Study programmes in the area of empirical research on higher education and science tend to be interdisciplinary and application-oriented. Students in such programmes learn both theoretical and methodological foundations. They study research questions and consider the science and higher education systems from a range of different perspectives.

In addition, such programmes have two types of ties to the actual field of research on higher education and science: First, the study programmes play an important role in transfer of research findings, since their curricula draw on findings from such research. Second, the research field offers attractive employment opportunities for graduates who are seeking research careers.

The following pages present descriptions of 8 master's degree programmes in Germany. Study programmes with emphases on the philosophy of science or history of science were not included, since the focus here is on programmes oriented to empirical social-scientific research or to research in higher education didactics.

Study programmes abroad, in the area of research on higher education and science, tend to have an interdisciplinary orientation – like similar programmes in Germany. Internationalisation in the tertiary education sector continues apace, and demand for study programmes abroad continues to grow. In keeping with these trends, this section will successively present examples of attractive study programmes abroad in the area of research on higher education and science.

In the WiHo career paths section we ask graduates who have studied one of the presented study programmes in the field of science and higher education research about their current professional activities within or outside of science.

What are the graduates of that time doing today? Where do they work? How can they apply their knowledge in their current professional field?

The interview series starts with Dr. Maria Galda, who was responsible for software-based teaching evaluation at the University of Cologne at the time of the interview (July 2020) and who recently moved to a software company.