Information for Degree Seeking Students

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Studentinnen mit Laptop
Jemand füllt einen Antrag auf, Herrman-Ebbinghaus-Labor

General information

International applicants from Non-EU countries who are interested in pursuing their Bachelor's, Master's or PhD studies at the University of Erfurt, apply via our online application portal. You find the link to the portal and detailed application information in the respective tabs on the right. The application deadline for the Winter semester is July 15.

Upon enrolment, proof of German language proficiency must be provided by taking the German Language Test for University Entrance (DSH-2 or DSH-3). Other accepted certificates are, for example: telc C1 Hochschule or TestDaF (4444). This does not apply to the Master's degree programmes in Global Communication, Public Policy and Religious Studies, as the language of instruction in these degree programmes is English.

At the time of application, German language skills of at least level B1 (CEFR) must be proven. This does not apply to the Master's degree programmes in Global Communication, Public Policy and Religious Studies, as the language of instruction in these degree programmes is English.

Applicants with EU-citizenship or German applicants with a foreign higher education entrance qualification apply via the Study Affairs Office, but have to prove sufficient German language knowledge as well.

The University of Erfurt is specialised in the arts and humanities with a particular focus on cultural and social sciences. Therefore it does not issue conditional letters of acceptance for Bachelor students to the T-course of the Studienkolleg.

Application for Bachelor's Master's or PhD studies

Application for Bachelor Studies

Application for the winter semester 2024/25

Application period starts May 1, 2024. The application process is online. Application deadline for the winter semester is usually July 15.

To submit an application, you must first register in the application portal. Please note down your username and password, as you will need to use the portal repeatedly throughout the application process. Please log in to the portal regularly with your user name and password to check the status of your application. The letter will only be made available via the portal.

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Upload the following application documents:

  • copies and official translations of secondary school leaving certificates (higher education entrance qualification) in original language and translation (German or English)
  • proof of German language skills on level B1 (according to CEFR) or higher*
  • proof of English language skills on level B2 (according to CEFR) or higher for the following programmes:
    • International Relations
    • Economics, Law and Social Sciences - Economics concentration
    • Economics, Law and Social Sciences - Social Science concentration
    • Economics, Law and Social Sciences - Law concentration
    • Management
    • Communication Science
  • Originally certified copies of university entrance examinations or of previous university studies or finished first study degrees in original language and translation
  • if applicable: copy of the Feststellungsprüfung certificate (Studienkolleg), APS certificate (only applicants of Chinese or Vietnamese nationality)
  • if already available at the time of application: proof of passed Eignungsfeststellungsverfahren (Communication Sciences) or proof of passed Eignungsprüfung (Arts, Sports, Music) 

Applicant portal

*Required German skills upon beginning of studies

At the beginning of the studies, German language skills on the level DSH-2 or DSH-3 must be proven. Equivalent language certificates are telc C1 Hochschule, TestDaF (at least 4 points in each section), Deutsches Sprachdiplom Stufe 2.

Study-preparatory German language courses are offered by our cooperation partner EZSI.

Admission to the “Studienkolleg”

Applicants whose school leaving certificate is not recognized as being equivalent to the German general higher education entrance qualification (Abitur) can apply for admission to a pre-university program (Studienkolleg) and take an assessment test (Feststellungsprüfung). The Staatliches Studienkolleg Thüringen is located in Nordhausen, 70 kilometers to the north of Erfurt.

The University of Erfurt is specialised in the arts and humanities with a particular focus on cultural and social sciences. Therefore it does not issue conditional letters of acceptance to the T-course of the Studienkolleg.

After examining the application, conditional admissions for the G course and W course at the Studienkolleg can be issued:

G course: Preparation for programs in Arts and Humanities with lessons in Literature, History, English, German und Mathematics.
In order to get a conditional admission to the G course you need to choose as a major a program from the Faculty of Education or the Faculty of Arts and Humanities

W course: Preparation for Economics and Social Science programs with lessons in Economics, Social Studies, Media Studies and English.
In order to get a conditional admission to the W course you need to choose as a major a program from the Faculty of Economics, Law and Social Sciences.

Application for Master Studies

Application for the winter semester 2024/25

The application period for the winter semester 2024/25 has ended.

