How to apply

An above average Bachelor's degree, at least corresponding to the German grade 2,5 (good) in one of the following subjects:

• Economics
• Political Science
• Sociology
• Psychology
• or a related degree

You are welcome to apply in your final year of your Bachelor's program. Please submit your current academic transcript as PDF (with an officially certified translation into English or German, if applicable).

You will need to provide evidence of knowledge from at least two focus areas, acquired in at least three courses during your Bachelor’s degree, as listed below.

Focus Area Computer Science

• Data Visualization (Dept. of Computer and Information Science)
• Principles of Computer Science in combination with a Programming Course (Dept. of Computer and Information Science)

Focus Area Mathematics

• Discrete Mathematics and Logic (Dept. of Computer and Information Science)
• Analysis and Linear Algebra (Dept. of Computer and Information Science)
• Mathematics for Data Science (Dept. of Computer and Information Science)
• Mathematics  for Economists  (Dept. of Mathematics and Statistics)
• Linear Algebra I (Dept. of Mathematics and Statistics)

Focus Area Statistics

• Statistics I (Dept. of Economics)
• Statistics I (Dept. of  Psychology)
• Statistics (Dept. of Politics and Public Administration)
• Statistics I (Dept. of History and Sociology)

Focus Area Social-scientific Methods

• Econometrics I (Dept. of Economics)
• Introduction to Survey Methodology (Dept. of Politics and Public Administration)
• Research Design I: Research Design and Causal Inference (Dept. of Politics and Public Administration)
• Empirical Research Methods (Dept. of Politics and Public Administration)
• Empiricism: Quantitative Methods (Dept. of History and Sociology)
• Methods & History of Psychology (Dept. of Psychology)
• Research Methods 2 (Dept. of Psychology)

 Proof of sufficient English language skills through one of the following tests:

• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency: minimum grade C
• IELTS (academic version): minimum grade 6.5
• TOEFL: minimum grade 92 (internet-based points)
• for German applicants: at least 7 years of English at high school level (with the grade 'sufficient' or better)
• in individual cases, an equivalent test checked and recognized by the corresponding Examination Board
• Important: Duolingo test is not accepted!

Please include a curriculum vitae in English as well as a one-page statement of purpose written in English showing your suitability and motivation for pursuing the Master's program.

Two letters of recommendation from university teachers who are able to comment on your suitability and motivation for participating in the Master's program.

Letters of recommendation on letter-head paper and signed can be uploaded directly in the online application via ZEuS. Only in exceptional cases it can be sent to seds.msc@uni.kn separately as PDF-files by the referees in English or German.

 Although not mandatory, results of the GRE test are desirable if you did not complete your undergraduate degree in Germany. 

You can apply via the following website :

The application portal will open mid March.

Please have all the documents from the checklist (below) ready.

The application deadline for admission in October is April, 30th (start of the Master's Program in Social and Economic Data Science only in the winter semester).

Extension of the application deadline is not possible.

Usually, the admissions office and the department need about four to six weeks to process the applications and to evaluate them. We try to inform the applicants within six to eight weeks at latest after the application deadline about the result of the process.

You are welcome to apply in your final year of your Bachelor's program. Please submit your current academic transcript as PDF (with an officially certified translation into English or German, if applicable).

You have to fill out the online application and upload all the relevant documents before the end of the application deadline.

In exceptional cases, attachments to the application, e.g. letters of recommendation, can still be submitted until one week after the application deadline by e-mail directly to seds.msc@uni-konstanz.de.

According to the admission rules, a series of hard and soft criteria decide on the admission of a candidate. The following critera do play a role for the admission committee:

• What is the candidate's former study program?
• Which relevant courses were done during the Bachelor's program?
• What grades were achieved?
• At which institution did he/she study before?
• Is the motivation letter substantial and program specific?
• Who has written the reference letters and how emphatic are the recommendations given?

Evidence of a sufficient command of English from one of the following English language tests:

• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency (minimum grade: C)
• IELTS (minimum grade: 6.5)
• TOEFL (minimum grade: 92 Internet-based points)
• for German applicants: at least 7 years of English at high school level (with the grade 'sufficient' or better)
• in individual cases, an equivalent test checked and recognized by the corresponding Examination Board
• Important note: Duolingo will not be accepted!
• Important note: Language test must not be older than three years.

Yes - all core courses of the program are offered in English. There are some elective courses that are offered in German. We recommend all international students to learn German during their stay in Konstanz and e.g. take part in the Go-Konstanz program, a one-month intensive language course offered in September by the International Office.

The Language Institute of the University of Konstanz offers German language courses on different levels each semester which are free of charge.

Ideally, the two letters of recommendation should be written by lecturers at your institution who are able to comment on your suitability and motivation for participating in the Master's program.

However, if that is not possible, we are also accepting letters by your employer. Letters of recommendation on letter-head paper and signed must be directly uploaded by the applicant in the application portal ZEuS. Only in exceptional cases letters of recommendation can be sent as PDF files by mail to seds.msc@uni-konstanz.de.

Important note: Letters of recommendations have to be written in English.

No, we do not require a minimum score. However, please note that applicants with a good GRE score improve their chances of being selected.

Important note: Submitting a GRE test is not mandatory!

Results of the GRE test are desirable. If you cannot take the test, you can submit your GMAT Score with the application package. 
However, please note that applicants with a good GRE score improve their chances of being selected.

All students: 179 EUR /semester (administrative fee). Additionally:

For EU/EEA citizens: no tuition fees.
Non EU/EEA Citizens: 1679 EUR /semester.

For a list of scholarships please follow the link:
Fees and scholarships