Frequently asked questions about master's degree application via uni-assist e.V.
Please note that the information published here refers exclusively to the master’s degree programs for which the application is submitted through uni-assist. Our master's programs providing continuing education, joint degree programs and teacher training master’s programs have different application procedures and deadlines, which you will find under the respective degree courses.
Application for Admission
Which master’s degree programs require an application through uni-assist?
You must apply for both admission-restricted and admission-free master’s degree programs if the application is to be made through uni-assist.
When can I apply?
For the winter semester: starting April 1.
For the summer semester: starting November 1 of the previous year.
Please note that we only accept applications for the following semester. It is not possible to submit an application for the subsequent summer semester during the application phase for the winter semester.
It is also not possible to submit an application for the subsequent winter semester during the application phase for the summer semester.
Which application deadline is applicable to me?
The application deadline depends on whether a master’s degree program is admission-free or restricted. As this is annually stipulated, the application deadlines can change annually as well.
We would therefore advise you to find the currently applicable deadlines on the relevant websites.
Please find an overview of the current application deadlines here.
These deadlines apply to all applicants, that is, EU applicants and applicants from non-EU countries.
Where do I apply?
You submit your application via uni-assist e.V.
How do I apply?
Preparation: Get information about the general and subject-specific admission requirements of your desired master’s degree program on our website Paths to the Master’s Degree.
Step 1: Create your application account
Register for the uni-assist portal and answer the basic questions. Please note that you must enter a current address for the postal delivery of decision notices to you!
Step 2: Apply online
You can find and select your preferred master's program via the search function. Use the list to get to the online form. Please follow the instructions and send your online application form electronically to uni-assist. You can upload your application supporting documents such as a transcript of records or proof of language proficiency as detailed under point 3 of this page in the designated upload areas of your online application form.
You submit your online application by sending your online application form to uni-assist e.V. via their payment function. You will not be charged processing fees.
Please note that in order for your application to be considered submitted in time, you need to have sumbitted your online application form plus all required supporting documents by the end of the application deadline 11:59 PM CET/CEST. The date and timestamp of your submission is determinative.
Step 3: Adding missing or additional documents
If you like to add new application supporting documents such as an updated transcript of records, you can add them via your personal documents folder of your uni-assist account after you submitted your online application form. They will be processed by uni-assist e.V. accordingly.
Note that application supporting documents can only be considered which were uploaded by the end of the application deadline 11:59 CET/CEST. The date of the upload and timestamp is determinative.
Please make sure to not send applications and supporting documents directly to the University of Potsdam. Applications directly submitted to the University of Potsdam by post or via email will not be processed and not be considered.
No documents need to be send via post to uni-assist e.V. All required documents must only be uploaded as a pdf.
I haven’t completed my studies yet. Can I still apply?
Even if you have not yet completed a first professional degree at a university, you can still apply for admission. At the time of application, we require at least the following credit point information with a transcript of records (also uncertified) and the average grade that you attained at the time of application without a formal degree:
- at least 140 CP in a bachelor’s degree with a total requirement of 180 CP
- at least 170 CP in a bachelor’s degree with a total requirement of 210 CP
- at least 200 CP in a bachelor’s degree with a total requirement of 240 CP
When do I have to submit my current/ last certificate of enrollment or copy of the de-registration certificate?
If you are or have been enrolled at a German university after having obtained your university degree on which your application for a master's program is based, you must submit a current certificate of enrollment or de-registration with details of the study periods.
If this evidence is missing, you will be excluded from the selection procedure.
When is my application considered as submitted in due time?
Please note that in order for your application to be considered submitted in time, you need to have sumbitted your online application form plus all required supporting documents by the end of the application deadline 11:59 PM CET/CEST.
Please note that required documents must also have been uploaded by the end of the application deadline 11:59 CET/CEST. The date of your upload and timestamp is decisive for the timely receipt of your application.
Did you receive my application?
…at uni-assist?
Once your documents have been processed at uni-assist, you will receive a notification from uni-assist whether your application could be forwarded to the University of Potsdam. uni-assist will inform you about the current processing times on this website.
…at the University of Potsdam?
After uni-assist has forwarded your application to the University of Potsdam, it is further processed by the department of the respective master's degree program. After this process has been completed you will get a notification by mail.
Where do I find information about the status of my application?
If uni-assist has not yet forwarded your application to us, please contact uni-assist. At the uni-assist website you will find information about their average processing time .
