Your Master’s Program in Hamburg

Please check your credentials. If you meet the following requirements, you are eligible to apply for the Master’s program in Economics at the University of Hamburg.

University degree

Depending on the profile of your first degree, i.e., your previous higher education, there are three application categories, each with its respective admission requirements:
a) a degree in Economics or 'Volkswirtschaftslehre'
b) a degree in a related subject, with sufficient advanced training in Economics
c) a degree in Mathematics, Mathematical Economics, Statistics or the equivalent

A. Applicants who have completed a degree in Economics or 'Volkswirtschaftslehre' are considered to have sufficient economic background to apply to the program.

B. Applicants with advanced training in Economics (i.e., a degree with strong focus on Economics) must show you have sufficient training in advanced economic analysis.
Your Transcript of Records must document the following types of courses:

• two lectures* in general economics, i.e. , basic micro- and macroeconomics,
• three lectures* on advanced topics in economics, of which at least one must cover predominantly theoretical and one predominantly applied issues
• three lectures* in mathematics, statistics and econometrics, of which at least one must be in mathematics and one must be in either statistics or econometrics

In lieu of the three lectures in mathematics, statistics and econometrics, a GRE revised General Test with at least 155 points in the quantitative section, or a GRE Subject Test Mathematics with a score of at least 700 points will fulfill the requirement.

If you have more courses than required (for each area) choose which courses you want to have considered in the selection process. Clearly identify the required lectures on your transcript.

* A lecture must consist of at least 2 hours per week over the course of one semester.

C. Applicants with a degree in mathematics, econometrics, statistics, or the equivalent.

If you have completed  a degree in one of these fields, you must show sufficient training in advanced mathematics to be admitted. This means your transcript of records must document the following types of courses:

• Lectures* on Linear Algebra and Analysis
• Lectures* on Statistics or Lectures* on Econometrics

Alternatively, a GRE revised General Test score of at least 155 points in the quantitative section, or a GRE Subject Test Mathematics score of at least 700 points may be submitted instead of the lectures to meet the requirement.

* A lecture must consist of at least 2 hours per week over the course of one semester.

If you have not received your degree certificate yet, you can submit the document by the end of the first semester of your master’s program.

English Language Proficiency Requirement

All applicants must provide proof of English language proficiency. Please submit your scores on one of the following English language tests:

• Revised TOEFL Paper-delivered Test: at least 22 points per skill (Reading, Listening, Writing)
• TOEFL internet-based test (test date scores): at least 92 points with at least 22 points per skill (Listening, Writing, Speaking, Reading)
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – Academic: Overall Band Score with at least 6.5 (Good Competent User) with at least 6.0 per skill
• Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE)
• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)
• Cambridge Higher Business English Certificate (BEC)

Test results remain valid for two years (counting back from the beginning of the application period on 15 February).

For details of the legal basis for this regulation, please see the admission bylaws for your chosen degree program (only in German).

When uploading your documents, please note the following points:
For documents not issued in German or English, a certified translation is required.

• Degree certificate or provisional Transcript of Records: 
  • Please highlight the courses, which are manadatory for admission (see Admission requirements). If you are still studying when you apply and cannot yet provide a final certificate listing your grades, please submit your current Transcript of Records confirming your provisional grade point average. You will then need to submit your degree certificate by the end of the first semester of your master’s program. 
  • Please make sure, that the grading scale of your first degree is available on your degree certificate or the current Transcript of Records. If the grading scale is not clear on these documents, please submit another proof of the grading scale of your first degree. 
• Proof of English language skills:
  Applicants who, at the time of their application, are not able to attest their English language proficiency as listed above, must provide a proof of their registration for the next possible test date (e.g., print-out of the online registration). In this case, the deadline for late-submission of the test results will be postponed until 31 May. For late submission, use this link.
• GRE revised General Test or GRE Subject Test Mathematics results (if applicable)
• Letter of motivation (500 words max., in English)
• At least one letter of recommendation from a university lecturer in your primary degree program. In general, the letter of recommendation should be drafted by someone who is able to comment on your academic abilities and competencies. Students upload the letters of recommendation as part of their application documents in StiNE. Lecturers, who want to upload their letters confidentially, can submit it at our website.
  
  • International letter of recommendations: The referee must be be a lecturer (at least PhD level) who teaches full-time at your (or another) university. Emeritus professors are also eligible to write a letter of recommendation. Please note that we do not accept references from postdocs/research fellows.
  • German letter of recommendations:  The referee must be a (junior) professor. Emeritus professors are also eligible, but emeriti from other status groups are not. Recommendation letters from employees with a doctorate who are permanently employed at the WiSo faculty of Universität Hamburg for teaching and who are not active in research (e.g. postdocs) are eligible, too. 

Once your application has been reviewed, an acceptance or rejection letter will be made available in your STiNE account under the Dokumente (Documents) tab. Please see the information about the declaration of results and end of acceptance period. An enrollment deadline will be indicated in your acceptance letter - please submit the documents required for enrollment by this date. Detailed information about the enrollment process can be found at the website of the Campus Center.

If you have been admitted, please submit the paper documents required for enrollment to the Application and Admissions Team (Team Bewerbung und Zulassung) by the deadline indicated in your acceptance letter.

All Information about the program is available on the MSc Economics website.

For queries regarding questions in the online application form please contact the Campus Center of the University of Hamburg.

If you have technical problems (e.g. your username or password, etc.) with the online application form, please contact the STiNE support.

For all other questions regarding your application, please check the FAQ section and/or contact the MSc Economics application team(application-econ"AT"wiso.uni-hamburg.de).