Back to “M.A. Global Studies and Economic History (Double Degree)”

Application, Fees and Living Costs

Learn in this section about the application requirements and the application process as well as the tuition and term fees charged for it.

The 2024 application round started on 2 January 2024. The deadline for submitting applications is 31 May 2024.

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Foto: Glenn Carstens-Peters / Unsplash

Admission Criteria

Applicants should meet the following requirements:

A three-year bachelor’s degree or the recognized equivalent from an accredited institution in the humanities or social sciences, with a minimum of 15% global studies–relevant courses

Excellent English skills: Proficiency in English needs to be proven with an official English certificate as listed below under “Application Documents”. Native English speakers must provide proof of knowledge of a language other than English at the A2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

Knowledge of another foreign language at the A2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (to be proven by a high school certificate and/or an internationally recognized test, score certificates, or equivalent proof of participation in language courses)

The recognition of the respective documents and degrees is based on the requirements set by the German Central Office for Foreign Education. In some countries, another year of study in a master’s programme might be necessary in order to be eligible for admission. See also the Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen.

Selection Criteria

The decision on admission are based on the following criteria:

50%: Academic excellence and quality/recognition of home institution that has awarded the first degree

15%: Motivation and academic potential

20%: Compatibility of previous degree(s) with the EMGS programme

15%: Work experience/professional qualifications

You need to apply via the following portal: almaweb.uni-leipzig.de/

Please follow these steps:

  1. Ceate a user account. Click the button “Application” and then “Create user account”. Fill in the requested information and click “Next”. Please check your data and then click “Create account”. AlmaWeb will send an initial password to the email-address you specified in the registration within the next 10 minutes. (This step is not applicable for students of Leipzig University, who already have an AlmaWeb account)
  2. Enter your login credentials in the almaweb website. “Username”: your email-address / “Password”: use your initial password. You will be required to change your password after the first login.
  3. Open “Application” in the menu, then “Find courses” and choose global studies under “Subject”, then click “Search”. Then please check for the programme using the following information: “WiSe, admission restricted, aptitude test required, subject semester *1*” and click on “Apply”.
  4. Enter all requested data starting with the section “Welcome”. Upload all documents listed below to the AlmaWeb portal. Please note, you will be asked to upload the documents in one PDF file and to respect a certain order. The file must be no bigger than 10 MB. Check that all sections have the status “ok” in the final application summary
  5. Submit the online application (this is only possible in case all sections have the status „ok“). Please note that after you have „submitted“ your application it will not be possible to make any further changes in your application and/or upload further documents. Therefore, check carefully before you submit your application if all information is stated correctly AND if you have uploaded the correct and complete application documents.

Only applicants who have successfully submitted their application before the given deadlines will be eligible for admission to the programme

In order to apply for the programme you will need to submit the following documents:

If you have not conducted your education in Germany, please check on the website of uni-assist  the specific requirements for the following documents for your country.

Please note, however, that the application for the GSEH programme is not possible via uni-assist, but only via the application tool of the of Leipzig University.

For information on how to get certified translations of documents please see the information on uni-assist website. Certified copies and translations

