Admission to the First Subject-Specific Semester
Information for applicants for admission to the first subject-specific 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
Study places on our master's programs are allocated according to the admission requirements and selection criteria that are bindingly defined in the selection statutes.
If the number of applications is higher than the number of study places on the program, a ranking list will be created. Five percent of the study places are reserved for applicants experiencing hardship. In addition, there is a quota of one percent for prospective students who can prove that they are locally bound due to an activity of public interest (Ortsbindung im öffentlichen Interesse). This applies to top athletes, for example.
Admission to some master’s programs is not selective. For non-selective programs, every applicant who meets the admission requirements and applies in due time and form will be granted admission.
Application deadlines
Here you can find the application deadlines for our master’s programs.
Admission in the spring semester is also possible for some of our master’s programs.
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
You need to upload the degree certificate from your first program of study.
Applicants who hold a degree from an institution abroad also need a notarized 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.
If your degree certificate is not available at the time of your application, you may submit it later. The deadline for submitting this document is provided in your official letter of admission.
Transcript of Records
A transcript of records is a particularly important part of your application for admission to a master’s program. It proves that you have acquired specialized knowledge, and documents your grades and progression.
We require an official transcript of records by your higher education institution. Transcripts with a verification code can also be accepted.
Applicants who hold a degree from an institution abroad must submit 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 which indicates the lowest passing grade and the highest possible grade available.
Applicants who have obtained their university entrance qualification or degree in China, India or Vietnam, must also provide the APS Certificate issued by the Academic Evaluation Center (Akademische Prüfstelle) in the corresponding country. APS Certificate has to be submitted together with application documents by the application deadline. We are sorry to inform you that we do not offer extended deadline for the submission of the APS Certificate.
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.
CV
Please upload a current CV in the online application portal.
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.For an application at the University of Mannheim the following certificates can be
accepted to prove German language proficiency of level C1:- an all-German university entrance qualification (Abitur) with German as the main language of instruction acquired in a state or region with German as official language
- an all-German university degree acquired in a state or a region with German as official language
- a university entrance qualification according to the “Ordnung der Prüfung zur Erlangung eines Zeugnisses der deutschen Hochschulreife an deutschen Schulen im Ausland, die zum Sekundarabschluss nach den Landesbestimmungen führen”
- TestDaF passed with a level 4 or better in each of the four test parts
- Deutsche Sprachprüfung zum Hochschulzugang (DSH) passed with a final grade of at least 2 (DSH 2)
- Deutsches Sprachdiplom der Kultusministerkonferenz – Stufe II (DSD II)
- telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule
- Assessment Test “Feststellungsprüfung” from Studienkolleg certifying the eligibility of a foreign applicant to attend a German university or a university of applied sciences
Applicants do not need to produce proof of one of the aforementioned certificates if they fulfill at least one of the following requirements:
- “Goethe-Zertifikat” C2
- German as Language A in the IB Diploma with a grade 6 or better (subject to the University Committee's approval)
- “Österreichisches Sprachdiplom (ÖSD)“ C1 or higher
- passed “Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung (ZOP)” taken at a Goethe-Institute in Germany or abroad before 1 January 2012
- Kleines Deutsches Sprachdiplom” or “Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom” awarded by the Goethe-Institute on behalf of the Ludwig Maximilians Universität München and taken before 1 January 2012
Further certificates that may be recognized as proof of German language proficiency:
- the proof of German proficiency in the Diplôme du Baccalauréat acquired after attending a German-French bilingual program at a secondary school
- the French Diplôme du Baccalauréat following the International Option Baccalaureate (OIB) of the German departments
- the European Baccalaureate as long as an examination with German as the first or the second language has been successfully completed
- US Advanced Placement Exam (AP Exam) in German
- the university entrance qualification of the secondary school education of the German-speaking community of the Kingdom of Belgium
- the certificate of secondary education of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
- the university entrance qualification of the schools with German as language of instruction in South Tyrol (Italy)
- the university entrance qualification of the international German section at the Liceo Gimnasiale “Luigi Galvani” in Bologna
- the university entrance qualification of the international German department at the Liceo Gimnasio Statale “M. Gioia” in Piacenza, Italy
- the university entrance qualification of the international German department at the “Educandato Statale Collegio Uccelis” in Udine, Italy
- the university entrance qualification of a German-Irish bilingual secondary education (bilingual Leaving Certificate) at St. Kilian’s German School, Dublin, Ireland
- the university entrance qualification of the bilingual department at the Liceo Gimnasio Statale “Romagnosi” in Parma and at the Liceo Classico Statale Socrate in Bari, Italy
- the university entrance qualification of the international German department at the Scuola Internazionale Europea “A. Spinelli” in Turin, Italy
- the university entrance qualification of the international German department at the Liceo Classico “Guiseppe Garibaldi” in Naples, Italy
- the university entrance qualification of the international German department at the Liceo Classico Statale “Umberto I” in Palermo, Italy
- the Polish Matura exams in German at lyceums for general education with a bilingual education with German as the second language of instruction
- The certificate of the foreign schools with German lessons leading to the Mixed Language International Baccalaureate (“Gemischtsprachiges International Baccalaureate GIB an ausländischen Schulen mit Deutschunterricht”, decision of the KMK of 26.04.2002 as amended
on 26.09.2019)
Proof of extracurricular activities
Extracurricular activities are worth extra points in the selection process for many degree programs. We provide standardized forms in German and English to simplify the process and give you an overview of the required details.