Applications for the summer semester are possible from November 1, 2024.
Applications for the next winter semester are possible from January 1, 2025.

Applications must be submitted online. The application deadline for the summer semester is January 15, and for the winter semester is July 15.

Application for the Master of Catholic Theology

Application for the winter semester 2024/25

Application period starts May 1, 2024. The application process is online. Application deadline for the winter semester is usually July 15.

To submit an application, you must first register in the application portal. Please note down your username and password, as you will need to use the portal repeatedly throughout the application process. Please log in to the portal regularly with your user name and password to check the status of your application. The letter will only be made available via the portal.

Upload the following application documents:

  • copies and official translations of secondary school leaving certificates (higher education entrance qualification) in original language and translation (German or English)
  • proof of German language skills on level B1 (according to CEFR) or higher*
  • originally certified copies of university entrance examinations or of previous university studies or finished first study degrees in original language and translation
  • if applicable: copy of the Feststellungsprüfung certificate (Studienkolleg), APS certificate (only applicants of Chinese or Vietnamese nationality)
  • if already available at the time of application: proof of passed Eignungsfeststellungsverfahren (Communication Sciences) or proof of passed Eignungsprüfung (Arts, Sports, Music) 

Applicant portal

*Required German skills upon beginning of studies

At the beginning of the studies, German language skills on the level DSH-2 or DSH-3 must be proven. Equivalent language certificates are telc C1 Hochschule, TestDaF (at least 4 points in each section), Deutsches Sprachdiplom Stufe 2.

Study-preparatory German language courses are offered by our cooperation partner EZSI.

Admission to the “Studienkolleg”

Applicants whose school leaving certificate is not recognized as being equivalent to the German general higher education entrance qualification (Abitur) can apply for admission to a pre-university program (Studienkolleg) and take an assessment test (Feststellungsprüfung). The Staatliches Studienkolleg Thüringen is located in Nordhausen, 70 kilometers to the north of Erfurt.

The University of Erfurt is specialised in the arts and humanities with a particular focus on cultural and social sciences. Therefore it does not issue conditional letters of acceptance to the T-course of the Studienkolleg.

After examining the application, conditional admissions for the G course and W course at the Studienkolleg can be issued:

G course: Preparation for programs in Arts and Humanities with lessons in Literature, History, English, German und Mathematics.
In order to get a conditional admission to the G course you need to choose as a major a program from the Faculty of Education or the Faculty of Arts and Humanities

W course: Preparation for Economics and Social Science programs with lessons in Economics, Social Studies, Media Studies and English.
In order to get a conditional admission to the W course you need to choose as a major a program from the Faculty of Economics, Law and Social Sciences.

Application for PhD Studies

International students can pursue their postgraduate studies at the University of Erfurt, i.e. by doing their PhD. This is possible in several faculties or institutes

  •      Faculty of Philosophy
  •      Faculty of Economics, Law and Social Sciences
  •      Faculty of Education
  •      Faculty of Catholic Theology
  •      Max-Weber-Centre for Advanced Cultural and Social Studies

Further information for prospective PhD students can be found here.

At the beginning of the PhD project, the proscpective candidate should have found their supervisor and then has to apply in the faculty in order to be accepted as a doctoral candidate according to the respective PhD regulation.

After being officially accepted as a doctoral candidate in the faculty, you can be a member of the University and apply for the enrolment as a doctoral student through the University's online application portal.

Please apply as early as possible! Only then can your application be processed promptly. For the Master's program Global Communication, we strongly recommend an application by 15.06. so that you can apply for your visa in good time if you are admitted.

Please note the application deadlines in the following timeline.

01.01.2024

Application start

for Master programmes starting in Winter semester 2024/25.

01.05.2024

Application start

for Bachelor programmes starting in Winter semester 2024/25.

15.06.2024

Application deadline

for international student applications of the Master programme Global Communication for Winter semester 2024/25.

15.07.2024

Application deadline

for all Bachelor programmes with admission limitation and for the other Master programmes .

15.09.2024

Application deadline

for Bachelor programmes without admission limitation or aptitude tests.

01.11.2024

Application start

for Master programmes that start in Summer semester 2025.