  1. A curriculum vitae in English (1-3 pages). You may consider using the Europass CV as a template.
  2. Motivation letter in English. This letter should explain why you are interested in this particular master’s programme (1–2 pages).
  3. Proof of nationality (e.g. copy of passport)
  4. High school diploma (secondary school leaving certificate, e.g. Baccalaureate, A Levels) or equivalent (AND certified translation into English, if the document is not issued in English or German)
  5. Official high school transcripts (AND certified translation into English, if the document is not issued in English or German)
  6. University diplomas ( evidence of all completed degrees (e.g. Bachelor’s, Master’s, Diplom) (AND certified translation into English, if the document is not issued in English or German). If you graduate after the application deadline, admission will be considered based on your university transcripts. Please note that if you are admitted, the copy of your certified all your university diplomas will be needed by the end of  August in order to be able to enroll you.
  7. Complete official transcripts of records from your university (AND certified translation into English, if the document is not issued in English or German)
  8. English test results.  Applicants whose native language is not English must provide test scores for one of the following standardized English proficiency tests:
    1. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL international): minimum score of 100, where Reading 25; Listening 22; Writing 24; Speaking 22 (including Home and Paper Editions)
    2. International English Language Testing System (IELTS): minimum score of 7.0, where Reading 7.0; Listening 6.5; Writing 70; Speaking 6.5
    3. Cambridge English Scale: minimum score of 185, where Reading 185; Listening 176; Writing 176; Speaking 176
    4. Applicants who have studied for more than one year at or received a degree from a university at which English was the language of instruction are not requested to take one of the previously mentioned proficiency tests. An official certificate from the applicant’s university is required to confirm that English was the language of instruction.
  9. Proof of knowledge of another foreign language. Different from your native language and English) at the A2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (to be proven by a high school or university certificate/transcript and/or internationally recognized test score certificates or equivalent proof of participation in language courses. English native speakers need to provide proof of knowledge of a first and a second language other than their mother tongue at the A2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
  10. One recommendation letter by an academic teacher. The recommendation letter must be signed by the person recommending the candidate and include the reference’s name and e-mail address. It should be typed on official letterhead or feature the referees institutional stamp.
  11. If applicable, proof of extracurricular activities and work experience (e.g. copies of employment certificates). Please note that not submitting all requested documents by the application deadline might result in a lower score during the selection procedure and thus lead to a reduced chance to receive admission for the programme.

Documents to submit after admission

(only applicable for applicants who receive an admission to the programme)

You will be requested to post the following documents as certified copies to the admission office in Leipzig by the end of August (the address will be announced with the admission letter):

  • Certified copy or original copy  of high school diploma (secondary school leaving certificate, e.g. Baccalaureate, A Levels) or equivalent or equivalent (AND certified translation into English, if the document is not issued in English or German)
  • Certified copy or original copy  of official high school transcripts (AND certified translation into English, if the document is not issued in English or German)
  • Certified copy or original copy  of university diplomas (evidence of all completed degrees (e.g. Bachelor’s, Master’s, Diplom) (AND certified translation into English, if the document is not issued in English or German)
  • Certified copy or original copy of official transcripts from your university (AND certified translation, if the document is not issued in English or German
  • Certified copy or original copy of English test results

A certification can be made by any authority that has an official seal with a national coat of arms (in Germany, these are town halls, the police, courts, rectories, and notaries) or by the authority who issued the respective document. In the latter case, a stamp of the respective authority would be sufficient. Please see also the information provided by uni-assist.

As indicated above, some documents must be included as certified copies and certified translations in English AND in the original language. Documents issued in English or German must be included as certified copies only.

Applicants who earned their university degree in China are requested to submit an additional certificate from the Akademische Prüfungsstelle Peking (APS). For further information, visit: APS - Peking

Applicants who earned their university degree in Mongolia are requested to submit an additional certificate from the Akademische Prüfstelle Ulan-Bator (APS). For further information, visit: German EMBASSY Ulan Bator.

Applicants who earned their university degree in Vietnam are requested to submit an additional certificate from the Akademische Prüfstelle Hanoi (APS). For further information, visit: German diplomatic mission vIETNAM

Applicants who earned their university degree in India are requested to submit an additional certificate from the Akademische Prüfstelle (APS) India. For further information, visit:

Please be note that successful applicants to this programme will also be required to upload their transcripts and degree certificates on the London School of Economics (LSE) online application portal. The LSE retains the right to request further documents in order to be able to enrol you. Please note that enrolment to the LSE will be possible only after you have submitted all required documents.

Non-returning of documents

Please note as well that we do NOT return any of the documents you have sent no matter if you start the master’s course or not.

Processing fee

All applicants who start the programme will be charged with a processing fee of € 75 for the application. We will inform you about the payment details when sending you the admission letter.

Fees

Students will be charged fees according to the regulations of the two universities.

For year one the students will be charged term fees by the Leipzig University that amount currently to 266,90 Euros per term. There might be further costs charged for the participation of the summer and winter school (for travel and accomodation). 

For year two (2025/26) students will be charged £28,584 (UK students: £18,120) by the LSE.

Additionally students might need to cover for costs related to their participation in events organized by the universities.

For living costs students should calculate to spend around 750-800 Euros/month in Leipzig and £1,400-£1,300/month in London.