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
How many applications can I submit?
You can submit up to three applications for admission to a master's program.
Does my bachelor's degree certificate have to be available by the deadline in order for me to apply for a master's program?
Many prospective students do not yet have their bachelor's degree completed by the application deadline. This is not a problem, because you can apply submitting a current Transcript of Records (ToR). Depending on the respective master's program, the ToR must prove a certain number of ECTS credits (usually between 120 and 140). For more detailed information, please refer to the selection statutes of the degree program you are interested in.
The bachelor's degree certificate does not have to be available by the deadline and can be submitted later.
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.
Are there any master's programs that are taught in English?
The following master's programs are currently taught in English:
- Mannheim Master in Data Science
- Mannheim Master in Social Data Science
- Mannheim Master in Management
- Master of Comparative Business Law (MCBL)
- Master's program in Political Science
- Master's program in Sociology
- Master's program in Economics
- Master's program in Business Informatics
Is admission to all master's programs selective?
No. Please see this list for non-selective master's programs.
My bachelor’s degree certificate was issued by an institution outside of Germany. Does it still meet the admission requirements?
You may apply for admission to a master's program at the University of Mannheim with a university degree obtained outside of Germany. The Admissions Office and the admissions committee will use your application documents to verify whether your qualification can be recognized in Germany and whether all requirements for being eligible for a master’s program are met. We cannot assess your degree without your application documents.
How are the grades I achieved outside of Germany converted into the German grading system?
During the admissions process, grades awarded by institutions outside of Germany will be converted using the modified Bavarian formula, as recommended by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).
Therefore, together with your application documents, please submit an official document (examination regulations, reverse side of the Transcript of Records or similar) showing the grading system of your previous higher education institution.
To be able to apply the formula, we need the highest grade that can be achieved and the lowest passing grade in the foreign grading system. Please note that the lowest passing grade that is used for converting grades using the modified Bavarian formula refers to the lowest average grade required to graduate with a bachelor's degree from your higher education institution. In some countries, this threshold value differs from the minimum grade required to pass a single subject.
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 master's programs are sent out six weeks after the application deadline. Please check the dispatch schedule for official notifications to see when the official letters of admission for each program will be sent out.
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
Contact
Advising for German applicants
Sharon Rübel
University of Mannheim
Division II
Admissions Office
L 1, 1 (Eingang B) – Room 157
68161 MannheimConsultation hour(s):
https://www.uni-mannheim.de/en/academics/applying/contacting-the-admissions-office/
Credit: Elisa BerdicaChristine Nonnenmacher
University of Mannheim
Division II
Admissions Office
L 1, 1 (Eingang B) – Room 157
68161 MannheimConsultation hour(s):
https://www.uni-mannheim.de/en/academics/applying/contacting-the-admissions-office/Advising for international applicants
Aleksandra Kendzia
University of Mannheim
Division II
Admissions Office
L 1, 1 (Entrance B) – Room 158
68161 MannheimConsultation hour(s):
https://www.uni-mannheim.de/en/academics/applying/contacting-the-admissions-office/Philipp Staufer
University of Mannheim
Division II
Admissions Office
L 1, 1 (Eingang B) – Room 158
68161 MannheimConsultation hour(s):
https://www.uni-mannheim.de/en/academics/applying/contacting-the-admissions-office/
