Application
Requirements
Thank you for your interest in our international, English-speaking postgraduate program Master of Arts "Social Work as a Human Rights Profession" at Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences, Berlin.
To successfully apply, applicants need a strong interest in the field of social work and in human rights issues, as well as deep commitment that should be visible in the application.
Undergraduate Degree
As an applicant for the program you have to hold an undergraduate degree in a relevant field (e.g. Social Sciences, Humanities, Cultural Sciences, Law etc.). Your undergraduate degree has to be equal to a Bachelor's degree with at least 180 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) points.
Work Experience
All applicants must prove at least one year of full-time professional work experience after their first degree in a field relevant to social work and human rights. The type, scope, length, differentiation, and relevance of the work experience are included in the evaluation. Relevant work experience is defined as qualified work experience with non-governmental and governmental organizations as well as private institutions are recognized, as long as they are related to one of the fields of social work as a human rights profession.
Additionally, a written reflection on relevant professional practice experience has to be submitted.
Further
All applicants must present a motivation letter stating reasons about the motivation to study, the expectations, professional and/or academic visions for the future by the applicant; a curriculum vitae (CV) in English; two recommendation letters from past/current employers and/or academic references and show English language competency. Additionally, students should submit a proof of financial ability.
Application process
For the academic year 2024/2025 the application period starts on October 15, 2023 and will end on March 1, 2024. If you submit your documents until February 1st, you'll receive a feedback on the completeness of your documents before the deadline.
We will moreover need you to send us the following documents as a digital copy in a single PDF file to our e-mail address.
Visa candidates should note that processing a student visa application at the German authorities and embassies usually takes three months or longer.
Please see the information on the application process here.
First step
Please fill out the online application form (available only during the application period).
Second step
Please submit the following documents (in the below mentioned order and as one single pdf!) via e-mail to: swhr(at)ash-berlin.eu
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
| 1) Letter of Motivation | English, two pages, 12 pt font size, 1.5 line spacing, stating reasons about the motivation to study, the expectations, professional and/or academic visions for the future by the applicant. The letter seeks to explore the various life experiences that have shaped your journey and how these experiences have influenced your decision to pursue this specific master's program. It's an opportunity to connect the dots between your personal history and your aspirations in a way that demonstrates your unique fit for the program. |
| 2) Curriculum Vitae | Please state your experience in a month/year-format in your CV and the amount of hours per week worked (or in case of trainings the exact timeframe, e.g. if it was a two-day course or a whole month full-time) in English |
| 3) Certificates and Academic Records | Undergraduate degree and transcript of academic records (to be validated upon arrival! Do NOT include high school or secondary school certificates.) In case of multiple university degrees, please submit all your transcripts and certificates. |
| 4) Two Letters of Evaluation | Recommendations from past or current employers and/or academic references (not older than one year at day of application), signed and stamped. |
| 5) Work Certificates | Attestation of at least 12 months of full-time qualified work experience in a field relevant to social work and human rights after your first degree (One year of full-time work experience is the minimum requirement, but only the attested experience can count for the overall ranking.) The type, scope, length, differentiation, and relevance of the work experience are included in the evaluation; either in English or German translation. Please submit a proof for all your work experience/volunteering experience, training courses, etc. stated in the CV. |
| 6) Reflection Paper of Work Experience | Additionally, a written reflection (1-2 pages) on relevant professional practice experience has to be submitted. Please focus only on your qualified work experience gained after your first degree. Please note that this is different from the Letter of Motivation. You should focus on providing insights into the experiences you've gained from your work and articulate why these experiences are relevant to the master's program. |
| 7) English Language Proficiency | The English language certificates should not be older than two years and shall indicate a high score. The following official language certificates are being accepted (TOEFL = 90, IELTS Academic = 6.5, CAE = Grade B or duolingo English test = 112). Attestation of language of conduct in English in your undergraduate degree can also be valid for the language certificate. |
| 8) Proof of financial ability | Statement of financial support, scholarship letter, or bank statements that prove liquidity |
Here you can find some tips on how to avoid the most common mistakes in your application!
Formal Guidelines
We only accept digital copies. Please send your documents as one single PDF file.
Your documents (certificates, academic transcript of records, grading) have to be submitted in their original language, together with a certified translated copy in German or English.
Please make sure to state the period of your occupation(s) (start and end dates) and workload (part-time/full-time job) in your CV, your letters of recommendation as well as all your work cerficates.
