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Erasmus+ Office Hours
At the moment we are offering online office hours. Please contact us to make an appointment by mail to erasmus.soc@uni-bielefeld.de
All courses for the upcoming semester are also available online in the eKVV. You can find an overview of courses in English HERE.
According to the subject specific regulations for the MA Sociology, applicants have to prove either their English language skills or their German language skills. Information provided on this page for the MA Sociology International Track application process is relevant for applicants with limited German language skills, who want to gain admission to the MA Sociology based on their English language skills and study completely in English. They have to select “Soziologie International Track (Master, fachwissenschaftlich, englischsprachig)” from the list of degree courses in the Online Application Portal.
All other applicants should familiarize themselves with the application process on the Student Office website and with the subject specific regulations for the MA Sociology (in German) and select “Soziologie (Master, fachwissenschaftlich, deutschsprachig)” from the list of degree courses. You can also attend International Track courses or even complete your whole master’s degree in English (with exception of introductory module) in the case that you have gained admission to the MA Sociology based on your German language skills.
There are no application fees for the MA Sociology International Track application.
- Formal requirements
In order to qualify for the MA Sociology, you must have an undergraduate degree with at least three years of higher education, which is recognized in Germany as equivalent to a German bachelor’s degree. You can check how your degree is recognized in Germany in the anabin database (in German). Formal requirements are checked by the Student Office at Bielefeld University. If you have any questions regarding the formal requirements, contact the Student Office at application@uni-bielefeld.de.
- Subject specific (academic) requirements
Your transcript of records must indicate that your previously completed course of study covers all four of the following four thematic areas: theory of sociology, methods of empirical social research, special sociology/social science and general social sciences. These thematic areas are meant as general areas, not concrete seminars with exact these titles. For example, a seminar with the title “qualitative methods” would be regarded as a seminar in the area methods of empirical social research. It is your responsibility to make it clear to the admission committee that you meet this requirement. Students from other academic backgrounds may also apply for admission and will be accepted if they provide good reasons why they would like to participate in the MA programme and how they meet the requirements (by describing extracurricular activities, participation in thematic summer schools, publications etc.). If you think it is not evident from your transcript that you meet this requirement, you may specify your previous experiences in sociology in your motivation letter or provide additional documents, such as a diploma supplement.
The Diploma Supplement is a document accompanying a higher education diploma, providing a standardised description of the nature, level, context, content and status of the studies completed by its holder.
Due to the high number of requests, your qualifications can only be reviewed once all required documents are submitted within the application period via the application portal (see the application procedure below).The MA Sociology is subject to local admission restriction . If there are more eligible applicants than places available, the selection procedure will be based on the applicants’ grades in their undergraduate studies. The minimum-passing grade for MA Sociology is calculated based on the number of places available and grades of applicants in this particular application round, therefore it differs from semester to semester.
- Language requirements
According to the subject-specific regulations of the MA Sociology, applicants must provide proof of either English or German language skills. You therefore do not necessarily need a German language certificate, but must be able to provide proof that your English language proficiency meets the International Track’s minimum entry requirements. Accepted certificates include: TOEFL with a minimum of 87 points, telc English with a minimum grade of B2, IELTS with a minimum overall band score of 6.5, a Duolingo English Test result of min. 110 points or an equivalent English language test confirming at least a B2 level of Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. We only accept internationally recognized certificates, and therefore certificates from university language centres or language schools cannot be accepted. Please note that many certificates have a validity period of 2 years.
If English was the language of instruction for your entire undergraduate studies, you may provide an official confirmation from your university or it has to be stated on your transcript. In this case, you don’t have to provide any other language certificates.
Please ignore if the Online Application Portal requires you to submit a German language certificate.
Application process
You have to apply for admission to the MA Sociology International Track in the Online Application Portal by filling in the online questionnaire (application form) and upload all necessary documents (see the list below).
To apply for MA Sociology International Track please select “Soziologie Master (Fach-)Wissenschaftlich” from the list of degree courses. Afterwards you can select your preferred language. Select “1” as the semester in which you wish to start your course of study, regardless of whether you are applying for the Winter Semester or the Summer Semester.
The Online Application Portal opens on June 1st for applications for the winter semester and on December 1st for applications for the summer semesters. It is not possible to apply earlier
Required documents
You have to Upload certified copies of your documents and certified translations of your documents in German or English. Documents in other languages will not be considered. Authentications of original copies must be completed by authorities or notaries who are authorized to carry out such authentications in your country, or by the diplomatic missions to the Federal Republic of Germany. An apostille is not required. The translation of certificates has to be carried out by an official authority, e.g. by the authorized department of the institution that issued the certificate, or by a sworn translator. These translations have to be certified.
The documents to be uploaded in the Online Application Portal include:
- School leaving certificate (a document which certifies your secondary education – the level you have to complete before starting undergraduate studies), both a certified copy of the original and a certified translation to English or German;
- Undergraduate degree certificate and transcript of records, both a certified copy of the original and a certified translation to English or German.
If you already possess one master’s degree, please provide a degree certificate and transcript for it as well. A master’s degree, which was completed abroad, doesn’t place you at a disadvantage to other applicants.
If your transcript doesn’t contain your final grade and grade scale, please provide this information in the application form or the motivational letter. Don’t recalculate your grade into other systems (German, US, etc.).
If your university issues a Diploma Supplement or similar document, please attach it as well, although it is not mandatory.
- Proof of English language skills, a certified copy. (For more, see above in language requirements);
- Curriculum vitae, maximum 2 pages long, tabulated, listing your education and work experience from present to past. You may use the Europass CV although is it not mandatory;
- You don’t have to provide a German language certificate, however if you have some previous knowledge of German you may provide such a certificate in the field “further documents”.
We don’t require any recommendation letters. However, you may upload them in the field “optional documents”.
Admission decision
Once you have submitted your application, you can check the progress of your application any time by going to the website of the Online Application Portal, logging in and clicking “Status”.
A decision regarding your admission will be made after the application deadline, when all applications are received.
Acceptance letters as well as negative admission decisions for non-eligible candidates will be uploaded in the online application portal from the end of February for summer semesters and in the end of August for winter semesters. If you are admitted, Bielefeld University will provide you with an official admission document that you can present to the authorities when you apply for a student visa and enter the Federal Republic of Germany. For subjects with restricted admission, you will receive separate information on the closing date for registration in your notice of admission. We recommend that you set an appointment with the German consulate/embassy as soon as possible, because the visa issuance procedure usually takes between four and six weeks.
Information on the Enrolment Procedure can be found here.
Negative admission decisions for eligible candidates may take longer to be uploaded, since we have a waiting list.
Deadlines
For information regarding application deadlines see here.