How to apply

1. Recognised Undergraduate Degree:
   • Applicants must hold a recognised undergraduate degree in Economics, Social Sciences, or a related field with at least 180 ECTS credit points.
   • The selection committee will assess the suitability of the Bachelor's degree.
   • If you have not yet completed your Bachelor studies at the application deadline, you can still apply to the Master program. However, you need to have completed at least 80% of the necessary credits of your Bachelor program at the time of your application. In this case, please make sure your application include an official and current transcript of records showing all your completed courses, including grades, the total number of Credits of your Bachelor program, 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.
      
2. English Language Proficiency:
   • Minimum B2 level as per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
   • Proof must be submitted by the application deadline.
   • Accepted tests, scores and certtificates are listed here.
   • Failure to meet this requirement will result in rejection.
      
3. German Language Proficiency:
   • Minimum A1 level is required, but proof can be submitted until August 31, 2025.
      
4. Visa Requirements for Non-EU Applicants:
   • If admission is granted, a valid visa must be submitted by August 31, 2025.
   • Otherwise, enrollment for Winter Semester 2025/26 will not be possible.

The lectures of the Master program Management in Nonprofit Organisations at University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück are taught in English language. Your language proficiency in English is therefore a crucial factor to the success of your studies and one of our admission requirements. Applicants must provide proof of English language proficiency at the B2 level by the application deadline. Accepted certificates include:

English B2 language proficiency:

• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) 6.5, 6.0, 5.5
• TOEFL ITP Level 1 (626-543)
• TOEFL iBT  (Test Of English as a Foreign Language - Internet-based Test) 4.5 - 4
• Cambridge English: First Certificate in English plus Grade B or C (FCE)
• Cambridge English: Preliminary English Test plus Result Distinction (PET)
• Cambridge English: Business Vantage (BEC Vantage)
• Cambridge English: Legal (ILEC)
• Cambridge English: Financial (ICFE)
• Pearson PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English-PTE): 75-59
• TOEIC  (Test of English for International Communication - TOEIC) Listening and Reading Test (944-785) + Speaking Test (179-160) + Writing Test (179-150)
• telc (The European Language Certificates - Telc): telc B2 Zertifikat
• UNIcert: UNIcert II
• IGCSE: IGCSE 1st Language mit mind. B2 / IGCSE 2st Language mit mind. B2

Other certifications:

• Refer to the uni-assist English Reference Framework for a comprehensive list.
• You also meet the English language entry requirements if you have completed school and/or university in a country whose official language is English. In this case, please submit the highest educational qualification achieved in this country.
• Studies completed in English are also accepted. Please provide proof of this with your transcript or with a certificate from the university regarding the language of instruction
• Applicants from Hochschule Osnabrück: Your successful attendance of the course English 4, shown on your transcript of records, is sufficient.

For international students, a basic proficiency in German is necessary for mastering daily life on and off campus more easily. This will also contribute positively to your overall study success and is therefore also part of our admission criteria. A minimum A1 level is required, but proof can be submitted until August 31, 2026

If German is not your mother tongue, your German language proficiency needs to meet the level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). A proof of basic German proficiency (min. A1 level CEFR) is mandatory and needs to be submitted within your application documents.

We do accept official test certificates from various institutions and universities. If you do not hold a certificate German A1 at the time the application period ends, but are currently taking a German language course, you can still apply. In such a case, please make sure to submit a proof that you are currently enrolled in a relevant course and please indicate when the certificate will be available. We will then be able to consider your application in the process.

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 Management in Nonprofit-Organisations. 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.

If the number of applicants exceeds the number of available places, admission is granted based on the results of the university’s internal selection procedure.

For ranking purposes, the final grade of the Bachelor degree is assessed in combination with:

• Final grade od undergraduate degree (maximum of 51 points)
• Voluntary work/involvement in nonprofit organisations (maximum of 12 points)
• Professional experience relevant to the study program (maximum of 10 points)
• Practical activities (internships) related to the study program (maximum of 6 points)
• Merit-based and subject-related scholarships (maximum of 15 points)

Important: Supporting documents must be submitted for each criterion. Without proof, items like internships or professional experience cannot be included in the points scheme for the ranking.

Points are awarded for each criterion. The point scheme is defined in Section 4 of the Entrance and Admission Regulations for the Master program in Management in Nonprofit Organizations. You can find this Regulation in english here.

Applications 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 "Application Documents" checklist).
• 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 Applications to Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences

• Submit all documents as a single PDF file (not a zip file).
• Save the file as: last name_first name.
• Maximum file size: 50 MB.

• If admission is granted, a valid visa must be submitted by August 31, 2026.
• Otherwise, enrollment for Winter Semester 2026/27 will not be possible.

Uni-assist is the "university application service for international students".

Here you find notes about the application process master management in nonprofit-organisations via uni-assist.

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.

• Regulations Governing Admission to the Master program in Management in Nonprofit-Organisations
• Study Regulations for the Master program in Management in Nonprofit-Organisations
• Program-Specific Examination Regulations for the Master program in Management in Nonprofit-Organisations