some students continue to do internships, e.g. in the German Bundestag or at the EU in Brussels or opt for further studies at home and abroad. With the German M.Pol. degree, the students have all the doors open to apply for activities in the above-mentioned areas in Germany.     

 

  1. How does the study take place during the corona pandemic? Do the students have the opportunity to go to Jena despite the closed borders?

Distance learning is currently implemented at NaUKMA. This means that the lectures and seminars at NaUKMA take place online with the help of Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Despite the closed borders, students have the opportunity to get a visa due to their studies and to go to Germany.

 

If the field of study of my bachelor's degree is International Relations, do I have to pass entrance exam?

There will be no additional exam this year. The selection will be based on the results of the language exam (English or German) and the written exam in political science.

 

 Are there any budgetary placements, as I did not find them on the website.

Unfortunately, it is still unknown how many budgetary placements there are in the Master's Programme at NaUKMA this year. The number of budgetary placements will be set later. Last year, for example, there were 7 budgetary placements for Political Science, including German and European studies.

 

 Ist ein Sprachzertifikat als Nachweis der Sprachkenntnisse erforderlich?

Nein, Deutschkenntnisse werden während des Interviews nach der Prüfung in Politikwissenschaft bewertet.

 

 

Sind Englischkenntnisse erforderlich?

Ja, aufgrund der Tatsache, dass einige der Vorlesungen auf Englisch gehalten werden. Ausserdem wird die Master-Thesis im zweiten Jahr an der FSU in Jena auf English und NICHT auf Deustch geschrieben.