WHO CAN APPLY?
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Am I eligible? My bachelor degree has a cumulative GPA of ‚X’.
We are looking for bright students. Excellent grades are a very good indicator, but not the only one. We also consider a couple of other indicators for excellence, including the following:
In general, if your GPA score is good (say, 2.0 in the German system) your chance to be considered is good, and if your grade is below satisfactory (2.5 or worse in the German system), we need very strong evidence for "other qualifications" to consider your application. You can help us gain a better picture in your motivation letter.
Note: In the German system 1.0 is the best grade and 4.0 the worst pass grade, so smaller numbers are better.
Am I eligible? Here is my University Transcript!
We do not generally answer this question without a formal application. After reviewing your complete application package we will be able to decide about admission.
What IELTS Score for English (or other system score) do I need?
We require an overall score of at least 6.5 in the IELTS (the score of each test component must be at least 6,0). We prioritize applicants with higher test scores, since these are a proven indicator of study success (studying HCI means reading literature and writing many reports). Applicants with a lower score will not be considered (for more details see website on application).
In general we require adequate passive AND active language proficiency both in written and spoken English in order to successfully follow the program. A better score improves the chance for your application to be considered (it is not possible to be accepted to the program with lower scores).
Your IELTS score must still be valid. Alternative language certificates are listed on the ‘Application’ information webpage for the program you are applying for, but IELTS is the most common.
I studied in English, do I still need to provide a language certificate?
The teaching language is NOT sufficient for us. Only if the country where you studied is native English-speaking (e.g. UK, Australia, US, South Africa, etc.), no language certificate is needed. If in doubt (e.g. you have already studied for several years in an English native speaking country) please contact us.
If you have further questions about language certificates, contact our Department of Study and Education / International Applications, Johanna Merian at studium[at]uni-weimar.de.
What background do I need for the Human-Computer Interaction program?
This is a consecutive degree program, meaning that it builds on a prior education. Thus, you should have a Bachelor of Science in a Computer Science related program: e.g., Computer Science, Software Engineering, Medieninformatik, »Computing and Business«. Excellent students from other technical areas may be considered, but need to have completed around half of their classes in CS-related subjects (this is subjects such as programming, algorithms, data bases etc). You should also have had some classes in HCI or related areas, such as psychology or human factors.
If you only have HCI or UX experience, then this is not enough to qualify, as our program is designed to build upon a CS-type bachelor. You definitely need solid programming skills, knowledge of CS concepts and some background knowledge in mathematics. As the teaching language is English, mastering written and spoken English is also important.
Note: if you are fairly close to our entry requirements, we may accept you with stipulations of doing extra courses/credits in addition to the normal program in order to make up for gaps in your education profile (depends on whether such classes are on offer in the languages that you are proficient in)
How do I apply?
You need to provide all documentation about your qualifications (and identity), as well as a motivation letter. When you register to apply, you will see what exactly is required.
If you did your bachelor degree outside of the European Union (this includes franchise degrees offered from European institutions, but studied outside of the EU), then please log into the uni-assist portal and start your application. Please direct all your questions regarding the application procedure to uni-assist after reading the webpage carefully.
The general process is that you register on uni-assist for the course, then receive a registration number for your application, and are told which documents to upload and which to send by postal mail. Please note that uni-assist requires many of your documents to be sent by postal mail, with certified copies as well as certified translations of non-English certificate documents (in particular of your transcripts of record, graduation certificate, ID). As of recently, uni-assist requires an APS certificate for degrees from China, Vietnam and India (APS checks the authenticity of educational biographies and the corresponding educational certificates).
You should thus factor in sufficient time for receiving these certified copies and the translations. Please also note that depending on where you are required to apply for your visum (country and region), there may be a long waiting period for the visa interview. Thus apply as soon as possible!
If you graduated within the European Union (EU) and do not require a visa, then you can apply online at: Online-Application.
When should I apply?
You should apply as early as possible, especially if you need to obtain a visum for Germany. Do enquire how long it takes in your region to get a visa interview and how long the processing takes.
If you are lucky and the visa process is fast, then you still need to take account of how long processing of your study application takes and how much time upfront you need to prepare your move. Uni-assist needs time to check if your application is complete, they may ask you for missing documents, to then check these etc. Thus it takes time until we receive applications and can evaluate them. We have no control over how fast uni-assist works (they handle thousands and thousands of applications for numerous study programs across Germany). You need to estimate at least a full month from the time of putting in your application until you hear from us.
You need to be in Weimar when the semester starts to register (in person, on campus). This is important because it is difficult to catch up otherwise. If you arrive late, you may not be able to register for studies anymore. Ideally you arrive at least a week before teaching starts, in order to find accommodation and deal with official paperwork, so you can focus on your studies once teaching starts. For Winter Semester (October start), there is an introduction week for new students in the week before teaching starts, which you should try to be here for.
Your acceptance to the program is usually valid for a full year. This means that if your visa is delayed, or you need more time to organize your move, you can still start in the following semester. Or you can apply well in advance, taking this into account. If your visum interview gets delayed, preventing study start for the semester, you can ask for a renewed letter of acceptance.
Visa applications are sovereign matters and we are not in the position to interfere. Questions about visa should be directed at the German embassy that is responsible for your visum process.
How long does it take to process my application?
