FAQ

The program awards a master of science degree.

The Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Public and Nonprofit Studies always starts in the winter semester of each year, so you cannot apply for the summer semester. This applies to both full-time and part-time master’s degree programs.

The program is 4 semesters for full-time students and 7 semesters for part-time students.

Approximately 35 places are allocated each year. In the winter semester 2025/26, 45 places will be allocated.

Yes. For more information, contact Studierendenwerk Hamburg.

For information on contributions, fees, and financing options see the Univerisity of Hamburg's Campus Center portal.. Studierendenwerk Hamburgalso provides information on student loans and financial aid

A semester abroad is possible; as a rule, students who would like to spend a semester abroad can do so in the third semester.

Yes. You can study for this master’s degree part-time. Detailed information about prerequisites, deadlines, the application procedure, and any exceptions is available on the University’s Campus Center website.

Part-time degrees are not designed as evening and/or weekend programs catering for those with work commitments. Our classes normally take place during the week between 8 am and 8 pm.

All required courses and required electives are taught in German or English.

In the PUNO master's program, a few required and required elective courses are offered in English, so good English skills are essential. You can attest to your English skills informally; you do not a language certificate.

See PUNO's degree program page (under "Admission requirements in the "Application" category) for a sample form to confirm your English skills.

We expect our applicants to have a first university degree as an entry requirement in:

1. the Bachelor of Arts in Socioeconomics (BA) at the University of Hamburg or

2. a comparable interdisciplinary socio-economic degree program or

3. business administration, political science, law, social sciences, sociology, or economics.

In exceptional cases, graduates of other academic degree programs may be admitted to the extent that any such program provides a meaningful basis for the Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Public and Nonprofit Studies.

For first degrees in subjects not mentioned above, the selection committee's rule of thumb is that least 25 percent of the curriculum in the first degree program must have links to PUNO to be suitable for the PUNO master's program. The selection committee, which meets right after the end of the application period, is responsible for deciding about the suitability of the first degree. The program's director(s) may conduct an initial, non-binding review.

Further admission requirements are proof of English language proficiency (informal confirmation is sufficient) and, for applicants who did not obtain their higher education entrance eligibility or first degree in Germany, proof of German language proficiency.

Please note that only applicants who meet the formal requirements will be considered in the selection process.

If you do not meet the formal requirements, there is no point in applying. Only applicants who meet the formal requirements will take part in the selection process. It is therefore essential that you check whether you meet the formal requirements before you apply.

The formal requirements can be found in the FAQ under "Admission requirements."

Please submit the following documents:

1. Current transcript of records of all examinations taken, including current GPA.

Please note that we cannot rank you without a current GPA, as rankings are calculated on the basis of the provisional GPA.

2. Certificate from the examinations board or examinations office stating that the only outstanding examinations for successful completion of studies are those that will take place by the end of the winter semester (31 March).

The selection committee can rank applicants only if they have their final grades (or current GPA if the first degree is not yet available). If your bachelor's certificate or diploma does not indicate this, you will need to obtain a certificate from your examinations office confirming your final grade for use in the selection process to determine your selection score.

No, preliminary review documentation by uni assist is not required.

If you have preliminary examination documents from uni assist, enclose it with your application documents.

Yes, the transcript (as well as the bachelor's degree certificate) must be translated into either German or English and notarized by a certified translator. However, submit only a copy of the certified translation with your application. If you are admitted, you will need the originals only when you enroll.

Written confirmation that you have the required German language skills suffices for the application. See "Further information" under "Application" for a template. Students with a first degree from outside Germany have until enrollment to submit proof of their German skills.

Note: If you are unable to provide the necessary proof of German language proficiency, you will not be able to enroll and commence your degree. A written, informal confirmation of German language proficiency is not sufficient for enrollment! Accepted language certificates

The application deadline is every 15 July . The date on which your application is received and not the postmark is decisive. Documents received after 15 July cannot be considered.

No more applications can be accepted after the end of the application period. As a rule, we always receive more applications than there are places available, so we do not allocate any remaining places.

No.

After submitting the STiNE online application, you will receive confirmation by email that your electronic submission has been received.

