Heading for Paris: How Rebecca Otto is expanding her interdisciplinary profile at Sciences Po
At UW/H, Rebecca Otto paved her way to Sciences Po, where she dedicated herself to political science and gained valuable international experience.
UW/H graduate Rebecca Otto has studied at the Witten/Herdecke University PPÖ - Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Witten/Herdecke. Three disciplines that broadened her perspective and helped her to understand complex interrelationships. Her next step took her to Paris: to study for a Master's degree in Human Rights and Humanitarian Action at Sciences Po. She told us for the blog how her journey has gone so far and what new horizons are now opening up for her.
The goal: one of the most prestigious universities in France
Sciences Po, one of the most prestigious universities in the world, is located in the heart of the historic Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighbourhood in the 6th and 7th arrondissements of Paris. Numerous French presidents have studied here - and now UW/H graduate Rebecca Otto is also taking her first courses at the elite Parisian university: the 25-year-old completed her Bachelor's degree in PPÖ - Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Witten in summer 2025. She is now sharpening her profile in the direction of political science and expanding it to include international law and international organisations. At the same time, in Paris she has the opportunity to deepen her knowledge of climate and the environment, which she has already familiarised herself with at UW/H. "This mix was a great fit for me, which is why I opted for the programme," she says.
The Master's programme in Human Rights and Humanitarian Action will last two years. Students can choose a research focus, but overall the degree programme is more practically oriented. For example, participants have the opportunity to work with NGOs on their topics in so-called law clinics and to deepen their knowledge of international law. They also spend the entire third semester on an internship.
The itinerary so far: experiences in an international context
Rebecca already gained experience abroad during her Bachelor's degree - at Kansai University in Osaka, Japan, a partner university of UW/H. "I believe that the deeper you delve into the topics, including international politics, the greater your interest in the world becomes. I realised that during my semester abroad and it was the kind of experience I wanted to have again."
Her six-month internship at the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in Berlin also cemented this desire. Here she worked on a funding programme for the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety and organised educational events and training formats for NGOs in Eastern Europe. Rebecca: "I find these very concrete things and projects that they implement really interesting. It was exciting for me to deal with such overarching topics."
There are several application phases for a Master's programme at Sciences Po. Rebecca applied directly in the first round. That was in October 2024 and she was accepted in December. As an international student, she did not have to attend an interview, but she did have to submit numerous documents, including a cover letter, a CV and a detailed letter of motivation. "I was surprised that there was no selection seminar like at the UW/H. That's why I'm so excited about the people who will be studying with me. In my first week in Witten, I met some fellow students I already knew from the selection day. Now everything is new."
In the bag: an interdisciplinary degree programme and diverse perspectives
"I enjoyed the interdisciplinarity in Witten, the opportunity to find my own field of interest," says Rebecca. "These interfaces and the smooth transition between the fields of philosophy, politics and economics made total sense to me. Firstly to broaden my view and then to go into the specifics." She really appreciated being able to set her own priorities in the courses. "We were encouraged to stand up for our interests and take a seminar as an opportunity to work on our own focal point. It was never about following a predetermined path, but about growing as individuals."
The 25-year-old also benefited from the broad perspective and collaboration in an international team of students when organising the annual PPE conference conference at the UW/H. Here, among other things, she had contact with Master's students in PPE - Philosophy, Politics and Economics and was able to compare her knowledge with other perspectives. This was another building block that cemented her idea of doing an international Master's programme, which brings together people from different countries and backgrounds.
In addition to this, Rebecca has also been involved in the [tra:ce] at UW/H, the International Centre for Sustainable and Just Transformation. "That gave me additional context that you might not get from a purely student perspective. In Witten, we were able to slip into many different roles and try them out."
The compass: an attitude that lasts
"There was once a series of events in which professors were interviewed," Rebecca recalls. "What I took away from it was this will to create. Change happens all the time - and it is initially value-free. We ourselves charge the term positively or negatively. I take this impulse with me: Change is a creative space that we can deal with. This attitude definitely helps me."
The souvenir: what Rebecca wants to take with her from Paris
Rebecca is looking forward to meeting new people in Paris from whom she can learn something, to gaining knowledge in a discipline that is new to her and to life in the big city. She lives in a shared flat with other students and is brushing up on her French. And she wants to find out where she can go with her appointment. She can imagine working in international cooperation after graduation. Or in the field of environmental law, or perhaps in humanitarian aid. She has taken this question with her to Paris and will see for herself how her journey continues.