Application for a higher Semester

If you are currently enrolled in another master program, you may apply for a higher semester (both winter and summer semester) for our master program. For this purpose, you have to meet some further requirements in addition to the basic admission requirements.

Additional requirements

• You must already be enrolled in another master program. As proof, please add your current certificate of enrollment to your application documents.
• You must not have failed any examination of the master program in Economics more than twice.
• You cannot apply for a higher semester of our master program in Economics if you have exceeded the standard period of study for our program (four semesters).

Application period:

Annually from December 1st to January 15th (for summer semester) and from April 15th to May 31st (for winter semester*).

Basic admission requirements:

• The applicant must hold a higher education degree or professional qualification from a German or comparable non-German institution.
• They must be able to provide proof that they acquired at least 42 ECTS in economics in their previous higher education degree as well as at least 24 ECTS in quantitative methods (mathematics, statistics, or econometrics), including at least 6 ECTS in econometrics. In total the applicant must have acquired at least 78 ECTS in economics and quantitative methods. Credit points in business administration will not be counted in this regard.
• If you have a university degree in mathematics or physics you can be admitted to the degree program if you can prove that you gained at least 15 ECTS in economics and at least 50 ECTS in quantitative methods (mathematics, statistics, or econometrics).
• Certificate of language skills in English, level: B2 CEFR or higher. Exceptions: Applicants who have a bachelor’s degree from a university where English is the official teaching language and applicants who have been taught English at school for six years or longer. You can find further information on language skills in English here.
• Certificate of language skills in German. Exceptions: Applicants who have a bachelor’s degree from a university where German is the official teaching language. You can find further information on language skills in German at the time of application and enrollment here.

Information for applicants with a final degree from outside the European Higher Education Area

If you apply with a final degree that you have obtained outside the European Higher Education Area which also displays your credits to differ from the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), it is essential to add an appropriate conversion key to your application documents! The conversion key must reveal the amount of hours necessary in order to obtain one credit at your university. Thus, it can be ensured that your academic performance will be converted correctly into ECTS credits in the selection process by Freie Universität Berlin. You can get the conversion key from the university issuing the certificate of your final degree.

Information on tuition fees

Except in the case of continuing education courses and auditing, Freie Universität Berlin does not charge any tuition fees (Studiengebühren) for its study programs. Instead, the university only charges “semester fees and contributions” (Semestergebühren and Semesterbeiträge). You can find further information on semester fees and contributions here.

Selection criteria

More information about the allocation of study places with limited admission can be found here.

* All necessary documents must be uploaded in the application portal latest at the end of the application period. The subsequent filing of missing documents is not possible.