No. Therefore, please do not send us any originals; copies of your certificates and other documents are sufficient for the selection process. If you are admitted to the degree program, you must submit original documents when you enroll.

Ten percent of places are allocated on the basis of a quota for wait semesters. The STiNE online application asks when you completed your first degree. You do not need a separate application to request that wait semesters be taken into consideration. A maximum of 10 wait semesters can be taken into account.

You cannot apply for a higher semester in master's programs. Like all other applicants, you apply for a place through the standard application procedure. If you are offered a place, you can request recognition of external academic achievements.

There is a selection procedure for applicants who meet the formal requirements. In the selection process, selection scores are calculated for all applicants based on 4 factors:

1) Result of the first university degree (up to a maximum of 50 points).

2) Result of the university entrance eligibility (HZB) or, if you studied without a high school diploma, the result of the entrance examination (up to a maximum of 16 points).

3) Result of the final thesis, provided the title of the thesis indicates a focus on public and/or nonprofit studies (up to a maximum of 16 points). If the relevant thesis topic has been duly documented but the final grade for the thesis is not available, 7 points are granted.

4) A bachelor's degree, e.g., in socioeconomics, that includes demonstrable courses in public or nonprofit studies: Bonus points are awarded for a maximum of 3 courses passed in public or nonprofit studies, irrespective of grades. One bonus point is awarded for each credit point earned per course, with up to 6 bonus points per course. A total of 18 points can be awarded for this criterion.

These criteria are weighted with the corresponding grades according to the point scale under "Application" and drop-down menu "Selection criteria" to determine the total points.

The total number of points is used to create a ranking of all applicants. Applications will be evaluated by a selection committee.

Last year, there were roughly 190 applications for 35 places.

There is a selection procedure for applicants who meet the formal requirements. In the selection process, selection scores are calculated for all applicants based on 4 factors:

1) Result of the first university degree (up to a maximum of 50 points).

2) Result of the university entrance eligibility (HZB) or, if you studied without a high school diploma, the result of the entrance examination (up to a maximum of 16 points).

3) Result of the final thesis, provided the title of the thesis indicates a focus on public and/or nonprofit studies (up to a maximum of 16 points). If the relevant thesis topic has been duly documented but the final grade for the thesis is not available, 7 points are granted.

4) A bachelor's degree, e.g., in socioeconomics, that includes demonstrable courses in public or nonprofit studies: Bonus points are awarded for a maximum of 3 courses passed in public or nonprofit studies, irrespective of grades. One bonus point is awarded for each credit point earned per course, with up to 6 bonus points per course. A total of 18 points can be awarded for this criterion.

These criteria are weighted with the corresponding grades according to the point scale under "Application" and drop-down menu "Selection criteria" to determine the total points.

The total number of points is used to rank all applicants. Applications will be evaluated by a selection committee.

If your thesis was written on a topic with links to or a focus on public and/or nonprofit studies, you will receive extra points in the selection process based on the table listed on the degree program website under "Application."

The selection committee reviews the thesis title (if necessary, they refer to the evaluation) for thematic relevance or focus on public and/or non-profit studies.

Please note that the points can be calculated based only on the gradeof the final thesis.

If the grade for your thesis is not yet available, but your thesis has a focus on public and/or non-profit studies, a maximum of 7 points can be awarded, provided that the registration for the thesis has been submitted and confirmed.

A non-binding preliminary review of the thesis' links to public and/or non-profit studies can be carried out only if you are about to register your thesis. Due to the number of applications, a preliminary review cannot be carried out for theses that have already been completed. The final examination takes place only in the selection committee's selection procedure.

Unfortunately, you cannot submit confirmation of your grades later.

If your thesis focuses on public and/or non-profit studies, you can receive extra points in the selection process, but you have submitted your application to write your thesis and have this confirmed. Confirmation must be received before the end of the application period; the date of receipt applies.

If you do not understand a query in the online application form, contactthe University of Hamburg Campus Center, Admissions Team, using the contact form.

In the event of technical difficulties, contact: uhh.bewerbung-technik@rrz.uni-hamburg.de.