FAQ
1. What requirements do I have to meet to be admitted for the Master’s course?
You will need a degree in a design oriented Bachelor or Diploma course in Germany or the EU with an average pass mark of at least ‘good’ (2,5). Your previous course must have a total of 210 credit points, which as a rule can be attained in seven semesters. Comparable final passes from non-EU countries may also be recognized (see question 11).
2. Can I also apply if my Bachelor course only lasted six semesters or if I’ve got less than 210 credit points?
Of course you can, however, in this case you have to furnish proof of either an 18-week practical or similar relevant experience, or you have to complete additional modules in the Bachelor course.
3. What can I do if I don’t get my Final Certificate in time?
You can apply with a certificate from your college/university, stating your exam results. You can hand in your final certificate by 31st january.
4. Which application deadlines do I have to observe?
Your application needs to be in by 1st June, the course starts with the winter semester.
5. How do I apply and what paperwork do I have to submit?
You need to submit the completed application forms, as well as your c.v., proposal and your portfolio to the following address:
Fachhochschule Mainz – Standort Campus
Studienbüro
Frau Chantal Ruthe
Lucy-Hillebrand-Straße 2
55128 Mainz
6. How is the admission procedure structured and how long does it take?
At first we evaluate the submitted documents as well as the portfolio and the proposal. A jury decides whether you are invited for round two. This takes the form of an interview, where we want to find out about your experience, your goals and your ideas. Once we have talked to all potential candidates, your future professors will decide whether you will study with us.
7. What should my c.v. look like?
It is sufficient if this takes the form of a personal data sheet, stating the most important stages of your life up to the present.
8. What should I include in my portfolio?
This should contain a maximum of ten pieces, giving us an idea of your work up to now. These can include work from your study course, exam pieces or projects from practical work. This work may also be submitted in digital form. Please note that the portfolio should not weigh more than 3 kg and not be larger than 50 x 70 cm.
9. What do I put into the proposal?
Here, we expect a written statement about a topic or theme complex which you want to explore during your Master course. Tell us what you are interested in, what you would like to enlarge upon, and explain why. The proposal should not be longer than 5 pages DIN A4.
10. Does my proposal have to be in a thematic context with the year’s superordinate theme?
The proposal can be from the area of “Science & Design”. However, it is also possible to suggest a different theme, the design of which can later be treated by using a scientific approach.
11. How do I know whether my proposal for a Master Thesis is appropriate?
The best way is to ask yourself: is my concept original? Is your concept important enough to you that you could imagine working on it for three semesters? What use could your project be for society?
12. How many applicants are accepted?
A maximum of 16 applicants are accepted every year.
13. What requirements are there for applicants from abroad?
Applicants with certificates acquired abroad must apply via Uni-Assist in Berlin (www.uni-assist.de), who will assess your formal qualifications and compute your average mark. Uni-assist will then pass on the result to us. Most of the lectures and seminars will be in German. Therefore you will need to furnish proof of the TDNs level (www.testdaf.de). DSH1 and the Goethe certificate B2 are also accepted. Your other application papers can be sent direct to us.