University Entrance Qualification for Master’s Degree Programs

In order to enroll in a master’s degree program at the University of Potsdam, students must have an entrance qualification for a master’s degree program. An entrance qualification for a master’s program is a first higher education degree qualifying for a profession (“erster berufsqualifizierender Hochschulabschluss”). This qualification can, for example, be a completed bachelor’s degree, a state examination, a German “Diplom” or “Magister” degree.

In addition to the formal review of the master’s entrance qualification, a subject-specific review is also necessary for access to a master’s degree program, given that not every degree in every subject qualifies students to be admitted into every master’s degree program. On the basis of the master’s entrance qualification, we will determine whether the academic entrance requirements necessary for admission have been documented. Academic entrance requirements vary for each master’s degree program. The academic entrance requirements for the desired master’s degree program are specified in the applicable subject-specific entrance and admission regulations.

Academic degree from a higher education institution outside Germany: An academic degree from a higher education institution outside Germany must be equivalent to at least a 3-year bachelor’s degree from a German higher education institution in order for it to be accepted as an entrance qualification for a master’s degree program.

You can use the Anabin database to find out in advance whether your academic degree can qualify you for a master’s program. Please note that not all academic degrees entitle the holder to pursue a master’s degree at the University of Potsdam.

An application for admission to a master’s degree program at the University of Potsdam may require a preliminary review documentation (Vorprüfungsdokumentation VPD).  In that case, you have to apply for a VPD at uni-assist e.V. and submit it as an additional document with your application. Be sure to check the specific application requirements for your desired master’s degree program.

You can apply for a preliminary review documentation (VPD) directly via the uni-assist e.V. online portal.

Applying for a VPD via the online portal at uni-assist e.V. does not count as an application for admission to a master’s program at the University of Potsdam.

You can have your documents reviewed by uni-assist e.V. throughout the year. If the desired semester is not available yet, select an available semester. Please note that the application deadlines at the University of Potsdam will still need to be met and that the required preliminary review document must be submitted before the application deadline ends.

Step 1:  Register at uni-assist e.V. During the online application, select the University of Potsdam – VPD and the option “all subjects”. Do not select a specific degree program. This page provides more information on how to apply for a VPD.

There is a fee for applying for the preliminary review documentation at uni-assist e.V. On this page, you will find information on the fees to be paid. Please note that your application for preliminary review documentation will not be processed by uni-assist e.V. without payment of the processing fees.

Step 2:  Upload the following documents as PDF files via your personal documents folder. No documents need to be sent to uni-assist e.V. via the postal service.

• degree certificate (if available)
• Transcript of Records
• a certified translation or a translation prepared by a sworn translator if the original documents were not issued in German or English

Please also take note of the  country informationprovided by uni-assist e.V. On this page, you will find information on the current processing times.

Step 3:  Once you have received your preliminary review documentation from uni-assist e.V., please submit it together with your application to the competent office at the University of Potsdam.