A master's in Germany with a Turkish bachelor's
A graduate skips the Studienkolleg and applies to the master's programme directly. If you are in your final year, one condition shapes the plan: some universities accept an application before graduation only for a bachelor's taken in the EU.
On this page
According to uni-assist, a master's in Germany generally requires a bachelor's in a related subject, equivalent to a German bachelor's and lasting 3 to 4 years; each university sets the rest, such as a minimum grade. Applicants from Turkey submit the transcript, preferably issued by e-Devlet. In your final year, note that some universities accept an application before graduation only if the bachelor's is taken in Germany or another EU country.
Graduated: you apply directly. If your bachelor's is in a related subject from a recognised university, there is no Studienkolleg. Pick the programme and take its requirements from that university's page.
Final year: ask the university first. Some universities accept an application before graduation only for a bachelor's taken in Germany or the EU. Ask your target programme before you apply.
Master's deadlines come earlier. uni-assist states that many universities set earlier deadlines for master's courses. Do not plan around 15 July and 15 January.
Who it applies to
Graduates and final-year students of Turkish universities considering a master's in Germany.
Key facts
Length of the bachelor's
3 to 4 years
3, 3.5 or 4 years; equivalent to a German bachelor's, checked in anabin [1]
Who sets the criteria
The university
some master's courses require a minimum grade [1]
Applying before graduating
Restricted
some universities accept it only for a bachelor's taken in Germany or the EU [1]
All three from uni-assist's page for master's applicants.
What should you do in your situation?
The rows come from uni-assist's own pages. The final decision is always the university's.
| Your situation | What the rule says | Your next step |
|---|---|---|
| You have finished your bachelor's, in a related subject | The degree must be equivalent to a German bachelor's and from a recognised institution; anabin shows the equivalence | Apply directly [1] |
| You are in your final year and graduate in June | Some universities do not accept preliminary certificates, and some accept them only for a bachelor's taken in Germany or the EU | Ask the programme first [1] |
| Your bachelor's is in a different subject | uni-assist states a bachelor's in a related subject is generally required; the university decides what counts as related | Read the programme's rule [1] |
| Your degree is pre-2005 and graded out of 100 | uni-assist also asks for the examination regulations in force at the time | Add the regulations [2] |
uni-assist also states that it does not process every application to every member university. The programme's page says whether the application goes to uni-assist or straight to the university.
What your bachelor's has to meet
According to uni-assist's master's page, you generally need a completed bachelor's in a related subject. The degree should be equivalent to a German bachelor's and, depending on the programme, last 3, 3.5 or 4 years. It must also come from a university recognised under the laws of its country. You can check this yourself in anabin; if you are unsure, uni-assist checks it while processing the application.
Everything above that is set by each university: internships, grades, deadlines, translations. Some master's courses require a minimum grade. So the binding list is not uni-assist's page but the page of the programme you apply to. [1]
Documents from Turkey
uni-assist asks Turkish applicants who studied at a university for the transcript, preferably issued by e-Devlet. Grade conversion uses the minimum mark for the award of the degree, not the pass mark for a course or semester, and that mark is usually in Section 4.2 of the Diploma Supplement. You can work out the German equivalent in our grade conversion guide.
Translations follow a strict Turkey-specific rule: uni-assist accepts only translations by a sworn translator whose stamp includes the Turkish phrase "yeminli tercüman". A translation stamped only in English or German is not accepted. The full document rules are in our Turkey documents guide. [2]
Applying in your final year
According to uni-assist, not every university accepts preliminary certificates, meaning an application before graduation. Some do, but only if you are taking your bachelor's in Germany or another EU country. A bachelor's taken in Turkey does not meet that condition.
Where a university does accept it, you need an attestation from your own university of your expected degree and the courses completed so far. uni-assist does not say which universities fall into which group, so asking your target programme before you apply beats graduating in June and losing a semester. [1]
Language and deadlines
Many master's courses are taught in German, and uni-assist states these generally require adequate German. English-taught courses may require little or no German; DAAD's overview states that postgraduate programmes taught in English are exempt from the German requirements and ask for proof of English instead. Which German certificates count is covered in our language exams guide.
Deadlines carry a master's-specific warning: uni-assist states that many universities set earlier deadlines for master's courses. If you are aiming for 15 January, redo the countdown in our summer semester guide with your own programme's date. [1][4][3]
What uni-assist does not say
What grade average do I need for a master's in Germany?
Not in the official source ·
uni-assist's master's page states that some courses require a minimum grade, but gives no value and no list of courses. There is no general threshold on the page we read. [1]
What we tell applicants
Convert your grade to the German scale first, then compare it with the threshold on the programme's own page. If the page gives none, ask the programme coordinator in writing.
Let us run your master's application end to end
Choosing the programme, asking the university about the final-year rule, the e-Devlet transcript, the sworn translation and the uni-assist file. Your advisor puts all of it on one calendar.
- Your target programmes' requirements and deadlines in one list
- Documents checked against uni-assist's Turkey rules
- You approve the decisions; we prepare and submit through the official channel
Our fee includes uni-assist's handling fee, and your documents are checked before you pay anything.
How can you apply to Germany?
About 2 minutes · No password required
Frequently asked questions
Can I do a master's in Germany with a Turkish bachelor's degree?
Yes. According to uni-assist you generally need a bachelor's in a related subject, equivalent to a German bachelor's and from a recognised university. Each university sets the other requirements, and some master's courses require a minimum grade.
Can I apply for a German master's before I graduate?
It depends on the university. According to uni-assist, some universities do not accept preliminary certificates, and some accept them only if the bachelor's is taken in Germany or another EU country. A bachelor's taken in Turkey does not meet that condition, so ask your target programme first.
Where should I get my Turkish transcript for a German master's application?
uni-assist asks Turkish applicants who studied at a university for the transcript, preferably issued by e-Devlet. Translations must be by a sworn translator, with the Turkish phrase "yeminli tercüman" on the stamp.
Do I need German for an English-taught master's in Germany?
Not always. uni-assist states English-taught courses may require little or no German, and DAAD states English-taught postgraduate programmes ask for proof of English instead. The binding requirement is on the programme's page.
When are the application deadlines for master's programmes in Germany?
They vary by programme. uni-assist states that many universities set earlier deadlines for master's courses than the frequent 15 July and 15 January. Take your own programme's date from its page.
Sources
- [1]uni-assist e.V., information for master's applicants · Last reviewed:
- [2]uni-assist e.V., country information Turkey · Last reviewed:
- [3]uni-assist e.V., deadlines and processing time · Last reviewed:
- [4]DAAD, requirements for studying in Germany: overview · Last reviewed:
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