How to apply
Apply and start your studies
Application Period
Please note the upcoming application periods for our Master’s program in International Business and Management. Applicants are required to apply based on their educational background and nationality:
- Non-EU applicants with foreign degree apply via uni-assist from Februar 1 to April 1, Short guide to the uni-assist application
- EU applicants with foreign degree apply via uni-assist from May 1 to July 15 - It is recommended to submit your application in June to ensure that uni-assist forwards it on time.
- All applicants with German degree apply via the Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences application portal from May 1 to July 15
The Orientation Days for the Master’s in International Business and Management are scheduled for September 17–18, 2026. Attendance on both days is mandatory.
Admission requirements
The master´s program is a consecutive program, which builds up directly on the Business and Management know-how gained in your previous studies. Therefore, your bachelor´s program should have at least 80% of subjects related to Business Administration, Management and/or Economics in order to fulfill the admission requirements. For the conversion of foreign degrees, Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences generally applies the Modified Bavarian Formula.
If you have not yet completed your bachelor´s studies at the application deadline (April 1st or July 15th respectively), you can still apply for our program. However, you need to have completed at least 80% of the necessary credits of your bachelor´s program at the time of your application. In this case, please make sure your application includes
- an official and current transcript of records showing all your completed courses, including grades
- the total number of credits of your bachelor´s program and the percentage of credits / courses you have completed at the time of your application
- your current, preliminary average grade. This grade will be used for evaluating your application during the selection process, no matter if your final grade later differs from the preliminary grade.
Please note: It is strongly recommended to complete all courses including the bachelor thesis by the beginning of the first semester in the master´s program.
Proof of English Language Proficiency (C1)
Applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency at C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Proof can be provided by submitting a recognised language certificate or passing a written language proficiency test. The following table lists examples of accepted language tests and their minimum required scores. Other equivalent forms of proof may also be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Please note: A Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate confirming that your previous degree program was taught in English is not sufficient on its own to demonstrate English language proficiency at C1 level.
| Language Test | Minimum Score / Grade |
|---|---|
| TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language (internet-based) | 95 |
| TOEIC – Test of English for International Communication | 945 |
| IELTS - International English Language Testing System | Grade 7.0 |
| CPE – Cambridge Proficiency | Grade C |
| CAE – Cambridge Advanced | Grade B/C |
| BEC 3 – Business English Certificate | Grade A/B |
For international students, basic German language skills help with everyday life on and off campus and contribute to academic success. Therefore, German language proficiency is part of our admission requirements.
Applicants who neither hold a German higher education entrance qualification nor obtained their Bachelor’s degree from a German higher education institution must also demonstrate German language proficiency at a minimum level of A1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) by 31 August.
Proof must be provided by submitting a language certificate or passing a written language proficiency test. If proof is not submitted by the deadline, the admission offer will become invalid.
Application & Admission Procedure
Please note that only complete online applications will be considered in the selection process. Below is a checklist to help you ensure that you have all the required documents:
| Documents | To-Do |
|---|---|
| 1. Application Form | Please complete your online application form at uni-assist portal (for foreign degrees) or at our university portal (for German degrees). |
| 2. Cover Sheet | Please use this form as a cover sheet for your application |
| 3. Passport/ ID | Copy of your passport |
| 4. Curriculum Vitae |
|
| 5. English language certificate(s) | Please refer to our admission requirements at Language requirements English and German |
| 6. German language certificate(s) | Please refer to our admission requirements at Language requirements English and German |
| 7. Proof of your higher education |
|
| 8. Relevant admission document |
|
Application via uni-assist
- All documents must be uploaded individually as separate PDF files.
- Maximum size per file: 10 MB.
- Upload documents in the specified order (refer to the "Checklist Application Documents").
- Upload certified copies of your secondary school leaving diploma, Bachelor Diploma, and university transcripts in their original language, accompanied by a certified translation in German or English.
- Note: Previously uploaded documents cannot be deleted. For updates, upload a newer version; the latest version will be considered.
Direct application via Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences application portal
- Combine all documents into a single PDF file (no ZIP files).
- Name the file as "lastname_firstname".
- Keep the file size under 50 MB.
50% of the available study places are reserved for international applicants from non-EU countries with foreign degrees. Applications will be assessed on the basis of the submission of all required documents in accordance with the specific application procedures.
After the application deadlines in April and July, a ranking list is drawn up based on the points system described in the Regulations Governing Admission to the Master’s program in International Business and Management. The total score is calculated from the sum of the points for each criterion, and the available study places are allocated starting with the highest score and in descending order.
The ranking is based on the following criteria:
- The final grade of the Bachelor's degree or an equivalent qualification
- If the applicant has not yet completed their degree at the time of application but has earned at least 80% of the required credit points, the average grade of the exams taken will be used for ranking in the selection process, regardless of the final grade.
- International experience related to the degree program
- Relevant vocational education and training
- Relevant professional experience
- Internships
- Merit-based and subject-specific scholarships
- Voluntary work
Please note: Proof is required for each criterion. Without evidence, points for the activities listed in the CV will not be considered in the preliminary ranking points scheme.
Please be aware that admission or rejection notices will be uploaded to the application inbox in PDF format in May for Non-EU applicants and end of July or beginning of August for EU applicants. If you are admitted, you will be required to present your original or certified documents. * Your application documents will be kept for a maximum period of 18 months and deleted afterwards from our system.
Uni-assist is the "university application service for international students".
Applicants who have completed their university studies abroad submit their application here. Uni-assist checks whether the academic admission requirements for Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences have been met. However, the decision of whether to admit the prospective student is not made by uni-assist, but by Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences. Uni-assist does not provide information about studying at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences or about the admission requirements. Uni-assist charges a processing fee for the inspection of application documents and will only begin processing your application once the fee has been paid and all your documents have been submitted to uni-assist. Please use the application form provided by uni-assist for your application.