As soon as you have received the uni-assist notification that your application was forwarded, you can only obtain information about the status of your application from the person responsible for the degree program. Please find the contact persons on the respective pages of the master’s degree program. Before sending a request, please look at the periods and phases via Paths to the Master's Degree.
Application Documents
Which documents do I have to submit and how do I have to submit them?
Basically, all applicants must submit proof of a first academic degree (i.e. Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, Magister, Diplom) or a preliminary transcript of records if they have not finished their undegraduate studies program by the time of your application yet.
In addition, other supplements (e.g. proof of language skills) may be required depending on the content and scope of the respective master’s degree program.
Please inform yourself on this website under point 3 if further documents are required. You will find a list of the respective supplements when you click on the master’s program you intend to enroll in.
You only need to upload them in digital form as a pdf or a scan to your online application form or to your personal documents folder of your uni-assist account.
When do I need placement notification?
If you are or have been enrolled in the same or a related master’s degree program at the time of your application, it must be checked whether your academic achievements can be recognized. Based on this decision, you will be placed in a first or advanced semester of study. The further procedure depends on this placement.
Please send the application for placement to the relevant Examining Board.
If you receive a placement notification for the first semester, submit it in digital form (i.e. upload the notification to your uni-assist account) together with the other relevant application documents for the first semester through uni-assist. Submit the original notification when enrolling in your studies.
If the placement notification is missing, you will be excluded from the admission procedure.
Do I need certified copies?
You don’t need certified copies for the application via uni-assist.
My documents and certificates are issued in a language other than German. Do they have to be translated?
Documents and certificates as well as preliminary transcripts of records can be submitted in German or English. If you want to submit documents that have been issued in a language other than German or English, you also require a German or English translation prepared by a sworn translator.
I have already sent my online application. Can I upload documents for my application at a later date?
It is not mandatory to submit digitally required documents together with the online application form.
If some of of your application supporting documents required for the application are missing (e.g. results of a language test), you can still submit your online application form and upload those required documents to your uni-assist documents folder. Please note those documents can only be considered if they were uploaded by the end of the application deadline 11:59 CET/CEST.
How can I still submit documents at a later date after uni-assist has already processed my application or forwarded it to the University of Potsdam?
If you receive the message that documents are missing, you can submit them through uni-assist by the application deadline 11:59 PM CET/CEST. Please note that the missing documents must be submitted in the required form. Documents that have to be submitted digitally must be uploaded by the application deadline 11:59 PM CET/CEST via your 'documents' folder under 'my applications'.
Can I still submit missing documents after the application deadline?
The application deadlines are cutoff periods. Documents submitted later are not accepted.
Admission Requirements
Which bachelor or diploma studies are the prerequisite for a master’s degree program?
You will find a detailed overview and explanation of the admission requirements in the respective subject-specific admission regulations. It also provides information on qualifying degree programs as well as special professional and language skills.
What does without admission restriction (no NC) and admission-restricted (NC UP) mean?
Admission-free / open-admission (no NC): If a degree course has an open admission, all applicants will be admitted to the program if they have applied in time, in due form and fulfill admission requirements.
Restricted admission (NC UP): If only a certain number of students can be admitted and enrolled into this program of study, this program is admission-restricted (lat. Numerus Clausus - NC). If the number of applicants is higher than the number of places for this degree program, a selection process will take place on the basis of the legal provisions.
Whether your desired program has an admission-restricted or admission-free status, is published in our current course catalogue.
Which numerus clausus (NC) do I require for my degree program?
A selection is only made for admission-restricted degree programs and if the number of applications exceeds the number of places for this program. For admission-restricted master’s degree programs, the selection is made according to different criteria. The selection thresholds are therefore based on different variables and cannot be predicted.
You can find these individual selection criteria and their weighting in the respective subject-specific admission requirements.
Which certificates are accepted to prove foreign language skills?
Please find the required foreign language skills certificates in the overview of the supplements under point 3 of the page 'Application via uni-assist' that have to be submitted or in the subject-specific admission regulations.
In certain exceptional cases it is possible that other certificates will be accepted that are not explicitly mentioned. If this possibility is applicable, you will find the following note: The Examining Board will decide about equivalences to the submitted proofs on an individual basis.
If this notice is missing, only the mentioned certificates will be accepted.
Admission
When and how do I know if I am admitted?
When you will be informed about the result of your application depends, among other things, on whether you have applied for an admission-free or admission-restricted master’s degree program.
