Application for Winter Term open for international students
- Registration for the upcomming term is open. Please note, that international students have to apply via uni-assist first. See this document for further instruction
- International Students please upoload their documents for the aptitude test here. Password is „Wintersemester2024“
- For Students from Germany, the application process will start in late May
What you need to know to apply
For the Master’s degree programme, the admission requirement is a qualified Bachelor’s or diploma degree in the field of media sciences or a related field. Further, all candidates undergo an aptitude test. The programme is offered in two variants: three semesters for graduates of a relevant seven-semester Bachelor programme. For those of six-semester Bachelor programmes, the programme will take four semesters including a preceding practical semester. A detailed description of the admission requirements can be found in the Application FAQ below in English and in the Special Provisions of the Examination Regulations (pdf download in English, German) as well as in the Admission Regulations (pdf download in English, German)
4 semester programme (starting Winter and Summer)
For the four-semester variant 180 CP from a Bachelor degree programme are required. For these graduates, the programme starts every winter semester with a preceding practical semester. The practical semester includes 30 CP. Both, applicants with a German or a Foreign University Entrance Certificate, must register online before submitting their application documents. Please note, that from now on, you can also start the four-semester variant in Summer. In this case, the practical semester will be your third semester.
Students who have acquired their Master’s entrance qualification in Germany apply via the platform my.h-da.de. Information on the application process can be found here. Please take our application deadlines into account.
Graduates who have acquired their Master’s entrance qualification abroad must apply via uni-assist. Detailed information on the application process can be found in this document.
3 semester programme (starting in Summer)
For graduates of a relevant seven-semester Bachelor’s degree, the programme can be completed in three semesters. Among others, the bachelor degrees of Online Journalism (B.A.) and Online Communication (B.Sc.) at the Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences or comparable degrees are considered relevant. The three-semester course requires 210 CP and starts every summer semester. Students who have acquired their Master’s entrance qualification in Germany apply via the platform my.h-da.de. Please check the application deadlines here.
Contact Student Service Center
Foreign applicants have the possibility to clarify all formal questions regarding the application criteria directly with the Student Service Center. Here you can find further information.
Application FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the admission requirements and the study programme
What are the detailed requirements for admission?
To qualify you would have graduated from an Bachelor programme in the fields of Journalism, Communication or Media Science or other programmes with an explicit focus on the interaction between technology, media and society. In addition, all candidates undergo an aptitude test, which contains different verifications.
What does the aptitude test contain?
In our document-based aptitude test, following submissions will be checked:
1) Final mark of your Bachelor programme. We’d convert your grade to the German grading system used at our university (grades 1 to 5, with 1 best, 1–4 passed, >4 failed). Every 0.1 better than a 2 (“good”) scores 1 point, every 0.1 worse than a 2 scores -1 point (negative). Maximum possible score is 10, lowest is -10 points.
2) Pertinent practical experience in fields related to the subject. Rule of thumb: 6 month score 6 points. Maximum possible score again is 10. Practical experience are provided in the form of a detailed CV (please make sure to enter the duration of the activity to the month)
3) Specific subject-related qualification: the submission of a motivation letter and a research exposé is required. Here we will grade mostly on the quality of the letter and the exposé by proving your understanding of the subject and motivation to contribute to the goals and tenets of our programme. Maximum possible score is 20.
4) Special practical achievements: Hand in any proof of outstanding achievements of yours related to the field of study, like grants, awards, special practical projects, charitable or civic engagement etc. Maximum possible score is 10.
With an overall score of 30 out of 50 possible points you’d qualify for the programme.
What is expected in the research exposé?
The brief exposé is a kind of extended abstract of a research project which could be conducted within the MTS programme. It is required mainly for proving that you have an idea about the field, topics and methods of the programme you want to study. What we also would like to see is the applicant’s ability to formulate an authentic, individual as well as substantial outline for an empirical study in good English. Please follow Harvard/APA citation style). The research exposé should not exceed 8000 characters including spaces and literature sources.
What is the difference between the motivation letter and the research exposé?
The personal statement shows your personal and professional interest and affinity to the topics of this Master’s programme. In the letter of motivation you should state your personal relation to media, technology and society and explain why you are suitable for this degree programme. On the contrary, the research exposé should cover a project idea in the announced field of research and development. The motivation letter should not exceed 4000 characters including spaces.
How is the practical semester of the four-semester programme structured?
The four-semester variant adresses students with less than 210 CP and includes an obligatory practical module (30 CP). It consists of an internship of at least 18 weeks, during which students gain an up-to-date insight into the state of practice and subject-specific challenges in the field of the interaction between media, technology and society, as well as an accompanying seminar. The practical phase can be completed full-time during the semester or part-time over a correspondingly extended period of time while maintaining the overall workload. Please note that you can apply for the four-semester variant in Winter and Summer. Students, starting in Winter will have the internship as the first semester, students starting in Summer will have the intership in their third semester before enrolling to the MA thesis module.
How do I find a suitable internship position?
Practical positions are procured by the students themselves. There are companies from the media and communications industry as well as relevant research institutions. It is possible to divide the practical phase into two sub-projects with a maximum of two project positions. The practical positions and projects must be approved by the practice representative of the course of study with regard to their suitability according to the qualification objectives of the course of study is checked before the internship is carried out and be approved.
Do I need a confirmation for the internship when I apply?
At the time of application, a confirmation of the internship is not yet required; the confirmation for the internship can be submitted subsequently to the application.
Is it possible to start with the internship before the beginning of the semester?
For the Master’s programme, it is planned to complete the internship as an enrolled student.
Is it possible to acredite another internship, which was not completed in a relevant seven semester course of study but meets the requirements?
On request, the board of examiners can clarify this in individual cases.
Do I need an English language test for the Application?
No. There is no need for a TOEFL, IELTS or another English test. You have to prove your language capabilities by submitting well formulated and authentic documents in English as described by the admission requirements. In addition, we expect all submissions or presentations during the course of study to be in English.
Is it possible to recognise externally acquired skills within the study programme?
Some students already have valuable professional skills at the beginning of their studies at the h_da. These are either achievements from courses of study at other universities or proven skills from initial and continuing vocational education and professional and informal practice. If they meet the requirements of a module in their course of study at the h_da, these competences can be recognised and accredited to the course of study. The omission of individual exams and events thus creates additional scope for study. The reference point for the assessment is the competences imparted in the course of study, as described in the respective module manuals. The statutes of recognition of the h_da regulate the formal aspects of recognition and crediting. If you are considering this possibility, please get in touch with the contact person of your study programme as early as possible.
Is it planned to complete a semester abroad during the programme?
Since the attendance period of the study programme only lasts two semesters, no study abroad is planned in this phase. In the four-semester programme, the practical phase can also be completed outside Germany and the Master’s module can also be completed in an international context.
Where do I get information about provisions of the admission and examination regulations and the module manual?
At Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, each course of study has a two-part examination regulation: The General Regulations for Examination Regulations (ABPO, pdf download in German) apply throughout the university and regulate, among other things, the tasks of committees and the examination system. The special regulations of a course of study can be found in the Special Regulations (BBPO, pdf download in English, German). Admission procedures are also defined in the Special Regulations (BBZM, pdf download in English, German). The module handbook (pdf download in English, German) and the catalogue of elective modules (pdf download in English) is also important for the study programme. There you can find, for example, which compulsory and optional modules there are, how many credit points are awarded in each case and, of course, the respective learning objectives, responsible persons and examination forms. Additionally, the regulations on the practical semester are part of these regulations.