Individual Research Master

Rethinking research: individual, interdisciplinary, international

The new “Individual Research Master” (M.Sc.) degree programme provides targeted preparation for doctoral studies and can reduce the time needed to obtain a doctoral degree by up to two years. It focuses on an individually tailored research project, intensive supervision by mentors, and close integration of Master's and doctoral modules.

Designed to meet the challenges of a knowledge-based, dynamic working world, the programme is intended for individuals who wish to play an active role in shaping science, both disciplinary and interdisciplinary. Combining a high level of research intensity with social relevance, the programme aims to open up new paths in academic qualification.

At a Glance

Degrees awarded: Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Possible subsequent doctoral degrees: Dr. rer pol., Dr. phil., Dr. rer. nat.
Application deadline: EU degree: 1 June / Non-EU degrees: 1 May
Highlights: Targeted research preparation; flexible, individualised content design; intensive supervision; high proportion of practical research experience
Is aimed at: Tomorrow's scientists from all disciplines
Type of programme: consecutive, restricted admission
Start date: 1 October
Extent: 120 CP according to ECTS
Standard duration of study: 4 semesters
Language of instruction: English
Semester contribution: approx. 450 EUR

Individual Research - The Programme

Content

The Individual Research Master (M.Sc.) study programme focuses on a research-intensive project developed by the student, which is geared towards a doctorate from the outset. A key feature is the close and continuous supervision of students by a mentor of their choice from the Leuphana faculty. Students coordinate their curriculum with this mentor and develop an individual study programme that optimally prepares them for their own research question and future academic work.

This study model is open to all disciplines, including cultural studies, psychology, computer science, educational research, political science and sustainability science. Content is flexibly composed of transdisciplinary research and methodological elements, modules from existing master's programmes and doctoral components. This is supplemented by research forums that promote exchange and critical reflection.

This unique programme is aimed at ambitious individuals with a Bachelor's degree who want to further their academic development without disciplinary boundaries but with a clear scientific profile.

Structure

The Master's programme comprises three closely related areas: individual research, scientific and methodological specialisation, and interdisciplinary exchange.

Students focus on their own research project, which they develop systematically from the outset and which is supervised throughout all semesters. Students develop their own research questions and design an individual curriculum with a professor they have specifically chosen at Leuphana. This close mentoring relationship forms the backbone of the programme, ideally with the ultimate goal of pursuing a doctorate with the same supervisor. If applicants have not already found a suitable person, the programme coordinators will help them find a mentor. Accompanying courses focus on interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary work, providing an opportunity to reflect on and further develop the methodological basis and conceptual orientation of the research project.

Specialisation is achieved through the selection of individual modules from existing Master's programmes at Leuphana Graduate School. The selection is deliberately interdisciplinary and tailored to the needs and goals of the respective research project, whether from the social sciences, cultural studies, education, or technical sciences. This flexibility enables academic profiling that transcends traditional subject boundaries while adhering to the highest academic standards.

The programme is accompanied by regular research forums in which students present their research for interdisciplinary discussion, receive feedback and refine their academic arguments. These forums provide a collegial space for reflection and development. At the same time, students take modules from the doctoral programme, thereby acquiring methodological and structural knowledge of scientific work at a high level. These modules do not need to be taken again in a subsequent doctoral programme.

International mobility is given special attention: research stays, summer schools and study periods abroad are expressly encouraged. Mentors actively support this process by advising on suitable programmes and helping students integrate into their course. In this way, the Master's programme offers excellent preparation for an academic career and the freedom to think globally about research from the outset.

Specifics

Early enrollment in doctoral programme

As the Individual Research Master places a strong emphasis on the development of independent research projects and on preparing a research field for doctoral studies, students are strongly encouraged to enroll in the doctoral programme at Leuphana at the start of the Master’s degree to fully benefit from the programme's design. This early enrollment, called the Doctoral Track, provides access to support offers as well as for example the qualification funds for financing the mobility formats mentioned above.

