To be eligible, you must have completed a Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communication or Media Studies, or other programmes with a specific focus on the interaction between technology, media and society. In addition, all candidates are required to sit an aptitude test, which comprises various assessments.

In our document-based aptitude test, the following submissions will be assessed:

1) Your final mark for your Bachelor's degree. We will convert your mark to the German grading system used at our university (grades 1 to 5, where 1 is the highest, 1–4 is a pass, and >4 is a fail). Every 0.1 higher than a 2 (“good”) scores 1 point; every 0.1 lower than a 2 scores -1 point (negative). The maximum possible score is 10; the lowest is -10 points.

2) Relevant practical experience in fields related to the subject. As a rule of thumb: 6 months’ experience is worth 6 points. The maximum possible score is again 10. Practical experience must be documented in the form of a detailed CV (please ensure you state the duration of the activity to the nearest month)

3) Specific subject-related qualifications: submission of a motivation letter and a research proposal is required. Here, we will assess you primarily on the quality of the letter and the proposal, based on your demonstrated understanding of the subject and your motivation to contribute to the aims and principles of our programme. The maximum possible score is 20.

4) Special practical achievements: Please submit any evidence of your outstanding achievements related to the field of study, such as grants, awards, special practical projects, charitable or civic engagement, etc. The maximum possible score is 10.

An overall score of 30 out of a possible 50 points will qualify you for the programme.

The brief exposé is a kind of extended abstract of a research project that could be carried out as part of the MTS programme. 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 outline for an empirical study in good English. Please follow the Harvard/APA citation style. The research exposé should not exceed 8,000 characters, including spaces and references. Please note that we do not accept texts generated by AI. We are also committed to good scientific practice and will not tolerate plagiarism.

The personal statement demonstrates your personal and professional interest in, and affinity for, the topics covered by this Master’s programme. In your letter of motivation, you should describe your personal connection to media, technology and society, and explain why you are a suitable candidate for this degree programme. In contrast, the research proposal should outline a project idea within the specified field of research and development. The letter of motivation should not exceed 4,000 characters, including spaces.

The four-semester option is aimed at students with fewer than 210 CP and includes a compulsory practical module (30 CP). It comprises a work placement of at least 18 weeks, during which students gain an up-to-date insight into current practice and subject-specific challenges in the field of the interaction between media, technology and society, as well as an accompanying seminar. The practical phase can be completed full-time during the semester or part-time over a correspondingly extended period, whilst maintaining the overall workload. Please note that you can apply for the four-semester option in the winter or summer. Students starting in the winter term will undertake the placement in their first semester; students starting in the summer term will undertake the placement in their third semester before enrolling on the MA thesis module.

Students are responsible for securing their own work placements. These include companies from the media and communications sector as well as relevant research institutions. It is possible to divide the practical phase into two sub-projects, with a maximum of two project placements. The practical placements and projects must be assessed by the course’s placement coordinator to ensure they are suitable in accordance with the course’s learning outcomes; this assessment must be carried out and approved before the placement begins.

At the time of application, confirmation of the work placement is not yet required; confirmation of the work placement may be submitted after the application has been made.

For the Master’s programme, the plan is to complete the work placement whilst enrolled on the course.

Upon request, the examination board can clarify this in individual cases.

No. There is no need to take the 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. Furthermore, we expect all submissions and presentations made during the course of study to be in English.

Some students already possess valuable professional skills when they begin their studies at the h_da. These may be qualifications obtained from degree programmes at other universities, or skills demonstrated through initial and continuing vocational education, as well as professional and informal experience. If these competences meet the requirements of a module in their degree programme at the h_da, they can be recognised and credited towards the degree programme. This exemption from individual exams and modules thus provides additional flexibility in their studies. The basis for assessment is the competences taught as part of the degree programme, as described in the relevant module handbooks. The h_da’s recognition regulations govern the formal aspects of recognition and crediting. If you are considering this option, please get in touch with the contact person for your degree programme as early as possible.

As the attendance period for the degree programme lasts only two semesters, no study abroad is planned during this phase. In the four-semester programme, the practical phase can also be completed outside Germany, and the Master’s module can also be undertaken in an international context.

At Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, each degree programme has a two-part set of examination regulations: The General Regulations for Examination Regulations (ABPO, PDF download in German) apply across the university and govern, amongst other things, the responsibilities of examination boards and the examination system. The specific regulations for a degree programme can be found in the Special Regulations (BBPO, PDF download in English and German). Admission procedures are also set out in the Special Regulations (BBZM, PDF download in English and German). The module handbook (PDF download in English and German) and the catalogue of elective modules (PDF download in English) are also important documents for the degree programme. There you can find, for example, which compulsory and optional modules are available, how many credit points are awarded for each, and, of course, the respective learning objectives, the people responsible and the examination formats. Furthermore, the regulations governing the practical semester form part of these regulations.