International applicants must apply via Uni-Assist (www.uni-assist.de/index_en.html). Holders of German degrees should apply directly to h_da’s Student Service Centre. For the deadlines, click here; for further information, click here

(1) Applicants who have completed a degree programme in a field related to digital media (media design, media informatics and technology, media economics, media studies), as well as related disciplines such as cultural management, social pedagogy, social work, design, art history and musicology, comprising at least 180 CP, may be admitted to the 3- or 4-semester programme on a case-by-case basis following a review as part of a suitability assessment procedure. This process also applies to applicants holding a degree in a programme other than those mentioned above. The criteria for admission, in addition to academic marks, include demonstrating substantial practical experience as well as theoretical knowledge in the field of culture and/or art based on digital media. Please check our information on the application process carefully.

(2) The requirements for admission to the 3-semester programme are a relevant and recognised bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification comprising at least 210 CP in the field of digital media, media and cultural studies, or media education, with an overall grade point average of 1.9 (German grade or equivalent) or higher.

Graduates from Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences’ programmes in Digital Media, Animation and Game, Interactive Media Design, Motion Pictures, Sound and Music Production, and Online Communication are considered eligible.

(3) The requirements for admission to the 4-semester programme are a relevant and recognised bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification comprising at least 180 CP in the field of digital media, media and cultural studies, or media education, with an overall grade point average of 1.9 (German grade or equivalent) or higher. Graduates from Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences’ programmes in Digital Media, Animation and Game, Interactive Media Design, Motion Pictures, Sound, Music and Production BA, and Online Communication are considered eligible.

(4) Applicants in accordance with paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) who have an overall grade average of less than 1.9 may still be admitted on a case-by-case basis following a review as part of a suitability assessment procedure. Grades obtained from a university outside Germany will be converted by Uni-assist.

The Faculty Board appoints an admissions committee comprising three professors. The committee assesses the suitability of each applicant on the basis of the documents submitted and the criteria set out in the admissions regulations. For further details on the assessment procedure, please see our admissions regulations here.

Yes.

No. There is no need for a TOEFL, IELTS or any other English language test. You must demonstrate your language proficiency by submitting well-written and authentic documents in English, as specified in the admission requirements. Please note that you may not be able to follow the classes successfully if your English is not up to standard. It is therefore in your own best interests to apply only if you have a good command of the English language, both spoken and written.

The brief exposé is a kind of extended abstract. It is required primarily to demonstrate that you have an understanding of the field, topics and methods of the programme you wish to study. We would also like to see the applicant’s ability to formulate an authentic, individual and substantial research outline – one that is both practical and academically oriented – in good English. As regards the form and content you choose, we will leave that up to you, as we are open to a variety of approaches. Of course, we understand that this exposé cannot cover the entire field but is intended as an illustrative statement. We strongly recommend that you adhere to the specified requirements: Exceeding the character limit (1,800 characters, including spaces) may result in a lower assessment of your application documents.
We recommend that you familiarise yourself with academic and scholarly writing. Have a look at Academia.edu, for example. Here you can find high-quality papers that will give you an idea of what academic writing entails.

The personal statement demonstrates your personal and professional interest in and affinity for the topics covered by this Master’s programme, whilst the project proposal should outline a project within the specified field of research and development.
We recommend – where relevant – that you highlight and emphasise your knowledge and practical experience in the fields of media, culture and the arts. This will give your application the right focus on media and culture. It is essential to demonstrate both.

There is a fee of approximately €264 per semester. However, this is not a tuition fee, but – as at every German university – the so-called ‘Semesterbeitrag’. It includes benefits such as free theatre visits, affordable meals in our canteen and free use of public transport throughout the wider Rhine-Main area.

As well as the DAAD – which you should contact in your home country – there may be scholarships available through the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, the Heinrich Böll-Stiftung, the Friedrich Naumann-Stiftung and similar organisations. Please visit their websites to see if any of them might be suitable for you. Universities in Germany do not offer scholarships.

You are permitted to work alongside your studies, but there are limits on your monthly working hours and your income. In addition, you must find a job yourself (the university will not arrange a job for you). You may take on part-time work, but you are expected to attend every lecture, group session and meeting during the semester, and should prioritise your studies.

The university is unable to provide you with any accommodation. We strongly recommend that you get in touch with student accommodation providers and local landlords as early as possible, as the real rush will begin during the second half of March or September, before the semester starts. As always: first come, first (re)served.
Here are some suggestions for accommodation:
Studierendenwerk Darmstadt
Housing Market
There are two student halls of residence on or very close to our Dieburg Mediacampus; they are brand new and very practical – there’s a supermarket nearby, as well as a bus stop! It seems to be the most convenient place to stay:
Student accommodation
More student accommodation
Many of the IMC students (even those who are not religious or come from a non-Christian background) like to stay at the Catholic student residence in Darmstadt:
KHG student accommodation
It is advisable to stay either in Dieburg, Groß-Umstadt or Darmstadt (or any other place from which you have good transport links to our Dieburg Campus by train or by bus no. 671, which stops right in front of our campus). Frankfurt could also be an option if you happen to find accommodation not too far from a local train station.

Darmstadt is a city with a large student population, so finding a good, affordable flat can be tricky. Depending on the size and location of the flat, you should expect to pay a monthly rent of between approx. 250 and 400 €.

If you apply for the 4-semester IMC programme, you must complete a work placement. The work placement is compulsory and you must find a suitable position yourself. The work placement should be carried out at an institution or company related to the field of the Master’s programme in International Media and Cultural Work.
Whether your work placement is paid or not depends largely on the company or institution. Some companies pay between €300 and €400, whilst others do not pay anything. We strongly recommend that you choose an internship at a company that interests you, rather than basing your decision on the salary. The salary is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of an internship. You can also undertake your internship abroad.

Uni-Assist is an organisation external to our University, over which we have no control.

For administrative enquiries, you will need to contact either Uni-Assist or our Student Service Centre. However, we recommend that you contact Uni-Assist directly.

1. You should call Uni-Assist by telephone. This is the best option.
2. You could get in touch with our administration: international@h-da.de

Although our Student Service Centre (SSC) is not part of Uni-Assist, it is part of our administration and has a great deal of experience with such processes. They can offer you advice and guidance, but they cannot influence Uni-Assist’s internal processes.

Yes, but only up to a certain deadline, which our Student Service Centre will let you know. If you have any problems with your visa, please keep us and the SSC informed. Although we cannot influence the visa application process, the SSC will secure your place at the university for as long as possible and keep you informed about the current semester.

If you have any formal or administrative queries regarding this application, please contact: international@h-da.de
Find out more here
and here.