You have applied for an admission-free master’s degree program: After uni-assist has delivered your documents to the respective degree program (please find the current processing times at uni-assist here), it will review whether your application fulfills the admission requirements. Please note there is a specific processing time that uni-assist needs to review your documents. You can find out about the current processing times on this website. The processing time until a decision about admission is made depends on the degree program. The notifications regarding admission or rejection can be issued on an ongoing basis.
You have applied for an admission-restricted master’s degree program: After uni-assist has delivered your documents to the respective degree program, it will review whether your application fulfills the admission requirements. If you meet the admission requirements, you will take part in the selection process. This process is necessary when the number of applications fulfilling the admission requirements is higher than the number of available places. It can only be conducted after the application deadline and after all applications have been forwarded and processed. The last date when applications are forwarded to the University of Potsdam by uni-assist is usually up to 3 weeks after the application deadline. If there is a selection process, the decisions on the outcome of this process (admission and rejection notifications) will be sent no earlier than four weeks after the application deadline.
Please note that these are only approximate periods and do not constitute a binding deadline.
The Examining Board of the respective subject will send the notifications by mail to the address you specified in uni-assist. Each applicant will receive either a notification of admission or rejection.
Please also note the information on the website Paths to the Master's Degree.
How are places awarded?
For admission-free master’s degree programs, the incoming application is reviewed to determine whether it meets the subject specific admission requirements. The application can be examined and the decision regarding admission can already be made during the application period. If you meet the admission requirements, you will receive a notification of admission.
For admission-restricted master’s degree programs, the incoming application is reviewed to determine whether it meets the subject-specific admission requirements. Since admission-restricted master’s courses of study are degree programs with a limited number of places, a subject-specific selection procedure follows if the number of applications exceeds the number of places. The selection criteria are specified in the respective subject-specific entrance and admission regulations.
What is the waiting period?
The waiting period is the time in which applicants were not enrolled at a German university after having obtained their final certificate of their undergraduate degree (i.e. B.A. or B.Sc. degree certificate).
For the calculation of waiting period the date on which a degree certificate was issued is determinative.
Waiting period is calculated in full semesters.
What is the succession procedure?
If offered places have not been accepted in the selection process and, as a consequence, there are still places available, waitlist procedures can be carried out.
The respective degree course decides whether it will waitlist candidates. Applicants for admission-restricted master’s degree programs who have taken part in the selection process and have not been admitted to a master’s degree program will automatically participate in the succession procedure. It is not necessary to apply or register again.
uni-assist
What does uni-assist do?
uni-assist checks whether all your documents are submitted in the format required by the University of Potsdam and in due time.
Once the formal requirements have been fulfilled, uni-assist forwards the application for further processing to the respective degree program.
Please note that forwarding by uni-assist does not automatically mean that you meet the specific admission requirements and will be accepted.
How many applications can I submit via uni-assist?
You can submit up to three applications for a master’s degree program at the University of Potsdam for each application period.
I can’t find the master’s degree program I want to apply for on the uni-assist website. What could be the reason?
Possible reason 1 - The program is not offered for the selected semester: The range of programs may vary from semester to semester. For the first semester of study of some master’s degree programs you can only apply either in the summer or in the winter semester. You can find out under the program-specific information of this website whether applications for the first semester of study are possible for the respective period.
Possible reason 2 - The application deadline has expired: After the end of the application deadline, the application portal for the respective master’s degree program is closed. After this date it is not possible to submit an application for a master’s degree program electronically. Please find the current application deadlines here.
Possible reason 3 - An application through uni-assist is not possible. Please check on the page or our list of offered programs if it is possible to apply for your desired master’s degree program and what the application deadlines are. If you cannot find your master’s degree program on the uni-assist website, this may be due to the fact that this is generally not offered by uni-assist and the application must be submitted another way.
If you still cannot find your master's degree program, we will be happy to help you. Please contact us at masterbewerbung@uni-potsdam.de.
uni-assist does not forward my application. What can I do?
uni-assist will inform you whether they were able to forward your application to the university or whether that was not possible. If your application is not forwarded to the degree program, uni-assist will inform you of the reasons why it could not be forwarded. If you do not agree with this decision, please contact uni-assist directly and submit a complaint. Your application will then be reviewed again. In the event of a further complaint, uni-assist will deliver the application for decision to the university administration.
I get the message from uni-assist that my documents are incomplete. What can I do?
Please check here, if supplements are probably missing and, if necessary, send or upload these documents.
