The Admissions Process
The International Center for Graduate Studies (ICGS) identifies and enrolls
highly qualified graduate students from all around the world. The admission
process for students is highly selective and is based upon a variety of factors.
Your application for admission to the International Center for Graduate Studies
(ICGS) at the University of Hamburg will only be considered complete and ready
for processing once we have received all required documents.
Please note that it is NOT necessary to put your documents in an expensive
application folder. Since all documents have to be copied and will be prepared
for the admissions committee by ICGS, it is easier for us if you do not use
staples or punches.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
Application Period for all Master Programs: - January 1 - May 31 (non-EU applicants) - January 1 - July 31 (EU applicants)
Your application will only be processed during the above-mentioned application
period. ICGS uses rolling admissions, meaning that letters of acceptance will
be issued as early as February each year, approx. 4 weeks after receiving your complete documents.
Therefore, it is highly recommended that all applicants
submit their completed applications as early as possible every year.
All ICGS programs start in October each year.
Your application will only be processed during the above-mentioned application
period.
It is highly recommended that all applicants submit their completed
applications as early as possible every year.
There is no spring admission at ICGS.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Application Form
Every applicant is required to first complete the online
application form. Before submitting please check that all data is complete
and accurate. The online application form automatically pre-registers you
for enrollment in the upcoming winter semester. This data will also be automatically
stored in the ICGS student record bank.
Once you have completed the online application form you will be required to
‘submit’ the form. You will then be asked if you would like to ‘print’
out the
form. Make sure to print the form at this stage, sign it and return it to
ICGS by regular or express mail, along with all other required admissions
documents (listed below).
ICGS WILL ONLY START OFFICIALLY PROCESSING YOUR APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION
ONCE WE HAVE RECEIVED THE ORIGINAL SIGNED APPLICATION FORM, REQUIRED ADMISSIONS
DOCUMENTS AND APPLICATION FEE.
Upon receipt of an entirely complete application the online pre-registration
will be changed to an official registration for admission.
The official date of registration is determined by the date that ICGS receives
your application by regular or express mail. If an application deadline falls
on a Saturday, Sunday or legal German holiday then the next business day will
be the deadline date.
The online application form is only accessible during the application periods.
Please refer to the above-mentioned program deadlines for more detailed information.
Application Checklist
Please complete and return the Application Checklist with your application materials. Checklist MIBE ; Checklist EWR
Letter of Recommendation
We require the minimum of one recommendation letter from a university official
(i.e. dean, former professor, department head or faculty advisor) acquainted
with your work and on from a former employer where applicable.
Please refer to: Sample
Letter of Recommendation 
(Business Reference) or Sample
Letter of Recommendation
(Academic Reference).
Educational Documents: High School Graduation Certificate, University Graduation Certificate and University Transcripts
Completed and official graduation certificates and transcripts of all previous
college or university studies must be submitted, as well as the relevant high
school graduation certificate.
All transcripts or academic records must be official documents provided in
the original language. If that language is not English or German, they must
also be accompanied by certified translations.
ICGS will not return original educational documents, so please make
sure you only submit certified copies of your graduation certificates. Your
college or university transcripts however should be forwarded in original
from the given university.
Students who are currently finishing a degree and haven’t yet received
an official university graduation certificate are required to submit an official
transcripts for all semesters completed to present. This transcript should
be sent either in original or as a certified copy. Such students must also
provide ICGS with an official statement from their current university stating
the expected date of graduation and degree to be awarded.
Please understand that applicants accept the responsibility to ensure that
ICGS receives all educational credentials to complete their file. The volume
of
applications received makes it impossible to contact universities or persons
listed as references to request missing transcripts or letters of recommendation.
English Language Proficiency Test
NOT APPLICABLE FOR STUDENTS OF THE M.A. EUROPÄISCHES WIRTSCHAFTSRECHT
& MANAGEMENT
Applicants whose native language is not English must provide original
test scores for one of the following standardized English proficiency tests:
TOEFL: minimum score of 550 paper-based, 213 computer-based, 79 internet-based - institutional
code: 7957
IELTS (academic): minimum score of 6,5
TOEIC: minimum score of 750
CPE: Grades A, B, C (The Certificate of Proficiency in English)
CAE: Grades A, B (Certificate in Advanced English)
No other proficiency tests are accepted.
Applicants who have studied for two or more years in, or received a degree
from, a college or university in one of the following countries do not need
to present an English language test: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland,
Ireland, Iceland, Norway, New Zealand, Sweden, Singapore, United Kingdom and
U.S.A. This education however must have taken place within two years prior
to submission of the graduate application. In this case, an official certificate
from the applicant's school/university is required to confirm that the medium
of instruction is English.
German Language Proficiency
Only students of the Program Europäisches Wirtschaftsrecht und Management
- Fokus Mittel- und Osteuropa need to show proof of their German language
competence (TestDaF 3 or equivalent). All other programs are exclusively taught
in English
Curriculum Vitae
Please provide us with a one to two page summary of your educational and professional
work experience, listing any special achievements or qualifications, and/or
possible publications.
Please refer to the Sample
Curriculum Vitae
for reference.
Statement of Purpose
Please provide us with a one- to two-page statement of purpose stating your
reasons for undertaking graduate work, as well as an explanation of your academic
interests, including their relation to your undergraduate study and professional
goals.
Please refer to the Sample
Statement of Purpose
for reference.
Admissions Interview
Personal contact is the best way to discover whether you and ICGS are the
right match. As such our admissions committee will select certain applicants
for an interview. It is very important that your contact information is current
(telephone number and e-mail address) in case we need to contact you.
Application Fee
A non-refundable application fee of EUR 40 is required from
each applicant. Please provide ICGS’ Admissions Office with a copy
of your international bank transfer slip. Please make sure to indicate your
full name and program you are applying to on the bank transfer slip so that
we are able to clearly assign the money to the appropriate application.
Your application will only be processed upon receipt of this required fee.
Please keep in mind that overseas money transfers can take up to three weeks.
The fee must be received before the application deadlines.
ONLY UPON RECEIPT OF A COMPLETED APPLICATION INCLUDING THE APPLICATION FEE
WILL THE OFFICIAL PROCESSING FOR ADMISSIONS BEGIN.
Please transfer EUR 40 to ICGS’ business account:
Bank: Deutsche Bank
Account holder: International Center for Graduate Studies (ICGS)
Account number: 016 706 400
Sorting Code: 200 700 00
Swift Code: DEUTDEHH
IBAN code: DE87200700000016706400
Reason: Last Name, First Name, Program Name
It is CRITICAL that your bank include the ‘reason’ of payment
on the international payment slip; otherwise ICGS is unable to allocate the
paid fee to your designated application file.
Credit cards and personal checks are not accepted.
We look forward to receiving your application for admission to ICGS!
The application materials should be sent to the following address:
| International Center for Graduate Studies (ICGS) | |
| Universität Hamburg | tel: +49 (0) 40 244 244 96 |
| Admissions Office | fax: +49 (0) 40 244 244 99 |
| Rentzelstr. 17 |
|
| 20146 Hamburg Germany | web site: www.icgs.de |
| Ms Britta Kaiser | e-mail: kaiser@icgs.de |
