Aptitude assessment and selection procedure for German and international applicants with a university degree abroad

You would like to apply for a place on the Master's degree program in International Relations? Then please carefully read the following information about admission requirements and the aptitude assessment and selection procedures. You will also find a link to the online application portal and the application deadlines for the 2024/25 academic year.

Please note that the aptitude assessment procedure and the application procedure are two separate processes.

Admission requirements

• Bachelor's degree certificate, diploma certificate or a comparable degree certificate in an economics, political science or law degree program with a focus on the above-mentioned disciplines, or a degree from a state-recognized vocational academy in the fields of international law, international politics or economics.
• Notification of aptitude from the aptitude assessment procedure
• Proof of sound methodological and subject-specific prior knowledge in at least one of the two core subjects of your specialization (detailed overview of grades)
• very good knowledge of German, which must be proven by the DSH (level 2), the TestDaF (4x4) or a comparable certificate
• English language skills corresponding to level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Proof is to be provided by certificates or language certificates. In particular, this can be a certificate of general or subject-restricted higher education entrance qualification with English as a foreign language up to grade 12, a certificate of a university degree completed entirely in English or a language certificate with a proven level B2.

Areas of specialization in the Master's degree program:

Please note that the core subjects differ depending on the specialization (Global Political Economy (GPOE), International Order and Institutions (IO) and International Law and Economics (ILE)).

The following are therefore required:

• in the case of the GPOE specialization, prior knowledge of economics and/or political science
• in the case of the IO specialization, prior knowledge of law and/or political science
• in the case of the ILE specialization, prior knowledge of economics and/or law

It is possible to start the course in the winter semester only. Successful participation in the selection procedure is only possible after timely registration for the aptitude assessment procedure and determination of positive aptitude.

The aptitude assessment procedure and selection procedure - registration and documents to be submitted

Please send the following documents by email to by May 31, 2024 at the latest to determine your suitability and for the subsequent selection procedure:

• Application for aptitude assessment stating the chosen specialization
• Single copy of the certificate of the first university degree inlcuding transcript or a certificate of 80% of the academic performance together with a current overview of grades
• Curriculum vitae in tabular form
• A two-page letter of motivation
• Proof of English language skills corresponding to at least level B2 of the CEFR
• Proof of German language skills (e.g. DSH, TestDaF or comparable certificates; for more information, please contact the International Office)
• Proof of activities with international relevance1⁾
• Proof of practical work experience1⁾
• Other evidence or certificates (e.g. foreign language skills, social and socio-political commitment within and outside the university, etc.) <sup>1)
  
  1)</sup> These documents can also be submitted as a scan by email to by 15.07.2024.

If the written documents submitted prove that you meet the above-mentioned admission requirements for an application, you will receive an invitation to an interview for aptitude assessment by email to the address you have provided. A successful application is only possible if you receive proof of aptitude as a result of the aptitude assessment interview. The relevant provisions and criteria for the aptitude assessment procedure can be found in the aptitude assessment regulations for the Master's degree program "International Relations" issued by the Center for International Studies (ZIS) (German only).

The selection procedure - the written application

The written application must be submitted in the period from April 1, 2024 to May 31, 2024 (for applicants from non-EU countries) and in the period from April 1, 2024 to July 15, 2024 (for applicants from non-EU countries). In the case of an application via uni-assist, the processing fee must also be received by the end of the application deadline.

Applications must be submitted via theuni-assist applicant portal .

The relevant provisions and criteria for the selection procedure can be found in the Regulations on the Implementation of the Selection Procedure for the Allocation of Study Places in the Master's degree program "International Relations" by the Center for International Studies (ZIS) (German only)

Applicants from EU and non-EU countries and German applicants with a university degree from abroad can find further information about the application process on the website of the International Office.

Application deadlines for the 2024/25 academic year

Please send the documents for participation in the aptitude assessment procedure by May 31, 2024 to the following email address .

You will receive an application number from there, which must then be provided to uni:assist for processing the documents. Unfortunately, it is not possible to apply to the Center for International Studies without registering for the application assessment procedure by the deadline.

The interview dates as part of the aptitude assessment procedure are expected to be between June 24-28, 2024. You will receive a separate invitation a week in advance. You will receive notification of your suitability by email by the beginning of July 2024. It is also possible to apply for the selection procedure before you receive the aptitude assessment notice. If you receive a negative decision, your application will not be considered in the selection process.

The application documents of applicants from non-EU countries must be submitted in the uni-assist application portal in the period from April 1, 2024 to May 31, 2024.

The application documents of applicants from other EU countries and of German applicants with a university degree abroad must be submitted in the uni-assist application portal in the period from April 1, 2024 to July 15, 2024 .