Master's
If you would like to begin a Master’s course after your undergraduate studies, this is what you need to know about admission criteria.
Criteria check
Completed undergraduate studies
To apply for a Master’s course in Germany, you generally need to have completed undergraduate studies in a related subject. You can apply to some universities even before completing your first degree.
Your degree must be equivalent to a German bachelor's degree. This involves the following criteria, among others: The initial degree must have been gained at a university that is recognised (accredited) under the laws of the country in question. For applicants from some countries, the course of study itself must also be accredited.
Checking recognition
You can check the recognition of your university using the information portal "anabin" of the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). This is also where you can find out if your degree is equivalent to a German bachelor's degree.
Your result – what happens next?
Equivalent degree
If you have a degree from a university outside Germany that is equivalent to a German bachelor's degree, please read our guidelines on additional criteria.
Not sure
Are you unsure about the recognition of your first degree in Germany? We will find out for you when processing your application. You should find out about additional criteria now.
German degree
Have you completed bachelor's studies in Germany? For some universities, uni-assist is responsible for evaluating your applications in this case as well. You should find out about additional criteria now.
Language proficiency
In Germany, many master’s courses are taught in German, so you generally need to show adequate proficiency in German.
Some courses are offered in English. In that case, you may need little or no German proficiency. You will find an overview of international university courses in the DAAD's “International Programmes” database.
Tip: If your German proficiency is not yet sufficient, many universities offer a preparatory German language course. For more information, please contact your chosen university.
Further criteria
As well as the required degree and German proficiency, there are further criteria for master’s applications. The admission criteria are set by the individual universities.
The universities' criteria may include internship experience, grades and other formal application requirements, such as specific deadlines and translations of documents.
Get information
To ensure a successful application, get information from the uni-assist universities about your options and the university's criteria for your application.
The required level of language proficiency and other admission criteria can vary between different courses of study. Some master’s courses require a minimum grade.
Not all universities accept applications with preliminary educational certificates. Some only do so if you studied or are studying for your bachelor's degree in Germany or an EU country. If accepted, you will need an attestation from your university on your future degree and the studies completed so far.
application deadlines for master’s courses are often set earlier than those for bachelor's courses. The deadlines can depend on your chosen course of study, your nationality, or the country in which you gained your educational certificates. Many courses start only in the winter semester, not in the summer semester.
You will usually receive your evaluation result within four to six weeks. Apply as early as possible, ideally at least eight weeks before the end of the application deadline. This ensures that we can inform you in time if any documents are missing.
