03/07/2026
Applications are Now Open (MA/LLM & PhD)
Applications are now open for admission to graduate studies at Addis Ababa University (Centre for Federalism and Governance Studies, both in the MA/LLM and PhD Programs) for the Academic Year 2026/27.
Prospective students are invited to apply to the MA/LLM and PhD programmes, which offer exceptional opportunities for advanced learning, interdisciplinary research, innovation, and professional development. Whether you aspire to deepen your expertise, advance your professional career, contribute to groundbreaking research, or become a leader in your field, the Centre for Federalism and Governance Studies provides a vibrant academic environment, distinguished faculty, modern research facilities, and a strong network of scholars and professionals.
How to Apply
Applicants are advised to carefully review the admission requirements and follow the application procedures outlined in the official announcement. For detailed Information, please visit: https://admission.aau.edu.et/GraduatePrograms?utm_source=chatgpt.com
1. Master’s in Constitutional and Federalism Studies (LL.M and MA Tracks)
The Master’s in Constitutional and Federalism Studies is a one-and-a-half-year regular programme (three years in the extension programme) that examines diverse areas of constitutional and federalism issues to build students' knowledge, research, consultancy, and teaching capabilities in current constitutional and federalism matters. Students with a first degree in Law (LLB) or a BA in political science, economics, civics and ethics, anthropology, sociology, history, development studies, public administration, and other related fields of study who join the programme will engage in in-depth study of constitutional and federalism issues to conduct high-quality research from an interdisciplinary and comparative perspective and to create research-based knowledge on the constitutional and federal order that Ethiopia follows.
The courses to be covered include: Research Methods in Law and Social Science; Constitutional and Federalism Theories; Comparative Constitutional Law; State Constitutions and Local Government; Fiscal Federalism; Constitutional Interpretation and Adjudication; Intergovernmental Relations and Public Policy; elective courses (LL.M and MA Tracks); and Master’s Thesis (LL.M and MA Tracks). In the LL.M Track, elective courses will be selected from the following: Ethiopian Constitutional Development; Advanced Administrative Law; or African Constitutional Theory & Practice. In the MA Track, elective courses will be selected from the following: Federalism and Management of Diversity; Devolution and Regional Integration in the Horn; or Federalism, Human Rights and Gender.
Admission to the LL.M Track is limited to applicants with a first degree in law (LLB). Admission to the MA Track is open to applicants with an LLB or a BA in political science, economics, civics and ethics, anthropology, sociology, history, development studies, public administration, and other related fields. Admission to the Program (both tracks) is based on the Graduate Admission Test (G*T) of Addis Ababa University and on an admission test administered jointly by the School of Law and the Centre for Federalism and Governance Studies.
2. PhD in Federalism and Governance
The PhD in Federalism and Governance is a four-year programme that investigates a specific problem to develop the student's knowledge, research, consultancy, and teaching capabilities in the area of Federalism and Governance. After completing coursework, students will engage in an in-depth study of specific areas of Federalism and Governance, including comparative federalism and multilevel governance, the management of diversity, and regional economic and political cooperation, to conduct high-level, problem-solving research that contributes to the country's socio-economic development. The courses to be covered include: Advanced Research Methodology: Comparative Federal Political Systems; Federalism and Nation Building in Deeply Divided Societies; Decentralisation and Local Government in Africa; Public Administration and Policy Design; Federalism, Decentralisation and Regional Integration in the Horn of Africa; Fiscal Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations; and PhD Dissertation.
Admission to the programme is open to applicants who hold an MA/MSc degree from an accredited university, preferably in the social sciences, and who meet the Graduate Admission Test (G*T) requirements of Addis Ababa University and the entrance examination and screening requirements of the Centre for Federalism and Governance Studies. Applicants must have a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.40 out of a possible 4.0 points (or its equivalent) across all graduate courses taken during their Master’s degree studies. For acceptable reasons, the academic unit may lower this CGPA requirement to 3.25 if the applicant’s MA/MSc thesis evaluation is ‘Excellent’. Applicants who have completed a Master’s degree without a thesis must have at least two publications in peer-reviewed journals (or in the proceedings of reputable conferences) relevant to the field of study. Candidates must also submit two letters of recommendation.