Learn more about how to get into the Doctoral Track.

Study Regulations and Subject-Specific Schedule

The following link provides access to documents which set out the general conditions for examinations, an overview of the curriculum, as well as detailed and legally binding regulations.

General Assessment Regulations and the Subject-Specific Schedules

Overview of Modules

Research Forum I (5 CP)
Research Project and Methods I (10 CP)
Elective ModuIe I (5 CP)
Elective ModuIe II (5 CP)
Doctoral Studies I: Engaging with Research Ethics (5 CP)

Research Forum II (5 CP)
Research Project and Methods II (10 CP)
Elective ModuIe III (5 CP)
Elective ModuIe IV (5 CP)
Doctoral Studies II: Practicing Research for Science and Society (5 CP)

Research Forum III (5 CP)
Research Project and Methods III (10 CP)
Elective ModuIe V (5 CP)
Elective ModuIe VI (5 CP)
Doctoral Studies III: Discussing Research Perspectives (5 CP)

Master's thesis (30 CP)

Teaching Personnel

Programme Director

Prof. Dr. Manuel Bohn

Deputy Programme Director

Prof. Dr. Ricardo Usbeck

Studying Abroad

Students of this Master's programme have the opportunity to spend a semester of their studies abroad. For that, we recommend the third semester.

For any questions or to apply, please contact the International Center. The International Center will provide all further information on Erasmus+ funding, and on preparing for and organising your semester abroad.

Exchange programmes	Apply directly
Recognition of credits	Finance and funding

Career Prospects

The Individual Research Master (M.Sc.) degree programme is aimed at individuals with a passion for research who wish to pursue a career in science or prepare for research-related professions. Graduates have solid knowledge of scientific work, interdisciplinary thinking and the practical implementation of research. They have learned to independently explore complex topics, approach them in a structured manner and consider them within broader social contexts — skills that are in demand far beyond academia.

As well as qualifying for a doctorate, the degree also qualifies graduates for positions in non-university research institutions, think tanks, innovation laboratories, and evidence-based policy consulting. Other potential career paths include roles in strategic planning, research and development, science management, science and data journalism, and data- and research-based corporate management.

By setting their own priorities, students can address specific industries or social issues, such as artificial intelligence, democratic research, cultural mediation or education policy. The soft skills acquired during the programme, such as self-management, project management, academic writing and interdisciplinary collaboration, are just as important as the ability to navigate the international academic arena with analytical confidence.

The aim is to produce graduates who can not only reproduce research, but also contribute to its development. They can set their own research topics, work methodically and contribute critically and reflectively to our current knowledge base, whether in academia or science-related professional fields.

On the Leuphana Career Service website, you will find numerous job offers for student jobs, internships, career entry, or topics for your thesis from companies, research institutions, and non-profit organizations that are specifically aimed at Leuphana students and graduates. In addition, you will find job offers and student jobs within Leuphana University.

Doctoral Track

As a student in our programme, you have the opportunity to start your doctorate early via the Doctoral Track.

Thus, you to become part of the scientific community of our doctoral research groups at an early stage, giving you the unique opportunity to combine your Master's and doctoral studies and, with your doctorate in sight, to obtain your Master's degree en-route.

If you are interested in the Individual Research Master, we highly recommend you to make use of the Doctoral Track programme as well and to enroll in the doctoral studies early. This will give you the chance to benefit from Graduate School's offers for its doctoral students.

Admission Requirements and Application

You can find all information about the admission and requirements, the application and the selection procedure on our "Admissions and Requirements" page.

The selection procedure for this study programme consists of a maximum of 30 points for the GPA and a selection Interview, through which you can receive a maximum of 29 additional points.The aim of the 30 minute interview is to determine the applicant's research interests, goals and expectations for the Master's programme, and their suitability for the Master's programme. It can optionally be conducted online.

