Philipps University of Marburg

Bachelor admission

A university entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung) is required; it does not always have to be the Abitur. Pathways include the general university entrance qualification, the Fachhochschulreife, vocational qualifications and foreign school-leaving certificates. Programmes may also set special requirements such as language skills. Programmes without a numerus clausus (NC) are enrolled directly; NC programmes (Pharmazie, Zahnmedizin and Humanmedizin with nationwide NC, and Psychologie and Humanbiologie with local NC) allocate places by selection limits.

Applicants with a foreign school certificate

Applicants first check whether their certificate gives direct or indirect access (via the anabin database or the uni-assist check tool); the university does not pre-check certificates. With a direct entitlement they apply through uni-assist (my.uni-assist.de) for both NC-free and NC programmes if they are non-German, non-EU nationals. With an indirect entitlement they attend the Studienkolleg Mittelhessen first and pass the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP), then apply again for the subject programme via uni-assist, observing the university's subject restrictions (Fachbindungen). German citizens and those treated as German applicants with a foreign certificate apply through hochschulstart (for NC programmes) and Marvin, the university portal, with a recognition notice or uni-assist assessment report. Documents are uploaded digitally; certificates not in German or English need sworn translations.

Deadlines for international undergraduate applicants

Winter semester: NC programmes 1 June to 15 July; NC-free programmes 1 June to 15 August (Bewegungs- und Sportwissenschaften B.A. and Bildende Kunst as a minor: 1 June to 15 July); Studienkolleg 1 March to 15 April. Summer semester: NC programmes 1 November to 15 January; NC-free programmes 1 November to 15 February; Studienkolleg 1 September to 15 October. For German entrance qualifications the summer semester 2027 deadline is 18 March 2027 for NC-free programmes and 15 January 2027 for NC programmes (application from 1 December 2026). The uni-assist fee is EUR 75 for the first application and EUR 30 for each further one.

German language

For most programmes the DSH (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang) is required at level DSH-1, DSH-2 or DSH-3 as set by the programme. DSH-1 equivalents include Goethe-Zertifikat B2, ÖSD B2, telc B2 and TestDaF with at least 3 points in all parts; DSH-2 equivalents include TestDaF with at least 4 points in all parts, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule, DSD II with C1 and Goethe-Zertifikat C2; DSH-3 requires TestDaF with at least two 4s and two 5s. Applicants without German can apply to NC-free programmes and receive a conditional admission, allowing up to two semesters of enrolment as a language student before the subject programme; this does not apply to NC programmes. Studienkolleg applicants with German below B2 may enrol first as language students; those with B2 or above are invited to an entrance test.

Master admission

Consecutive Master programmes require a first degree from a state-recognised institution in an accredited programme; programme pages list the specific prerequisites under 'Was du mitbringen musst', and some programmes require an aptitude assessment (Eignungsfeststellungsverfahren). Applicants without a final Bachelor certificate may apply if they have at least 80 per cent of the credits (144 of 180 ECTS or 192 of 240 ECTS). A simple copy of the Bachelor certificate is enough. Applicants with a foreign degree apply through uni-assist (EUR 75 for the first application, up to three programmes per round), and applicants with a German degree through Marvin. Foreign institutions should be recognised (status H+ in anabin). Continuing-education Master programmes generally require a first degree plus at least one year of relevant professional experience.

Master deadlines

Summer semester 2027: foreign degrees 1 November 2026 to 26 February 2027; German degrees 1 December 2026 to 26 February 2027; several programmes have earlier closing dates (for example Biochemie, Psychologie, Economics, Institutions, and Behavior and Bildende Kunst: 15 January 2027; Computer Science, Data Science and Business Informatics: 1 November to 31 December 2026 for foreign degrees). Winter semester 2026/27: foreign degrees 1 May to 21 August 2026; German degrees 1 June to 21 August 2026, with programme exceptions (for example LL.M. Grundzüge des deutschen Rechts to 15 July 2026).

Doctoral admission

A degree from the home country that entitles to doctoral study and is comparable to a German academic degree is required; the Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen (ZAB) is consulted if needed. The topic must fit the research field of a potential supervisor (Betreuer), and the Promotionsausschuss of the department decides on acceptance. Recommended documents: Bachelor and Master certificates and transcripts, curriculum vitae, a research proposal of up to ten pages including methodology, schedule and bibliography, and recommendation letters if available. Nearly a quarter of doctoral candidates come from abroad. The MARA research academy supports early-career researchers.

Enrolment documents

All enrolled students submit the entrance qualification, proof of payment of the Semesterbeitrag, an electronic notification of health insurance, and further programme-specific documents. Applications are made and enrolment is completed online in Marvin.

The university is spread across several areas of Marburg rather than a single walled campus.

• Lahntal (city centre and Lahn valley): the Alte Universität with its Aula (opened 26 June 1891), the humanities and social science departments, the Philosophical Faculty building, the law and economics libraries, the lecture hall building at Biegenstraße 14, the Mensa at Erlenring 5 and the central administration at Biegenstraße 10.
• Campus Firmanei: the new central University Library, with about 3.2 million media on roughly 18,000 square metres and a large open-access collection.
• Lahnberge: the natural science sites, the medical campus with the University Hospital (built from 1970) and the Central Medical Library, plus the Mensa Lahnberge.

The library system has 10 locations: the Central University Library, and departmental libraries for biology, German linguistic atlas, Protestant theology, classical archaeology, art and cultural studies, mathematics and computer science, law, prehistory and early history, economics, and the Central Medical Library. Study spaces include bookable work cabins, PC pools run by the computing centre, parent-and-child rooms and accessible workstations. The university also runs two botanical gardens (the New Botanical Garden covers 20 hectares), five museums and the XSpaces, creative workspaces for 3D printing, prototyping and serious gaming.