Information on application and admission procedures

Welcome!

This page provides detailed information on the application and admission process for the Master of Science in Development Economics. Please read the following information carefully, as we provide step-by-step guidance. Please understand that we are unable to accept incomplete applications, or applications that are not submitted by the stipulated deadline.

The application process requires the submission of several key documents.

Please read the application guide (PDF) carefully before applying.

• A list of the required application documents can be found here.

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  Admission requirements and selection process
  
  
  
  

  
  

  Admission to the Master’s programme in Development Economics is competitive. Admission into the programme is based on proof of relevance of previous studies.

  
  

  Proof of relevance of previous studies

  
  

  
  
  • A course of study of at least 6 semesters in length with a Bachelor's degree comprising at least 180 ECTS credits in the subject of Economics or a closely related subject.
  
  
  • Verification of at least 150 of the 180 ECTS credits is required at the time of application (83% of your overall credits for programmes with any other structure)
  
  
  • Academic achievement in Economics and/or Agricultural Economics and/or Econometrics totalling at least 60 ECTS credits (as measured for a 180 ECTS bachelor's programme; for any other programme types at least one third of overall courses taken), including courses in Economic Theory, Agricultural Economics, and Development Economics totalling at least 30 ECTS credits (or one sixth) altogether.
  
  
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    As part of fulfilling the minimum of 30 ECTS course requirements in Economic Theory, Agricultural Economics, and Development Economics:
    
    
    
    • A minimum of 18 ECTS must be from modules with intermediate or high scientific level. For courses to be considered intermediate or advanced, the course content must clearly go beyond introductory or basic concepts.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Academic achievement in Mathematics or Statistics or Econometrics (in addition to the courses possibly counted above) totalling at least 12 ECTS credits (or 7% of overall credits for other structures).
  
  

  
  

  Proof of relevant language skills

  
  

  
  
  • English language skills
  
  
  • For a list of accepted documents, see: "Required application documents"
    Please note that we can only accept one of the listed certificates.
  
  
  • The accepted language certificate has to be uploaded until the end of the application period. It is NOT possible to hand it in later.
  
  

  
  

  Please pay attention to the following details

  
  

  
  
  • The determination of the relevancy of previous studies is based on the documents enclosed in the application. Please submit documents that verify special knowledge for the selected course of study (for example syllabi or course descriptions). This does not apply to bachelor’s degree holders of the Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Göttingen.
  
  
  • Unless needed as part of an EPOS scholarship application, please do not enclose any letters of recommendation. They will not be evaluated.
  
  

  
  

  Selection procedures and criteria

  
  

  
  
  • The selection process is a two-stage process. The initial selection round will evaluate candidates based on their submitted application. The second round will evaluate candidates based on personal interviews.
  
  
  • The following points are evaluated in the selection procedure: The overall grade of the degree on which application is based upon. In addition, special knowledge and abilities in those fields that specially qualify the applicant for the Master's programme (for example, special knowledge in the areas of economics), documented by a corresponding specialisation respectively performance in the programme, on which application is based upon.
  
  
  • Further information on the application process and eligibility requirements can be found in the admission regulations ("Ordnung über die Zugangsvoraussetzungen und die Zulassung") for the Master’s degree in Development Economics (see: "Admission regulations").
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  



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  Application periods
  
  
  
  

  
  

  Time zone: Central European Time (CET) / Central European Summer Time (CEST)

  
  

  The Master's programme accepts applications during the call for applications for the winter semester:

  
  

  
  
  • Application window for citizens from the EU/EEA (European Economic Area) OR applicants with a bachelor’s degree from an EU/EEA country beginning in the winter semester: 1 April to 15 May of the same calendar year (until 23:59 CEST)
  
  
  • Application window for citizens from non-EU/non-EEA (European Economic Area) countries AND a bachelor’s degree from outside an EU/EEA country beginning in the winter semester: 1 October to 15 November of the previous calendar year (until 23:59 CET)
  
  
  • Application window for EPOS scholarship beginning in the winter semester: 1 October to 15 November of the previous calendar year (until 23:59 CET)
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  



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  Application for double degree and joint programmes
  
  
  
  

  
  

  You can apply for the following double degree programmes as part of the Master's degree programme in Development Economics:

  
  

  
  
  • Double degree programme with the School of Economics and Management of the University of Florence, Italy
  
  
  • Double degree programme with the University of Clermont Auvergne Ecole d’Economie (School of Economics), Clermont-Ferrand, France
  
  

  
  

  In addition, you can apply for the joint programme with the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa:

  
  

  
  
  • Joint programme with the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa
  
  

  
  

  A prerequisite for participation in the double degree and joint programmes is acceptance to the Master's programme in Development Economics.

  
  

  
  
  • You apply to the Master's programme in Development Economics and to the double degree/ joint programme for which you wish to apply. The application for the double degree/ joint programme is part of the application form for the Master of Science in Development Economics.
  
  
  • Please note: You must meet both the application requirements for the MSc in Development Economics and for the double degree/ joint programme for which you wish to apply (please see the websites of the respective double degree/ joint programme).
  
  
  • As a student of the University of Göttingen, application for the double degree/ joint programme is always possible for the winter semester.
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  



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  Application portal
  
  
  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  

  The application deadline for the intake in Winter Semester 2026/27 has now passed. The online application forms for the admission into the regular programme and with the DAAD EPOS Scholarship will be available again during the next application period.

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  



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  When will I find out if I've been admitted to the programme?
  
  
  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  • EU/EEA applicants: Applicants will be informed via about the admission results by the end of June
  
  
  • Non-EU/EEA applicants (programme without EPOS scholarship): Applicants will be informed via about the admission results by the end of February
  
  
  • Non-EU/EEA applicants (programme with EPOS scholarship): Applicants will be informed via about the admission results by mid-March
  
  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  

Application Process

The application will be completely digital. If requested, you must submit original
documents later.

1. Critically go through the requirements and application procedures at the
   programme’s website.


2. Create an account with your email address and preferred password on the
   Application Portal, which will open only during the application period and can be
   accessed on this webpage under “Application Form.” Enter the verification code that is sent to your
   email account. Make sure to keep your login data.


3. Once you have access to the Application Portal, complete your application profile
   with the required information. You complete the profile once, and it applies to all
   applications.


4. Once you have completed your profile, you will land on the homepage, where you
   choose ‘Regular Procedure’. This will direct you to a list of available programmes. You can fill in an application for each of your desired programmes. Please select the programme that pertains to you and click on ‘Start Application’ to begin.


5. The application is a three-step process: acquired skills, further declarations and
   documents. Please ensure you fill in all requested information accurately and completely in the first two steps before proceeding to the next.


6. In the final step, you are asked to upload the required documents. Once all documents have been uploaded, click on ‘Submit Application’ to finalise your application. A successful submission is confirmed once the ‘Start Application’ button changes to ‘Application Submitted’ on the course list page.


7. Please check your application materials for completeness before clicking on ‘Submit Application’ on the Application Portal. We cannot consider incomplete applications or those sent after the deadline. Documents must only be uploaded to the University’s Upload Portal. Documents submitted via email are not considered.


8. You will receive an email with your application decision once the admission process
   is completed. Unfortunately, we cannot assess the status or completeness of individual applications before the application process is complete.


9. For a detailed overview and explanation, please refer to the application guide.

For any further questions, please feel free to contact the Student Advisory Service of the Faculty of Business and Economics - our study advisors are looking forward to assisting you.

We wish you the best of luck on your application, and look forward to hearing from you.