Overview of study programme types
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin offers various types of Master's degree programmes that differ in terms of admission requirements, objectives and legal structure.
Consecutive Master's programmes
Consecutive Master's degree programmes build on the content of a first professionally qualifying university degree (usually a Bachelor's degree). They serve to:
- continue a degree programme,
- deepening the content or
- interdisciplinary expansion of the knowledge acquired in the first degree programme.
As a rule, these degree programmes are not subject to fees, unless otherwise stipulated.
Postgraduate Master's degree programmes
In addition to the first university degree, continuing education Master's degree programmes require qualified practical professional experience of generally at least one year. They build on this professional experience in terms of content and teach advanced academic skills.
Postgraduate Master's degree programmes are generally subject to fees. The respective fee amounts and payment modalities can be found in the programme-specific regulations.
General and special admission requirements
To apply for a Master's degree programme, both general and, if applicable, special admission requirements must be met.
The basic requirement for the application is proof of a:
- first professionally qualifying university degree
- with a standard period of study of at least three years
- and at least 180 ECTS credits or credit points (CP) or a degree recognised as equivalent.
The degree must have been obtained in full and must be proven by the end of the relevant application deadline at the latest, unless an application with a pending degree is expressly permitted.
Depending on the Master's degree programme, there may be additional requirements, e.g:
- specific subject content or minimum ECTS in individual modules
- language skills
- Aptitude assessment procedure
The specific requirements result from
- the subject-specific admission and admission regulations and
- the Interdisciplinary Statutes for the Regulation of Admission, Studies and Examinations (ZSP-HU).
Application via the online portal
Applications for a Master's degree programme at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin are made exclusively via the central online application portal AGNES.
Deadlines, evidence and formal requirements
In this section you will find information on binding deadlines, required evidence and formal requirements in the application and admission procedure for Master's degree programmes.
If you are in a second degree programme with the aim of obtaining a further first professionally qualifying university degree, you have the right to choose. Your application can be based
- either on the first professionally qualifying degree you have already obtained or
- on the outstanding degree from the second degree programme.
If you base your application on an outstanding degree, the same requirements apply as for applications without a first professional qualification (see below).
Under certain conditions, it is also possible to apply for a consecutive Master's degree programme if the first professionally qualifying degree has not yet been completed at the time of application.
This requires that:
- You are in the final phase of a German or equivalent foreign university degree programme lasting at least three years,
- a total of at least 180 ECTS credits have been earned as part of this degree programme,
- you do not lack more than 30 ECTS credits or equivalent credits to successfully complete the programme.
Examinations that are not taken until after the application deadline and before the start of the new semester, as well as any necessary repeat examinations, have no negative impact on the admission procedure.
If the degree certificate is not yet available by the application deadline, suitable evidence must be submitted.
Transcript of Records
A current transcript of records from your previous university must be submitted. This must contain
- the ECTS credits or credit points achieved to date,
- the total number of ECTS credits required for the degree,
- the provisional, current average grade.
Supplementary certificate
If this information is not clear from the transcript of records, an additional certificate from the responsible examination board is required.
Only the official supplementary certificate for submission to Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin in accordance with Section 16 (2) ZSP-HU may be used for this purpose. This can be accessed via the HU Berlin application portal.
Proof of successful completion of studies and fulfilment of all extended admission requirements must be submitted to the Enrolment Office by the end of the first semester for which provisional enrolment has been granted.
If the proof:
- is not submitted on time or
- in the prescribed form
the conditional admission to the Master's degree programme expires.
Important information
- Find out in good time about the deadlines for providing evidence that apply to you.
- Plan processing and correction times for examinations realistically.
- Take into account possible effects on your student finance.
- If you are unsure, seek advice from the relevant examination office or your student support organisation at least eight weeks before the deadline for providing evidence.
Deadline extensions are generally excluded.
The application is made
- exclusively within the specified application periods
- exclusively via the online application portal of the HU Berlin
The applicable application deadlines can be found in the Academic Deadlines and Dates.
Applicants with a foreign degree
If you have obtained your university entrance qualification or your university degree abroad, please inform yourself in good time about
- formal requirements,
- required documents and
- the correct application procedure.
Please use the initial counselling service for international applicants in particular.