Before applying, interested students should look for potential mentors at Leuphana University of Lüneburg and get in touch with them. An informal confirmation from the potential mentor stating their willingness to supervise must be included with the application. If you need help finding a mentor, please contact the programme coordinators by email!

International Students

The study programme matches your interests? Then you will find further information for prospective international students on residence and social matters, such as visa, residence permit, health insurance or finding accommodation, on the following pages.

Please note that the information for incoming exchange students and international degree-seeking students differs slightly.

Information for incoming exchange students

Information for international degree-seeking students

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The recognition of externally completed modules is the sole responsibility of the programme coordinators and is currently carried out using the application form for recognition of examination results (also see website on examinations in the Master's studies).

Recognition is generally granted from master to doctoral level, i.e. the doctoral modules completed in the Individual Research Master are recognised for the doctoral studies and not vice versa. The respective college spokespersons are responsible for recognition in doctoral studies.

In the case of ‘transfer students’ from the Doctoral Track, the modules “Doctoral Studies I-III" of the Individual Research Master are recognised. The modules “Research Forums I-III" can generally be recognised, but renewed participation in the Individual Research Master is strongly recommended, as these forums focus even more strongly on the research project and their content differs from that of the doctoral programme.

The subject-specific annex stipulates that the elective modules in the Individual Research Master must generally be completed in Leuphana Master's programmes. This regulation represents the formal rule. At the same time, the Individual Research Master is explicitly designed as an individually tailored, research-oriented programme. Against this background, study abroad and the integration of external courses are expressly encouraged.

In concrete terms, this means that courses taken abroad or at other German universities can be recognised as elective modules, provided that their content and scope meet the requirements of the Master. Recognition is granted upon application and on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with the mentors and the programme coordinators of the Master, after an equivalence assessment. The subject-specific annex does not therefore exclude external credits as a matter of principle, but describes the standard procedure, from which deviations are possible in justified cases. Credits from the PhD Network can then be recognised in doctoral studies, but not in the master's programme.

Formally, one mentor is required for the Individual Research Master. In practice, however, we recommend involving a second advisor, especially in interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary projects. This second person is not formally part of the mentor arrangement, but serves to provide additional expertise and support, including in the event of a possible change of the primary supervisor to another university.

The formal requirement is that mentors are affiliated with Leuphana University of Lüneburg. In addition to regular professors, the professorial staff also includes junior professors. Other groups of people, e.g. visiting, adjunct, honorary or emeritus professors, as well as postdocs and doctoral candidates, can take on the formal role of mentor, provided they are eligible to supervise doctoral candidates and are under professorial supervision.

The compulsory modules of the Individual Research Master Master's programme are primarily focused on the Master's thesis. Accordingly, the research plans, presentations, and reflection formats included in the curriculum also formally relate to the Master's project. At the same time, the Master's programme is deliberately designed to support students in developing an advanced research profile, with the aim of subsequently pursuing a doctorate. If students are considering pursuing a doctorate, the content of their research plan can be designed from the outset to tie in with a possible doctoral project. However, in the Individual Research Master, performance is formally assessed regarding the Master's thesis, as the Master's programme is also intended to be open to students who decide against pursuing a doctorate during their studies.

For the required 10 ECTS in methods, we consider a broad spectrum of methods, including, for example:

qualitative and quantitative research methods,
statistics,
research methodology,
mixed-method approaches,
subject-specific empirical or theoretical method formats.

The methodological skills do not necessarily have to have been acquired exclusively within the framework of the Bachelor's programme. What is more important is that the relevant university courses are methodologically oriented in terms of content and have been completed with ECTS credits. Therefore, methodological courses that have been completed at other universities can also be considered, even if they were not a formal part of the Bachelor's programme. Here, too, the assessment is made on a case-by-case basis based on the course descriptions in an interview with the programme coordinators. All methodological knowledge can be specified and explained directly in the application form.