Application for the Master's Program

Thank you for your interest in studying a master's program at Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI). The application for a master's program takes place in the first step via the University of Potsdam. An overview of the required documents and the steps to be completed can be found on the page below.

1. Online Application

The application for our master degree programs is done via the University of Potsdam's application portal.

Your application materials will be reviewed preliminarily by uni-assist e.V. and then forwarded for the next stages – the application review and the admissions processes – to the relevant Examining Boards at the University of Potsdam. The University of Potsdam is responsible for conducting the admissions procedure.

Application for an advanced semester of study

If you are or have already been enrolled in the same or a similar master's degree program at the HPI, the University of Potsdam or another degree-granting institution, then you must first submit an Application for Recognition of Previous Academic Credentials to the relevant examining board. If you are placed in the first semester, then apply as described above through uni-assist e.V.

International Applicants

All information about the application process and required documents for international applicants can be found here.

Application Deadlines

Summer semester: December 1
Winter semester: June 1

Application via uni-assist e.V.

Please note:

The application for a master's degree is only possible within the application deadlines!
The application deadlines are limitation periods and mandatory. Your application must be received by uni-assist in the required form by the application deadline. The date and and timestamp of submission of your online application form is determinative.
After the deadline has passed, it is no longer possible to submit an application or to submit additional documents.

2. General Application Materials

When you apply for a first semester, the following documents must be submitted as pdf or scan via your online application form or via your personal documents folder of your uni-assist account:

Graduation certificate from your first degree: a pdf or scan (it does not need to be notarized) of your German- or English-language graduation certificate from your first degree (e.g. Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Diplom, Magister).

Even if documentation of your first professional qualification is not yet available by the admission application deadline, you can still apply for admission. At the time of application, we require at least credit point information with a transcript of records and proof of the average grades attained up to this point in time. On the website of the University of Potsdam you can check how many credit points have to be acquired at least.

If your graduation or preliminary certificate is in a language other than German or English, then you must submit a German or English translation certified by a sworn translator, along with a simple copy of this document.
a pdf or scan of the diploma supplement or other relevant documentation from your university regarding all coursework completed for your first professional degree.
You may also submit the module manual or the study and examination regulations of your degree program to evidence your qualification. If this coursework was completed at an institution of higher education other than the University of Potsdam, then this proof must include information regarding the credit points, form, content, and the examination modalities.
If applicable, a placement notification for the first semester.

Attention: Important information for the winter semester 22/23

You must upload the online application and your application documents to the uni-assist e.V. application portal. You submit your online application by submitting your online application form electronically to uni-assist. No documents need to be submitted to uni-assist e.V. by mail. Please do not send application documents by mail or e-mail directly to the University of Potsdam.

3. Additional Documents for the Individual Degree Programs

Please refer to the overview below to find out which additional documents you need to upload for your chosen degree program in the application portal of uni-assist e.V.

Master Cybersecurity

Master Data Engineering

Master Digital Health

Admission information:

(1) Current or last certificate of university enrollment, or a copy of an exmatriculation certificate from a German institution of higher education, if you were enrolled in a program after acquiring the degree on which your application for the master' program is based

(2) Documentation of citizenship (e.g., a copy of your passport)

(3) Proof of knowledge in Data Science, Machine Learning, Statistical concepts and models or empirical research processes in an amount of at least 12 LP

(4) Proof of programming skills in R, Python, Matlab, C++, Java, or other appropriate programming languages

(5) Proof of English language skills that correspond at least to the C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

The master's degree program Digital Health recognizes the following certificates:

UNIcert® III or IV certificate,
TOEFL® Internet-Based Test (iBT) or TOEFL iBT Home Edition with at least 95 points,
Cambridge English C1 Advanced (CAE) with at least 180 points,
IELTS “Academic” with at least 7 points in every test component,
degree certificate for the completion of an English-language degree program at a rec-ognized institution of higher education,
certificate of the higher education entrance qualification obtained for an English-language course of education in a country that has English as an official language,
Pearson Test of English - PTE Academic with at least 76 points,
For Chinese students: College English Test (CET): CET-6, at least 550 points
Cambridge English C2 Proficiency (CPE) with at least grade C.

Applicants who want to submit proof of English langauge proficiency on the level C1 (CEFR) not explicitly listed above are welcome to do so but need to submit a written application of recognition along with their English language proficiency document. The written application of recognition can be a regular letter of intent containing details on why an applicant believes their document meets the degree program's language proficiency requirement. The Board of Examination decides on proof of the suitability of equivalency in individual cases.

(6) Discipline-specific test

(7) Curriculum vitae

(8) Proof of additional qualifications earned outside of higher education, such as internships completed domestically and abroad; vocational training or activities

(9) Proof of special recognition of professional qualifications, for example, in the form of prizes or awards

(10) A written application for immediate admission in the context of the hardship quota (hardship application) and documentation required to substantiate such an application, if applicable

(11) Documentation of an earlier offer of admission or proof of period service, if applicable

(12) Documentation of qualification for the Brandenburg quota (Profilquote), if applicable

(13) A written application to upgrade your waiting period, as well as documentation required to substantiate such an application, if applicable

(14) A written application to upgrade your average grade, as well as documentation to substantiate such an application, if applicable

(15) Documentation regarding ongoing or completed asylum proceedings, if applicable

(16) Documentation of qualification for the Brandenburg quota (Profilquote), if applicable

Information about the content and structure of this Master's degree program can be found here.