Please note that official documents are only valid in Germany if they contain official stamps and letterheads. If your former employer does not use stemps for verifying documents, please have the respective documents sent to us directly by your employer.
Selection Criteria
The Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences welcomes students from all over the world. Students are selected regardless of sexual identity, gender, age, ethnicity, religion, (non-)disability or national origin. All applications for admission to the M.A. program are evaluated by the Admission Committee based on academic excellence, professional experience, and personal perseverance. Please note that without the one year of work experience after the first degree, definitely no admission can be granted! The application will only be considered if the application has been submitted before the respective deadlines and contains all documents stated above. For more details, please have a look at our FAQ.
Fees and Finances
We have to make sure that you can afford your studies and life at ASH. This is why we ask all our applicants for a sufficient proof of financial ability. We highly encourage and support all candidates to apply for scholarships.
Tuition Fees
The Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences has a commitment to offer its students high quality courses at a fair price. As a non-consecutive Master's program students are currently required to pay tuition and registration fees. These non-profitmaking fees are charged to cover both classroom teaching as well as self-paced and online studies.
In total, our full program costs 9,470 EUR including tuition fees and administration fee. The tuition fee for full-time degree students is 2,640 EUR for each of the first three semesters, the fourth and last semester is dedicated to the master thesis and the human rights praxis project and costs 1,250 EUR. An administrative fee of 300 EUR (which covers admission and registration) is to be paid upon accepting the place of study. For further information on how the fees are composed, please have a look at our FAQ.
Living Costs
Though life in Berlin is considered to be affordable compared to other European metropoles, we advise to expect to spend at least 900 EUR/month on average for accommodation, food, health insurance, daily life expenses etc.
Germany's Foreigner’s Registration Authorities expect visiting students to have around 992,00 EUR per month (11,904 EUR/year) to cover the cost of living. Depending on your nationality, the full amount for the duration of your stay in Germany must be deposited in a separate blocked bank account BEFORE a visa can be issued!
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Supporting Documents
Proof of Financial Ability
To prove your financial ability, please send us:
- a statement of financial support and a confidential bank statement from yourself, a relative or personal sponsor (voucher guarantee) proving sufficient funds to support your studies at the Alice Salomon University and life in Berlin, OR
- a sponsorship letter from a government agency, organization, institution or school etc.
Please click here for further general information about proving your financial funds.
Formal Guidelines
- If your country neither uses EURO nor US Dollar, please ensure that you also submit the value of your funds in either currency or the rate of exchange at the time of submitting the form. You can use the following currency converter.
- In case of sending a voucher guarantee, please make sure that both, the letter of guarantee and the bank statements are verified by respective legal authorities, i.e. signed by the respective account owner.
- Your bank statements should be from the last 6 months.
Practical Experience
Applicants must prove a minimum of one year (12 months) full-time professional work experience after their first degree related to the fields of social work and human rights.
Professional experiences may be a full-time job, self-paced full-time project (with a sufficient documentation and portfolio), trainee-ship, internship, etc. Splitting practical experience to more than one single occupation or employer is also eligible. The type, scope, length, differentiation, and relevance of the work experience are included in the evaluation. Relevant work experience is defined as qualified work experience with non-governmental and governmental organizations as well as private institutions are recognized, as long as they are related to one of the fields of social work as a human rights profession.
Your work experience should be presented as a attestation by your employer. Most importantly, it has to include the name of the organization/employer, your supervisor, a differentiated job description with your performed work tasks, the duration of your placement (including the exact start and end date). All work certificates have to be stamped and signed by your supervisor or HR department by completion.
English Language Proficiency
The language of instruction is English. All applicants must demonstrate a sufficient level of proficiency in English language before being admitted to the Master program; unless one is a native or holds an undergraduate degree in English. The English language certificates should not be older than two years and shall indicate a high score. ONE of the following tests is considered to be sufficient proof:
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
Test result (from the internet-based test, iBT) should be 90 points or better.
Cambridge Advanced Certificate (CAE)
Test result should be 'GRADE B' or better.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
Test result should be 6.5 or better.
Duolingo English Test
The result should be 112 or better.
For Further Questions
For Further Questions:
Please check out our FAQ section where we answered all questions concerning the program, application process, and campus life in Germany. However, do not hesitate to contact us for any further questions via email: swhr(at)ash-berlin.eu
We are looking forward to hearing from you!