Please note that documents can only be submitted via uni-assist within the application period and uni-assist must have received them before the application deadline. Documents that you must submit digitally must be uploaded by the application deadline 11:59 PM CET.
The documents specified on the uni-assist website include certificates and supplements that are not listed on the website of the University of Potsdam. Which information is applicable?
uni-assist is a service provider who works for a large number of German universities. The uni-assist portal has been designed to meet the different requirements of all member universities, i.e. the information provided by uni-assist does not necessarily conform to the documents required for an application at our university.
Therefore, please use the information published on the websites of the University of Potsdam.
The uni-assist website says that certified copies have to be submitted. On the website of the University of Potsdam it says that simple copies are accepted. Which information is applicable?
The information on our website 'Application via uni-assist' is applicable. When you apply via uni-assist, we accept uncertified copies.
uni-assist is a service provider who works for a large number of German universities. The uni-assist portal has been designed to meet the different requirements of all member universities, i.e. the information provided by uni-assist does not necessarily conform to the documents required for an application at our university.
Where do I get information about the status of my application?
If uni-assist has not yet forwarded you application to us, please contact uni-assist. On the website of uni-assist you will find information about then processing periods.
As soon as you have received the notification from uni-assist that your application was forwarded, you can only obtain information about the status of your application from the person responsible for the degree program. Please find the contact persons on the respective pages of the master’s degree program . Before sending a request, please look at the periods and phases above via Paths to the Master's Degree.
Transfer to the University of Potsdam and Change of Degree Program
How do I apply for an advanced semester of study?
When applying for an advanced semester of study, you require a placement in an advanced semester. If you have already acquired academic credentials that can be recognized for the master’s degree program you would like to apply for, you must apply for their recognition at the responsible Examining Board.
An application for an advanced semester of study includes two steps. In the first step, you must apply for the Recognition of Previous Academic Credentials at the respective Examining Boards.
Please apply via uni-assist e.V., if you are placed in the first semester of study.
If you are placed into a higher semester of study, the department must first check whether the advanced semester of study offers a program for the intended application semester. If such a program is offered for the respective semester of study, you should submit a cover letter and the documents as it has to be done when applying for the first semester (copy of the final certificate in German or English, language certificates, proof of the current average grade etc. for degree programs with restricted admission) to the Examining Board of the respective master’s degree program.
I have been already enrolled in the same or related master’s degree program at another university and want to apply for the first semester of a master’s degree program at the University of Potsdam. What do I have to consider?
Also when you intend to apply for the first semester, you will need a placement notification. You need to apply for the recognition of your previous academic credentials at the respective Examining Boards. An application for the first semester is only possible if you are placed into a first semester.
If you receive a placement notification for the first semester, submit it in digital form (i.e. upload the notification to your uni-assist account) together with the other relevant application documents for the first semester through uni-assist.
Submit the original notification when enrolling for your studies.
If the placement notification is missing, you will be excluded from the admission procedure.
What are the application deadlines for an advanced semester of study?
Please visit the following websites for an overview of the current application deadlines.
Please note that all application documents for an advanced semester of study must be submitted to the Examining Board of the master‘s program that you intend to study by the application deadline.
When and how do I know if I am admitted?
For master’s degree programs without admission restriction in advanced semesters of study, it will be examined whether the application received fulfills the subject-specific admission requirements. The duration of the examination and the decision on admission vary depending on the subject area. Those who fulfill the admission requirements will receive an admission notification from the Examining Board of the respective master’s degree program.
For master’s degree programs with a restricted admission in advanced semesters of study, the submitted application will be examined to see whether it meets the subject-specific admission requirements. Since master’s degree programs with restricted admission are programs with a limited number of places, a subject-specific selection process will follow if the number of applications exceeds the number of places. Since the number of available university places in the advanced semester of study can only be determined after the end of the re-registration deadline (July 15 for the winter semester / February 15 for the summer semester), it will be decided after July 15 and February 15 if there is the need for a selection process.
Fees
Does uni-assist charge applicants any fees for the processing of the master’s application?
No, the application for a master‘s degree program at the University of Potsdam is free of charge for the applicants.
Is there a tuition fee?
There is no tuition fee for the non-teaching master’s degree programs as they are listed on our page 'Application via uni-assist e.V.'. Upon enrollment and each re-registration, however, students have to pay a regular administrative semester fee (Semestergebühren). For more information visit this page to learn more.