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Applying for Admission to an Advanced Semester

Information for applicants for an advanced semester of a master’s program

Application process

  • How to apply

    You apply for your chosen degree program online. Your documents need to be uploaded in the online application portal. You can view the status of your application online at any time.

  • Allocation of study places

    Admission to an advanced semester is selective for most of our degree programs. We can only admit applicants to an advanced semester if the selective degree program in question is not full. If the number of applicants is higher than the number of study places, both the progress made in your previous program and your performance are considered in the selection process.

  • Application deadlines

    The application deadlines for admission to the first subject-specific semester of a master's program also apply for all applications for admission to an advanced semester.

You will need to submit the following documents

  • University entrance qualification

    You need to hold a university entrance qualification issued by an institution in Germany or abroad.

  • Degree certificate from your first program of study

    In the online application, you must upload the degree certificate from your first degree program. 

    Applicants who hold a degree from an institution abroad also need a German or English translation of the document. Applicants who obtained their university entrance qualification or degree in China or Vietnam, must also provide the APS Certificate issued by the Academic Evaluation Center (Akademische Prüfstelle) in the corresponding country.

  • Transcript of Records from your bachelor's program

    The Transcript of Records from your bachelor's program is an important part of your application for admission to an advanced semester of a master’s program as it proves you have already obtained some subject-specific knowledge.

    We need an official Transcript of Records from your previous higher education institution.

    Applicants who hold a degree from an institution abroad must upload a Transcript of Records in the native language of the issuing institution as well as a German or English translation of the document. If the grading system is different to the system used in Germany, we also require proof of the grading scale used indicating the minimum passing grade and the highest possible grade that can be achieved.

    Applicants who obtained their university entrance qualification or degree in China, Vietnam oder India, must provide the APS Certificate issued by the Academic Evaluation Center (Akademische Prüfstelle) in the corresponding country.

  • Transcript of Records from your master's program

    We use the latest Transcript of Records from your master's program to verify the coursework and examinations that can be recognized for admission to an advanced semester. 

    We need an official Transcript of Records from your previous higher education institution.

    Applicants who hold a degree from an institution abroad must upload a Transcript of Records in the native language of the issuing institution as well as a German or English translation of the document. If the grading system is different to the system used in Germany, we also require proof of the grading scale used indicating the minimum passing grade and the highest possible grade that can be achieved.

  • Proof of previous periods of study in Germany

    We have to be aware of all periods of study that you have completed in Germany. Please provide the relevant documents of proof as part of your application. For example:

    • Enrollment Certificate
    • Confirmation of disenrollment
    • Transcript of records
    • Enrollment verification certificate

    If you have been enrolled in a degree program with similar content before in Germany, you must confirm that you are still eligible to take exams. For the application, this documents is only required if you have already studied at a German higher education institution in Germany.

    In order to account for any time you have spent studying abroad, you must provide official proof issued by the higher education institution which confirms your enrollment there. You must submit this proof in the native language of the issuing institution and a German or English translation.

  • Confirmation of your eligibility to take exams

    If you are applying for admission to the second semester or a subsequent semester of a program (i.e. an advanced semester), you must submit proof from your current German higher education institution which confirms that you are still eligible to take the exams in the degree program. You also need to provide this confirmation if you have previously been enrolled at a higher education institution in Germany and are applying for a study place in the first semester of a similar degree program.

    There is no standardized procedure for proving your eligibility. Some German institutions include a statement on the transcript of records which confirms that the student is eligible to take exams, whereas others issue a letter to confirm the student’s eligibility. We have created a document, provided below, which you can also use to confirm your eligibility.

    The confirmation of your eligibility must relate to the master's program.

  • CV

    You need a detailed, current curriculum vitae (CV).

  • Proof of German language proficiency

    If you are applying for a German taught program, please submit a proof that your proficiency in German is equivalent to at least level C1 (Goethe Zertifikat C2) of the common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). 
    Please note that you need German language proof for all bachelor's programs applications.

  • Program-specific criteria

    Depending on the master's program you are applying for, you may need to submit proof of language proficiency, a letter of motivation, or tests like the GMAT as part of your application. Further details are provided in the selection statutes for the degree program you are interested in.

Frequently asked questions

  • Why do I need to provide a module catalog?

    A module catalog is used to evaluate the coursework and examinations you have completed, and verify the specialized knowledge that you have acquired. That’s why you are asked to either provide a link to the module catalog for your previous degree program or upload a PDF version of the catalog as part of your online application. The examinations and coursework that you have completed can only be considered in your application if the competences you have obtained match those acquired in modules at the University of Mannheim.

  • Can I prove several facts using only one document?

    One document may serve as proof of several criteria required for your application. For example, your transcript of records can also be used to prove you have subject-specific knowledge that is relevant for admission to the degree program. 

  • How can I correct a mistake on my application form?

    The information will be corrected in our database once we check your application. You do not need to delete the application and start again.

  • When are the official notifications sent out?

    Usually, official letters of admission to advanced semestersof master’s programs are sent out seven to eight weeks after the application deadline.

  • When does the lecture period begin and end?

    The University of Mannheim is the first public higher education institution in Germany to align its academic calendar with the international academic year. The orientation weeks for first-year students and exchange students always take place in the week before the lecture period begins. View the academic calendar

Applying for the Correct Subject-Specific Semester

First, second or third semester? For which subject-specific semester should I apply?

Recognition of Coursework and Examinations

What do I need to do to have my coursework and exams recognized?

Contact

Claudia Dörr

Claudia Dörr

University of Mannheim
Dezernat II Bewerbungs- und Zulassungsstelle L 1, 1 (Eingang B) – Room 157
68161 Mannheim
Phone: +49 621 181-1199
Fax: +49 621 181-1161
E-mail: bewerbungmail-uni-mannheim.de
Alica Fink

Alica Fink

University of Mannheim
Dezernat II Bewerbungs- und Zulassungsstelle
L 1, 1 (Eingang B)
68161 Mannheim
Phone: +49 621 181-1279
Fax: +49 621 181-1161
E-mail: bewerbungmail-uni-mannheim.de
Sharon Rübel

Sharon Rübel

University of Mannheim
Dezernat II Bewerbungs- und Zulassungsstelle
L 1, 1 (Eingang B)
68161 Mannheim
Phone: +49 621 181-1279
Fax: +49 621 181-1161
E-mail: bewerbungmail-uni-mannheim.de