Master IT Systems Engineering

Master Software Systems Engineering

Admission information:

(1) Current or last certificate of university enrollment, or a copy of an ex-matriculation certificate from a German institution university if you were enrolled in a program after acquiring the degree on which your application for the master' program is based.

(2) Documentation of your citizenship (e.g., a copy of your passport)

(3) Proof of knowledge of algorithms and data structures or theoretical computer science totaling at least 18 credit points ("LP").

(4) Proof of knowledge of software development and programming languages totaling at least 18 LP.

(5) Proof of mathematical knowledge in discrete structures and logic, analysis and linear algebra or stochastics totaling at least 18 LP, comparable to the corresponding compulsory modules of the Bachelor's degree program "IT Systems Engineering."

(6) Proof of English language skills that correspond at least to the C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

The master's degree program Software Systems Engineering recognizes the following certificates:

UNIcert® III or IV certificate,
TOEFL® Internet-Based Test (iBT) or TOEFL iBT Home Edition with at least 95 points,
Cambridge English C1 Advanced (CAE) with at least 180 points,
IELTS “Academic” with at least 7 points in every test component,
degree certificate for the completion of an English-language degree program at a rec-ognized university,
certificate of the university entrance qualification obtained for an English-language course of education in a country that has English as an official language,
Pearson Test of English - PTE Academic with at least 76 points,
Cambridge English C2 Proficiency (CPE).

Prospective students can apply for the recognition of further language proficiency certificates as part of their application. The Examining Board can recognize these if they correspond to at least level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Proof is required of comprehensiveand situation-oriented communication skills that meet the language standard of an academic stay and study abroad in a foreign country where English is the target language.

(7) If available, proof of additional qualifications earned outside of higher education, such as internships completed domestically and abroad; vocational training or activities

(8) If available, proof of special recognition of professional qualifications, for example, in the form of prizes or awards

(9) Letter of motivation and curriculum vitae

(10) If available, for the group of foreign nationals or stateless persons, evidence of scholarships or evidence of any special, institutionally linked research activity.

(11) Proof of a previous admission claim and proof of service if applicable.

(12) A written application to upgrade the waiting period, as well as documentation required to substantiate such an application if applicable

(13) A written application to upgrade the average grade, as well as documentation to substantiate such an application if applicable

(14) Documentation regarding ongoing or completed asylum proceedings if applicable

(15) Documentation of qualification for the Brandenburg quota ("Profilquote") if applicable

(16) A written application for immediate admission in the context of the hardship quota (hardship application) and documentation required to substantiate such an application if applicable.

Information about the content and structure of this Master's degree program can be found here.

4. Admission

An admissions commission reviews the in a complete and timely manner submitted applications and come to a decision.

To the best applicants HPI offers each year a total of:

30 places for the Master's program Cybersecurity
30 places for the Master's program Data Engineering
30 places for the Master's program Digital Health
40 places for the Master's program IT Systems Engineering
25 places for the Master's program Software Systems Engineering

Helpful Materials

General Regulations

General study regulations for the Bachelor’s /Master’s program at the University of Potsdam

Entry and Admissions Regulations

Subject-specific entry and admission regulations for the Master's program Cybersecurity (German only)
Subject-specific entry and admission regulations for the Master's program Data Engineering (German only)
Subject-specific entry and admission regulations for the Master's program Digital Health
Subject-specific entry and admission regulations for the Master's program IT Systems Engineering (German only)
Subject-specific entry and admission regulations for the Master's program Software Systems Engineering

For the deadlines for admission, only § 6 para. 3 of the General Admission Regulations applies.

Study Regulations

Subject-specific study regulations for the Master's program Cybersecurity (German only)
Subject-specific study regulations for the Master's program Data Engineering (German only)
Subject-specific study regulations for the Master's program Digital Health
Subject-specific study regulations for the Master's program IT Systems Engineering (German only)
Subject-specific study regulations for the Master's program Software Systems Engineering

FAQs

Frequently asked questions and answers

Contact Persons

For specific questions concerning the degree programs or application requirements please contact the contact persons in charge below:

Master's program Cybersecurity

Prof. Dr. Christian Dörr
Tel.: +49-(0)331 5509-4950
E-Mail: studinfo-ma-cybersec(at)hpi.de

Master's program Data Engineering

Prof. Dr. Felix Naumann
Tel.: +49-(0)331 5509-280
E-Mail: felix.naumann(at)hpi.de

Master's program Digital Health

Prof. Dr. Bert Arnrich
Tel.: +49-(0)331 5509-167
E-Mail: studinfo_digitalhealth(at)hpi.de

Master's program IT Systems Engineering

Prof. Dr. Prof. Giese
Tel.: +49-(0)331 5509-4808
E-Mail: studinfo(at)hpi.de

Master's program Software Systems Engineering

Prof. Dr. Gerard de Melo
Tel.: +49-(0)331 5509-4906
E-Mail: studinfo(at)hpi.de

Consultant for Studies and Teaching

For questions regarding the application process please contact:

Johanna Schulz
Tel.: +49 (0)331 5509-4808
E-Mail: studinfo(at)hpi.de