Master's Program (MATS) Application

Applicants for the M.A. Transcultural Studies must hold a B.A. or equivalent (at least three years of study) in a discipline of the Humanities, Cultural or Social Sciences with an above average grade. If the applicant has obtained his/her B.A. degree in the People’s Republic of China, India or Vietnam, the submission of an APS certificate from the respective German embassy is mandatory.

Moreover, applicants need to prove very good proficiency in English, i.e. at least level C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL), by means of either one of the following tests:

• a minimum score of 100 in the internet-based or 600 in the paper-based TOEFL
• a minimum score of 7.0 in the IELTS
• a minimum score of 785 in the TOEIC
• a CAE
• Alternatively, a certificate from your university’s language department stating your proficiency level of at least C1 according to CEFR will also be accepted.

Furthermore, good knowledge of two more languages (at least level B1 according to the CEFRL), including the respective mother tongue, is mandatory.
All language certificates should not be older than four years. A certificate as proof for the mother tongue is not required.

On top of that a letter of motivation is required which must convincingly explain the specific motivation to apply for the Master’s in Transcultural Studies at Heidelberg University, based upon the applicant’s thematic and regional areas of interest. How do your interests relate to the programme’s contents and aims? What study focus would you like to choose and why? In addition, the letter must detail the language and methodological qualifications of the applicant that will equip them for the Master’s in Transcultural Studies. How do you want to build on and possibly expand these qualifications in your studies?
 

Applications for majoring in the MATS can only be submitted for the winter term of each year and must contain the following documents:

1. Certified copy of the BA degree (or equivalent)
2. Certified copy of the transcript of records
3. Certified copies of language certificates (English plus two additional languages)
4. Letter of motivation (in English; max. 900 words)
5. CV (in English; max. two pages)
6. A formal statement confirming that you wrote the letter of motivation by yourself without the help of others and properly indicated the use of all ideas from additional sources.

In addition to that, it is mandatory for international students to submit a certified copy of your university entrance qualification (= high school diploma or equivalent).

Please do not submit any letters of reference; the admission board is not taking any letters of reference into consideration.

Please submit all aforementioned documents by uploading it in our online application system heiCO.

Although there is no fixed deadline for submission, it is highly recommended to submit the application online by the middle of June. This is very important for international applicants from NON-EU-countries in order to ensure a timely enrolment.
For all others we strongly advise to submit the application by mid-September at the latest.
All applicants will be notified via email after the admission board has finalized its decisions!
 

Please inform yourself about the regulations and timing of registering a minor at your major subject’s responsible authority. Regardless of the time of registration, Transcultural Studies as a minor starts in the winter term.

All Applicants have to prove their very good proficiency in English, i.e. at least level C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL), by means of either one of the following tests:

• a minimum score of 100 in the internet-based or 600 in the paper-based TOEFL
• a minimum score of 7.0 in the IELTS
• a minimum score of 785 in the TOEIC
• a CAE
• Alternatively, a certificate from your university’s language department stating your proficiency level of at least C1 according to CEFR will also be accepted.

Language certificates should not be older than four years. A certificate for one's first mother tongue is not required.

Additionally, a one-page letter of motivation is required, detailing why you want to choose Transcultural Studies as a minor and how the specific combination of Transcultural Studies and the respective major advances and complements your studies. Both documents have to be submitted via e-mail to the MATS office. Upon positive evaluation, please make an appointment to which you have to bring the form for registering a minor subject, which has to be previously signed by your major’s program advisor, and the original of your English language certificate.