This can take anything between days and several weeks, depending on whether you have to apply via uni-assist or directly with us, and the number of things that are being checked, and also the time of year (number of applications being processed, holiday season, sicknesses, the admission team's work load, etc). Applications delivered via the BUW-portal usually take less time to be processed, as they arrive directly with us.
We try to process as fast as possible, but there are several departments involved besides of the Uni-Assist portal.
I have submitted my thesis but have not received my final certificate yet. Can I apply?
You can only apply with your final certificate. We need your final grade for the evaluation of your application. If just one final semester is missing please send the academic transcript. But you will have to hand in the complete transcript and final degree right before enrolment in order to start studies.
Do I really need to provide a 'Proof of Removal from the Register'?
This is only relevant for German students, who need to provide their 'Exmatrikulationsbescheinigung' as they can't be registered at two Universities simultaneously.
Foreign students should ask their home University if this proof can be provided. Often your bachelor certificate will be sufficient. If we need further documentation, you will be contacted.
What do I need for my Visa? X is missing - can I apply for a visa?
You need the letter of admission (LOA) for your visa application. A scanned version of your LOA (or its pdf sent to you by email) is sufficient for starting the procedure and getting a first appointment in the German embassy.
In case your visa interview is delayed so much that it becomes impossible or unlikely for you to start studying in the semester(s) that your admission letter covers, please contact us (the admission office that sent the original letter!) to ask for an updated admission letter. Occasionally the Embassy also asks for additional letters.
Do I need German language skills?
It is advised to learn some German before arrival. The program is entirely English taught, but you will study in Germany. In order to get around in everyday life, from grocery shopping to asking for the way or dealing with administration, having some knowledge of German is extremely helpful. In particular, since HCI tends to involve doing user studies, knowledge of German is beneficial in terms of broadening the scope of things you can study.
Moreover, at some point, you will need to prove A1 level knowledge in order to start your final theses work.
How many years is the study program?
The masters program takes a minimum of 4 semesters (2 years). If you are admitted with stipulations of doing additional courses, this might extend your studies depending on the number of extra credits and your speed of studying. With more than one extra course, you will most likely need at least five semesters.
Even without stipulations, do not assume you will finish within exactly four semesters, as something can always go wrong (e.g. failing exams and having to redo them, getting sick and needing an extension…). Note that in the German system, this is unproblematic to do and does not require special permissions.
Are there study fees?
There are no study fees in Germany. There is only an administrative fee per semester of about 200 € that each student regardless of origin has to pay. This fee in return provides you with free local public transport and subsidised food in the cantine/mensa.
How long am I allowed to study?
The 4 semesters or 2 years of study are the normal length of study for a full-time student. You can extend your visa in the Aliens Department of the City Administration Weimar. In the German embassy of your home country you will get a students visa for 3 month. After enrolment in Weimar you can extend this visa depending on the amount of money you can proof for your personal living expenditures.
Can I study part-time, take a semester out, or go abroad?
Part-time studying: Yes, you can do this. You need to apply for this at the very start of the semester. When you study part time, this i counted as a half semester in your study time.
While you are part-time, you are allowed to do maximally 18 ECTS (re-examinations do not count toward this). Part-time study also 'stretches' the theses project. Many students do a part-time semester if they work beside studying, or may have other life duties or situations that prevent from taking the full course load.
Vacation Semester/ Urlaubssemester: This is also possible in general, but there may be restrictions if you have a study visa for Germany. These do not count toward your study time. Note that you would not have the benefits of subsidized food in Mensa and a free Local Transport ticket during this time.
Many students take a semester out for doing a voluntary internship (note that we cannot provide assistance on finding internships, but do allow and encourage this). Extended severe illness can also be a reason for applying for a vacation semester.
Going Abroad / Erasmus: There is the Erasmus exchange program, where we have a number of places at European (and one Canadian) university. Students need to apply for these. A learning agreement is set up mapping courses taken while on Erasmus with our own curriculum, so that students can stay within their normal study time frame. With Erasmus, students do not need to worry about study fees at the abroad university.
Adventurous students have sometimes managed to organize their own abroad studies, e.g. doing an internship in a research group abroad and then being allowed to take some courses with their host lab. Note that many international Universities have high study fees, that make it difficult to take courses with them, unless on Erasmus.
What is expected from me in order to successfully study in Weimar?
From the very start of the course, you must be able and willing to work and solve problems independently, without constant supervision. Learning by heart / by rote is not sufficient - you need to be able to think on your own and to be self-organized. For some of our foreign students, this is a tough lesson.
Later in the program, you will also work in small project-groups and work collaboratively. At the end of the programme, you must be able to work both self-contained and as part of a team. We also expect you to be able to read scientific literature in English, and to write reports according to academic standards.
Is the program in English?
Yes, the program is taught entirely in English.
I have been accepted, but with stipulations/additional requirements. What does this mean?
These are classes that you need to do on top of the normal program, taught as normal classes. You should hear and complete these as early as possible (they run once per year). They help you to catch up on topic areas that your education did not provide, but that we consider essential background. Nevertheless, you will be able to start with most classes from the 'normal' program, but (depending on which stipulations you have) may need to consider delaying one or two of the mandatory modules).
Are there special rules for German students?
German students need to provide their 'Exmatrikulationsbescheinigung' as they can't be registered at two Universities simultaneously. For German students, it is possible to start studies and to hand in final certificates of the prior bachelor degree up to 1 month after semester has started.
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