Mannheim Master in Social Data Science

The essay has to be written about a relevant academic topic, with a length of approximately 5,000 to 10,000 words. The essay must be written in English and should adhere to generally accepted academic standards.

The essay can be(don’t have to) be part of your studies (e.g., bachelor's thesis). It doesn’t has to be written as a statement of purpose and you don’t have to write why you are applying.

Regarding the criteria, the generally applicable rules for academic work apply (relevance, timeliness, methodological and content precision, independence, etc.).

Applicants are required to have a bachelor’s degree in social sciences (in particular sociology, political science, psychology or media and communication studies) or in business administration or economics, or a degree recognized as equivalent by the admissions committee from a German or foreign university or an officially recognized public university of cooperative education (Berufsakademie). 

Additionally, the program of study must include courses equivalent to at least 48 ECTS credits in informatics, mathematics, statistics or empirical research methods. ECTS credits awarded for a quantitative final thesis must be counted towards those 48 ETCS credits, provided that the supervising university teacher confirms the empirical nature of the final thesis

Furthermore, your grade must be converted to at least 2.5 in the German grading system, in accordance with the guidelines of the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). 

Unfortunately, due to the large number of applications we receive, it is not possible to conduct a preliminary review of transcripts before a formal application is submitted. Each application will be carefully evaluated in full as part of the official admissions process.

For the application, you are generally required to submit the following key documents: a completed application form and academic transcripts, proof of your bachelor’s degree (or current enrollment status), proof of English language proficiency, a curriculum vitae (CV), the required essay (writing sample), any relevant certificates for professional or academic experience.
A GMAT or GRE score is not mandatory. However, if submitted, it may be accepted as proof of English proficiency, provided the minimum required score is met. Accepted English language certificates include TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge certificates (FCE, CAE, CPE), GMAT, GRE, and the University of Mannheim language certificate. If your degree was taught entirely in English at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, and at least 50% of your courses and examinations were conducted in English, this usually serves as sufficient proof of English proficiency. In this case, you are generally exempt from submitting an additional language test, provided this is clearly documented.

For more detailed information, please see the university website: Tuition Fees for International Students – University of Mannheim. Regarding other forms of support, you can apply for a scholarship Scholarships.

According to the admission regulations, the program does not specifically mention integrated internships or industry projects. 

The program has a highly international student cohort, with participants coming from all over the world. The typical cohort size is 15 students, which allows for close interaction, small-group learning, and personalized support.

The application periods can be found here.

Application decisions are usually made after the deadline has passed, once all applications have been reviewed. The exact timing can vary depending on how many applications are received and when the selection committee meets. Many applicants typically receive their admissions decisions after several weeks but the exact notification date is not fixed and can vary each year.

Yes, we require a detailed module catalog (Modulkatalog) for each of your degrees. This can be provided either as a PDF document or as a link to the official online version. The module catalog helps the Faculty evaluate whether your previous coursework fulfills the required ECTS and subject-specific criteria.

If your final certificate is not yet available, you may submit your application with your transcript of records (TOR) along with all grades and courses completed up to the application date.

The application is not submitted via uni-assist but through the University of Mannheim’s application portal: Mein Portal² – Portal².

The examination regulations state your rights and obligations as a student enrolled in the Mannheim Master in Data Science at the University of Mannheim.

TBA

Yes, that is possible. TBA