Admission Requirements - Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

Martin Ertelt

Application, Administration and Counseling
Oeconomicum, Raum 1.112

Tel.: +49 (0)551/39-26540

Annegret Schallmann

Counseling
Oeconomicum, Raum 1.116

Tel.: +49 (0)551/39-27159

From the summer semester 2025, the following requirements must be met for admission to the Social Sciences Doctoral Studies Programme in accordance with the Regulations on Special Admission Requirements for the Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences (Ordnung über besondere Zugangsvoraussetzungen für den Promotionsstudiengang Sozialwissenschaften (PDF in German)):

1. completion of a Master's degree programme with a standard period of study of at least one year (BA and MA with total of at least 240 ECTS credits) or an equivalent degree programme at a German university or at a university belonging to one of the Bologna signatory states in a subject area represented at the Faculty of Social Sciences or in a related subject area

Catalogue of the subject areas taught at the Faculty of Social Sciences:
- Ethnology
- Social science diversity research
- Gender studies
- Educational science
- Modern Indian Studies
- Political Science
- Social Sciences
- Sociology
- Sports Science

2. The Graduate Committee will determine the relevance of the previous studies to the subject on the basis of the application documents submitted and the following achievements:

a) Proof of examination achievements from the Bachelor's or Master's degree programme or a comparable degree programme totalling at least 120 credits in a subject area of the Faculty of Social Sciences

OR

b) Proof of examination achievements from the Bachelor's or Master's degree programme or a comparable degree programme totalling at least 60 credits in a subject area of the Faculty of Social Sciences as well as proof of further examination achievements from the Bachelor's or Master's degree programme or a comparable degree programme totalling at least 60 credits in other humanities or social science subject areas.

The Graduate Committee may make the determination of subject-related relevance dependent on the completion of study achievements that has not yet been completed within two semesters (learning contract of max. 30 credits). In this case, the determination of subject-related relevance as well as access and admission are subject to a condition subsequent until proof of the missing achievements has been provided.

3. Master's degree or an equivalent degree with a final grade of at least good (2,5 in the German grading system) or proof of special aptitude by means of an exposé to be submitted; the decision will then be made by the Graduate Committee on the basis of an expert opinion by an external reviewer.

4. Confirmation of supervision (This is a substantiated declaration by a member of the Faculty of Social Sciences who is authorised to examine doctoral candidates in the Social Sciences Doctoral Studies Programme that he or she will supervise the applicant properly in the event of admission as a doctoral candidate).

Language requirements

1. German language skills
Applicants who neither have a German university entrance qualification nor have obtained their Bachelor's or Master's degree or an equivalent degree at a German university must have sufficient knowledge of the German language (DSH 2 or alternatively "Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache" (TestDaF) with at least four times TestDaF level 4 (TDN 4) or through the "Prüfungssteil Deutsch" of the assessment test at preparatory colleges).

OR

2. English language skills
Applicants who provide proof of sufficient knowledge of English are exempt from providing proof of German language skills. Applicants whose first language is not English must provide proof of sufficient English language skills with standardised or accredited certificates at least at level C1 or higher according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR); in particular:

a) Cambridge English Scale: at least 180 points;
b) "International English Language Testing System" (IELTS Academic): at least band 7.0;
c) "Test of English as a Foreign Language, internet-based test" (TOEFL iBT): at least 100 points;
d) Global Scale of English (Pearson Academic): at least 76 points;
e) UNIcert, at least level III,
f) other evidence according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

As a rule, successful completion of the test must not have taken place more than two years prior to receipt of the application for admission to the doctoral programme.
Applicants who have spent at least two years studying or working in a country where English is an official language within the last three years prior to receipt of the application for access and admission are exempt from the obligation to provide proof of a test.

Further information on the required Application Documents...

Contacts:
Martin Ertelt

Martin Ertelt

Platz der Göttinger Sieben 3
37073 Göttingen
Phone. +49 551 39 26540
Fax. +49 551 39 26542
Martin.Ertelt-1@sowi.uni-goettingen.de

Office: Oec 1.112
(appointment upon consultation)

Annegret Schallmann

Platz der Göttinger Sieben 3
37073 Göttingen
Phone. +49 551 39 27159
Fax. +49 551 39 26542
Annegret.Schallmann@sowi.uni-goettingen.de

Office: Oec 1.116