Application Process

student sitting on lawn with laptop

We are pleased that you are considering our Master of Public Policy program for your graduate studies.

On this page, you find a general overview on the process all the way from the online application to enrollment at the university, as well as a detailed list on the information and documents required for your application.

Make sure to read through the instructions carefully before starting your application. provided on the application process carefully before submitting your application. Please note that we do not accept applications via e-mail. Please note that Admissions Committee can only consider complete applications.

Steps to enrollment

  1. Collect all required documents (see extensive application checklist below).
  2. Register on our  Online Application Portal
  3. Fill in the online form, upload your documents , and submit your online application (see video tutorial below).
  4. Wait for our response (you find our decision timeline here).
  5. After receiving conditional admission based on your online application, we will ask you to submit true-certified hard copies of some of your documents via postal mail in order to receive final admission to the MPP. You can and should already apply with the conditional admission letter, in case you require a student visa.
  6. Pay the tuition fees for the first semester (tentative deadline: August 15)
  7. Travel to Erfurt in early October for our Orientation Week and for enrollment at the university.

If you have any questions before applying, please also have a look into our Frequently Asked Questions. Please feel free to contact us anytime for further information via e-mail.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Smriti Rai, second-year student from Nepal

At the Brandt school, I am learning about various policy issues with colleagues from 30 countries. On top of that, the professors and lecturers provide time for one-on-one conversations, which is valuable and enriching. This is a unique professional and academic experience.

                                                                         - Smriti Rai –  MPP alumna from Nepal

Application Checklist

The following documents are required for an application:

Curriculum Vitae

Applicants are required to send a CV (maximum length: two pages) with their application.

Statement of Purpose

Applicants must send a personal statement of purpose. Please describe why you are interested in public policy and how your academic and/or professional background has influenced your decision to pursue a career in the field of public policy. How and why will the pursuit of your degree at the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy help you to achieve your professional goals? Please be specific and limit your response to no more than two pages. 

Certified Copies of Diplomas, Degree Certificates and Transcripts

Applicants must send the following diplomas, documents, certificates, and transcripts as certified true copies (no originals, please):

  • Secondary Education Certificate (Abitur, High School Diploma, etc.)
  • University degree(s) (if already available)
  • Official transcripts from all colleges, professional schools, and universities

Undergrad degrees should ideally be in subjects from the social sciences, economics or law. If your undergrad degree is from a different discipline, please also use your letter of motivation to spell out your connection to the subject and how you acquired the analytical skills required for the study of public policy.

All documents not issued in German or English must be accompanied by certified German or English translations.

Note: Simple (i.e., non-certified) copies of diplomas and certificates cannot be accepted as sufficient proof of meeting the admission criteria. A certified true copy is a copy (often a photcopy) of a primary document that has on it an endorsement, a stamp or a certificate that proofs that this is a true copy of the primary document. Certified true copies can be obtained from German Embassies / Consulates or other official authorities in your country of residence.

Please send neither the original documents nor simple copies without certification. 

Proof of Professional Work Experience

All applicants have to submit proof of at least one year of work experience. It should be ideally in a field related to public policy. We also take into account voluntary work and internships.

We require the following information about your work experience:

  • Name of the company or organisation
  • Position held
  • Duration: When did you work / since when are you working for the employer (start and end date)
  • Type of Employment: Full time / part time, hours per week, paid / voluntary
  • Job Specifications: Field of expertise, area of work, key duties, etc.

We will accept a formal letter from your employer containing this information. Your employer can also fill out our Proof of Professional Work Experience Form.Alternatively, you can provide us with an existing reference letter from your employer or a copy of your work contract. We do not require a comprehensive employer referral; we only require proof of the above-mentioned details to be able to properly evaluate your work experience.

If you choose to provide a letter or reference from your employer, please note that it must be dated, bear an original signature and should be written on official letterhead.

If your one year of work experience was not completed within one company or organization (for example two six-month internships), please provide proof for all experiences, totaling one year. If you have more than one year of relevant work experience (for example two years at one company and three years at another), you do not have to provide proof for every job you have had. Other work experience may be listed in your CV and in your application, however, proof is only required for one year.

Please note that you must provide the letter or contract with your online application. It cannot be provided later. The documents you provide must be written in English or German. If your documents are not in English or German, you must provide a sworn translation.

Proof of English Proficiency

Proof of English proficiency (Test scores must not be older than two years at the time of application). We accept the following scores:

  • TOEFL Internet: minimum of 90 points
  • IELTS Academic Test: minimum of 6.5 points overall and in all sub-categories
  • one of the following language certificates: Cambridge English C1 Advanced (CAE) or Cambridge English C2 Proficiency (CPE).

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Important note with regard to the worldwide Covid19-pandemic
As the usual, center-based tests appointments for both the TOEFL and the IELTS test are currently unavailable in many countries due to the ongoing pandemic, the Brandt School will - until further notice - also accept the online versions of these two tests, which allow you to do the test online from home and to book appointments on rather short notice.
Please inform yourself well on the respective website on the fees, the necessary hardware (headphones, camera, computer, etc.) and other prerequisites.

TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition

IELTS Indicator

The same minimum pointage thresholds as in the traditional tests apply (see above). 

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Important note 1
Candidates who received their degree from an English-language college or university only need to present an official document or letter issued by the university stating that English has been the medium of instruction. If the information "medium of instruction: English" or similar is to be found on the Transcript of Records or its appendix, the corresponding page should be uploaded as a proof of English proficiency. In this case, an English test result is obsolete. On the other hand, please note that an excellent test-result will always contribute to your application's excellence. 

Important note 2
English proficiency documents are the only documents which can be uploaded AFTER the submission of the online application. The deadline for non-EU nationals is April 30 - and for EU-nationals July 31. Until then, applicants can access their online application and upload the missing document. They cannot edit any other information in the application. If you want to upload the test result later, please indicate so in your online application by checking the box "Will be submitted subsequently". Please note that we can only issue a final admission once we have valid proof of your English proficiency. 

Copy of Your Passport

Applicants are required to send a copy of their passport. Please send copies of the cover of your passport and the pages showing your photo, your name, date and place of birth.

Need guidance?

Video Tutorial Cover Image

Please note: Once you watch the video, data will be transmitted to Youtube/Google. For more information, see Google Privacy.

Let's go!

Become an agenda setter and make the world a better place!

Apply for the Master of Public Policy through our

Online Application Portal

Get in touch with our students!

If you would like to learn more about life as a student at the Brandt School, feel free to contact the

Brandt School Student Government

 

If you are interested in finding out more about possible careers or research areas, please contact our

Alumni Ambassadors

Do you need further support?

MPP Application and Admission Inquiries
(Willy Brandt School of Public Policy)
C19 - Research Building "Weltbeziehungen" / C19.02.01