Master's application process for Non-EU applicants

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The application procedure at Leibniz University Hannover

On this page you will find all important information about applying for a master’s degree programme for prospective students from Non-EU countries:

You count as a non-EU applicant if you completed your Bachelor's degree in a non-EU (or non-EEA) country AND your nationality is a country outside the EU (or EEA).


Please note:

You can only apply for some master's programmes at Leibniz University Hannover with preliminary review documentation (VPD) from uni-assist!
You must apply for this to uni-assist at least eight weeks before the application deadline for the study programme expires - take this into account when planning your application!

Admission requirements

You must usually submit proof of having completed a bachelor's degree in a related subject. The admissions committee will decide whether or not the bachelor's degree is related to the subject concerned.

Some degree courses call for specific requirements, such as a letter of motivation, an expert opinion or internships. You can find out which supporting documents are required for the master's degree you wish to take in the relevant admission regulations or at the end of the online application.

Requirements for studying at Leibniz University Hannover

Minimum grade / entry grade

There is no minimum grade / entry grade for the master's application. Notwithstanding the currently valid admission regulations for master's programmes, the minimum grade of 2.5 is no longer applied. The admission regulations will be revised in this regard.


Language certificates

  • Evidence of adequate knowledge of German
    Applicants who have a German higher education entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur) or a German bachelor’s degree need not provide evidence of their German language proficiency. All other applicants must provide proof of the language level specified in the admission regulations for enrolment.
  • Evidence of adequate knowledge of English
    Some postgraduate degree programmes may be pursued in either German or English language. Applicants must provide evidence of proficiency in either English or German, depending on their chosen strand. For the application for an English-language master's programme, only English language skills (and no proof of German language) have to be provided.

Application papers and documents

Please prepare the following documents for your application and scan them:

  1. University entrance qualification (e.g. high school diploma)
  2. Bachelor's degree certificate (if it already exists).
  3. Complete and up-to-date transcript of records from previous studies with details on the credit points and the average grad.
  4. A tabular curriculum vitae
  5. Proof of language skills
  6. For applicants from China, India and Vietnam (except Macau and Hong Kong): APS
  7. Possibly further programme-specific documents. All further documents that may be required will be listed at the end of the online application.
  8. A preliminary review documentation (VPD) from uni-assist, if your desired study programme requires it.

Allocation of places

First of all, your documents will be formally reviewed. The actual selection procedure then takes place. This involves the individual examination of each application by an admissions committee, i.e. a group of professors and staff from the degree course concerned, which then decides which candidates will be admitted.

  • For master's degree programmes with unrestricted admission, all applicants who fulfil the admission requirements will be admitted a university place.
  • For master's degree programmes with restricted admission, places shall be allocated according to the university’s own selection procedure, if there are more applicants fulfilling the admission requirements than there are places available.

For which programmes do I need a VPD?

You apply for all degree programmes directly via the LUH online portal. For some degree programmes you must first request for a preliminary review documentation (VPD) from uni-assist before applying.
In order to find out which study programmes require a VPD, please refer to our range of studies or to the following lists:

Important notes for the application for a VPD study programme

If your desired study programme is on the list of VPD programmes, you will need a VPD from uni-assist to apply. In this case, we will not process an application without a VPD!

An application for a VPD degree programme without a VPD for the LUH is only possible in the following cases:

  • If you already have a valid VPD from uni-assist for the desired study degree (master's VPD)
  • If you have already received admission from LUH for the desired study programme
  • If you are currently a regular student at LUH (Exchange students need a VPD to apply for regular studies)
  • If you are recognized as a refugee in Germany
  • If you have obtained a school or university degree in the EU or in the European Economic Area
  • If you have an European citizenship
  • If you are applying for a higher semester as a continuing student and have already started exactly the same degree programme at a German university (continuing students who started their studies abroad or at a German univerity of applied sciences need a VPD)

Application with existing Pre-examination Documentation (VPD)

If you already have a VPD from uni-assist, you can, under certain conditions, apply directly via the Leibniz University Hannover online portal without having to get a VPD via uni-assist.

  • I have a VPD for another university. Can I use this to apply to Leibniz University Hannover?
    Yes, we also accept pre-examination documentation issued for other universities for applications for the 2025 summer semester. However, a VPD for an advanced technical college will not be accepted. Please note that from the application for the winter semester 2025/2026 we will only accept VPDs that were issued for the Leibniz University Hannover!
  • I have a VPD for a bachelor's degree programme. Can I also apply for a master's degree programme at Leibniz University Hannover? (And vice versa)
    Applications for undergraduate programmes are possible with both a VPD for bachelor's and a VPD for master's programmes. Applications for master's degree programmes are only possible with a VPD for master's degree programmes.
  • I already have a valid VPD. How long does this remain valid?
    Leibniz University Hannover accepts your VPD for up to three years after it was issued for the 2025 summer semester application. Please note that from the application for the winter semester 2025/2026 we will only accept VPDs that are not older than two years!

How do I apply for a VPD?

Application for refugees

Attention

Persons who are officially recognised as refugees in Germany do not need a VPD from uni-assist in order to apply at Leibniz University Hannover. Please find more information on the information page for refugees.

Applications from China, India and Vietnam

Applicants with school or university certificates from China (except Macao and Hong Kong), India and Vietnam have to submit an individual APS certificate with their application.

APS checks the applicant's qualification for admission to higher education and the academic credits of applicants wishing to study in Germany. A group APS will not be accepted.

Applicants from India do not need to submit an APS,

  • if you already live in Germany and are no longer going through the visa process,
  • if the highest-quality university degree relevant to the assessment comes from a country other than India,
  • if there is proof that you have already passed an assessment test,
  • if you already have a scholarship from Germany or the EU.

After applying

Once the selection procedure has been completed, you will receive a written notification of acceptance or rejection. If you are offered a place, you must accept the place within a specified period and subsequently submit any documents that may be missing. Only then will you be enrolled on the master's degree programme.


Important information on visa

Many international students need a visa to study in Germany.  Please contact the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for information about visa requirements.

When does the next application period start?

Summer semester 2025

  • For the upcoming summer semester the application is possible from 15.10.2024 - 30.11.2024 for all master's programmes with an early application deadline for applications from non-EU countries.
  • For the upcoming summer semester the application is possible from 01.12.2024 - 15.01.2025 for all master's programmes with no early application deadline for applications from non-EU countries.

Winter semester 2025/26

  • For the winter semester 2025/26 the application is possible from 15.04.2025 - 31.05.2025 for all master's programmes that also start in the summer semester and have an early application deadline for applications from non-EU countries.
  • For the winter semester 2025/26 the application is possible from 01.06.2025 - 15.07.2025 for all master's programmes that also start in the summer semester and have no early application deadline for applications from non-EU countries.
  • Overview: Application deadlines for consecutive master's programmes at the Leibniz University Hannover
Didn't get a place at the university? Shortly before the start of the semester, free places will be allocated by lottery

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© Zentrale Studienberatung / LUH
Service Hotline
Our service hotline will be pleased to assist you! Contact us via phone, e-mail or in person!
Address
ServiceCenter
Welfengarten 1
30167 Hannover
Building