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Admission requirements

Application period

Admission to the master’s program in Economics at the University of Mannheim takes place on an annual basis. The program starts in September. Online application opens on March 15 and closes on April 30 of the respective year. You must apply in due time and form. Please read the following information carefully as incomplete applications have to be excluded from the selection procedure.

Degree requirements

A bachelor's degree in Economics or an equivalent qualification is required. The final grade or the current grade average of the bachelor's degree shall be 2.5 or better (German grading system). The bachelor's degree must correspond to at least 180 ECTS credits or have a standard period of study of at least 3 years. Degrees from neighboring fields such as Business Administration, other Social Sciences (such as Political Science or Sociology), quantitative fields (such as Mathematics or Engineering), and Humanities can only be recognized as equivalent by the admissions committee if the following minimum requirements are fulfilled:

  • At least 60 ECTS credits (or equivalent) were obtained in courses related to economics, finance, mathematics, or statistics.
  • and introductory modules in the following fields of economics have been successfully attended: macroeconomics, microeconomics, and econometrics.

A definite decision on your eligibility can only be made during the admissions procedure, where all of your documents will be assessed in detail. In case of doubts, please do not hesitate to contact the program manager for a preliminary assessment.

Application process

To apply to the University of Mannheim, you must complete an online application form. Once you have finished the form, please print it, sign it, and send it, along with all required supporting documents, to the Admissions Office. You will find a checklist printed on the last pages of your application form for admission, which you may use to ensure your application is complete. Please do not change any information on the printed form by hand without prior consultation. You can find an overview of the whole application process here. Please read the information carefully as it applies to all of the master's degree programs available at the University of Mannheim and is relevant for both German and international applicants. We also recommend that you read the Master’s Guide.

Copies of all documents proving that you fulfill the admission requirements must be notarized. Please note that only copies of German or English documents can be accepted. If your documents are in another language, a translation into German or English, which has been produced by a sworn translator, is required. In addition, transcripts of records that bear a verification link or code can only be accepted if they can be downloaded completely.  

    Application documents

  • Application form for admission

    Description:

    The printed and signed version of the application form for admission.

  • Curriculum vitae

    An overview of your professional experience and academic qualifications.

  • Letter of motivation (in English, max. 500 words)

    Description:

    A statement which explains why you are applying to study Economics at the University of Mannheim and which contains your current goals, career plans, study plans, fields of interest, and the program track you are considering.

  • University entrance qualification

    Description:

    A certificate confirming that you hold a qualification which permits you to study at a higher education institution (e.g. (Fach-)Abitur or equivalent).

  • Transcript of records

    Description:

    A transcript of records issued by your university, listing your fields of study and the credits and grades achieved, must be submitted with the application. If, at the time of application, you have not yet completed your bachelor’s program, you may still apply provided that only a few examinations are missing. Admission in such a case will be conditional. You must prove that the bachelor's degree has been completed before registering for your first examination in the master's program. Failure to do so will result in the offer of admission being withdrawn.

  • Proof of English language proficiency

    Description:

    A proof of German language proficiency is not required. 

    Tests must not have been taken more than two years ago. Proof of English language proficiency must be submitted by August 15at the latest.

    The following documents are accepted as proof of English language proficiency:

    • a university entrance qualification obtained after at least two years at a school where English is the language of instruction,
    • successful completion of at least one year of study (~60 ECTS credits or equivalent) in a university program where English is the language of instruction
    • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): a minimum score of 79 in the internet-based test (iBT) is required. Ask the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to report your test scores using the following ETS code: 0254.
    • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - Academic Test: a minimum overall band score of 6.5 is required.
    • Verbal score in the GRE General Test or GRE revised General Test: a minimum verbal score of 140 in the General Test is required. Ask the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to report your test scores using the following Designated Institution (DI) code: 9224.

  • Recommendations from different university teachers

    Description:

    Two recommendations from university teachers are required. In the online application portal, you can provide contact details for up to four teachers, who you would like to write a recommendation for you. These teachers will then receive an e-mail from us, inviting them to write their recommendation. The recommendations have to be submitted using the online form provided by the Admissions Office. Please do not send them by email or submit them in paper form.

    While you can apply without recommendations, they are a selection criterion. If you do not list any university teachers, please give evidence of why you are unable to do so. Otherwise this selection requirement will be considered as missing and your chances of admission will be lower. More information on the the questions that will be asked can be found here.

  • APS certificate

    Description:

    Applicants who acquired their first degree in China, Mongolia and Vietnam must also provide the original version of the APS Certificate (APS-Zertifikat) issued by the Academic Evaluation Center (Akademische Prüfstelle) in the corresponding country.

    Contacts: German Embassy in Beijing, German Embassy in Hanoi, German Embassy in Ulan Bator

  • Optional documents

    Description:

    Optional documents that can be advantageous for your application, such as:

    • an academic essay that you have written either in German or English (max. 10 pages),
    • additional documents proving your academic achievements,
    • proof of time spent abroad or professional experience which is relevant to your application,
    • a list of grades achieved in your University Entrance Qualification,
    • details of extracurricular activities relevant to your application

Selection criteria

Every applicant's motivation and eligibility for the master's program is assessed independently by two faculty members. The evaluation is based on your letter of motivation, the transcript of records, two letters of recommendation, and optional documents. A translation of the selection statutes can be found here.

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