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FAQs

What are the criteria for getting admission?

First of all, you need a complete application. Please check the website carefully for the documents to be submitted. If your application is not complete it will not be processed and transferred to the physics department.

The decision is based on your grades and a very good motivation letter. If you have an excellent or very good average grade (calculated by Uni-Assist from a document which you supply) it is likely that you will get admission. If your grades are good and you have a very good to good motivation letter you may get admission as well. If your grade is in between good and fair it is not for sure that you get admission. In addition, you may have to go through a telephone interview.

To learn details, please check the appendix 4 (page 24 and the following) of the English translation of the examination regulations. Note that the English version of the text provides a good translation but only the German „Prüfungsordnung“ is the legally binding document.
What are my chances of getting admission?

The decision if you will get admission will be made on the basis of your specialization, your grades, and your motivation letter.

We are looking for students with a good physics background (note that the properties of functional materials are based on the laws of physics). Hence, we clearly prefer physicists, chemists, and electrical engineers. Mechanical engineers and students holding an engineering degree in another field may also get admission.

Some weight is put on your grades. The grading system differs from country to country. Often grades are given as "A", "B", "C" and so on. Yet, these grades are also translated into a number. On the basis of these numbers or points, your grades are transferred into the German grade system. In the German grade system 1.0 is "very good", 2.0 is "good", 3.0 is "fair" and so on. The worst grade, which means "fail", is 6.0.

Here is how the translation works.
Take the three numbers: the highest possible score (HPS), e.g. an "AA" could correspond to 10.0 points (note that this is just an example - at your university, an "AA" or "A+" could correspond to 4.0 points or any other value),the lowest possible score (LPS), which you can achieve without failing, and which could be "DD" corresponding to 4.0 points,your average score (AS) which could be 8.31 in our example.

Then the German grade (GG) is calculated using the following formula:
GG=1 + 3 * ((HPS-AS)/(HPS-LPS))

In our example, GGis 1.84. If your German grade is between 1.0 and 1.6 your chances of getting admission are good. If your grades are between 1.7 and 2.2 your chances are below 50%. With grades between 2.3 and 2.4 admission is still possible in exceptional cases but your chances are poor. If your grade is worse than 2.4 you will not get the admission.
What is an APS Certificate?

The APS (Akademische Prüfstelle / Academic Evaluation Center) is a joint institution of the German Embassy and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). It exists in China, Vietnam and India. The APS checks the authenticity of educational biographies and the corresponding educational certificates, and issues certificates if the result is positive. For these countries, the APS certificate is a requirement for applying to a German university.
Please find here information by
uni-asisst
the Academic Evaluation Center New Delhi
Philipps-University Marburg
How do I apply for the Functional Materials Master Course in Marburg?

Every application has to be submitted via uni-assist. You cannot apply directly to Marburg University.
All information about how to apply is on our website. Just follow the procedure: How to apply?
Do I have to pay any application processing fee to uni-assist for the Functional Materials Master Course?

Uni-assist e.V. charges 75 Euros for the first application and 30 Euros for any further application (e.g. if you apply for one or two additional master courses).
Is my background knowledge sufficient for a successful study of Functional Materials?

To find this out you are encouraged to do a self-test.
Check on your results in the solutions.
Do I need a certificate that proves my English skills in any case?

Of course, you do not need an English test if you are a native speaker; i.e. if you were born or grew up in one to these countries: USA, England, Australia, Ireland, English speaking part of Canada, New Zealand. Furthermore, you do not need a language test if you obtained your Bachelor's degree from a university where teaching is in English. This applies, for example, for most universities in India or Pakistan.

In any case, you need to state this. Please download this form, complete it, sign it and submit it instead of a language certificate.
How long does it take until my application is processed?

You need to submit your application through uni-assist (check here to learn how to do this). Uni-assist will then translate your grades into our German grade system. This leads to an average grade which is crucial for the decision whether or not you get admission. To process your application uni-assist will need about 4 weeks. In a next step your application is forwarded to our department and a decision will be taken within a few days. In some cases, a decision might take up to two weeks' time. The results are transmitted to the university's masters department which will send the letter of acceptance via email and also via postal mail.
How do I apply via Uni-Assist e.V.?

Please find the information in the following the instructions on:
uni-assist: https://www.uni-assist.de/en/how-to-apply/
and
Philipps-University. https://www.uni-marburg.de/en/studying/admissions/application-process/mastersapplication
The upload function allows you to hand in the required documents in advance to your online application. We will only process applications that are filled in completely and received within the deadline.
How do I get notified about the status of my application?

If you are accepted into the Master’s Program of Functional Materials, you will receive a letter of admission. Once you have received the letter of admission, you must enroll. All the necessary steps are listed on the letter of admission.
Please note that for enrollment, a certified copy of the previously uploaded transcript documents must be submitted to the Master's Office together with the documents for enrollment. Please send them to the following adress:

Masterbüro
Referat III A5
Biegenstr. 10
35032 Marburg
Germany

Once you are enrolled, you will receive a student ID number and a student account in the form of an email address. You will need to activate this email address here.
In these websites you will find a study schedule and a module handbook (list of modules). You can find out which courses are available and which ones you have to take. Not all courses are offered every Semester, as you can check here.
Lastly, you have to register online through Marvin, our university portal, for the courses you want to take. To do this, you log in to Marvin with your student account, look for the appropriate course in the course catalog and register.
Is there a stipend or any other financial support?

No, there is no stipend or any other financial support. But keep in mind that you do not have to pay a tuition fee. However, every semester there is a fee called 'Semesterbeitrag' which includes a small processing fee and the 'Semesterticket' - a ticket for the use of busses and trains in Marburg and for a large radius around Marburg. Apart from that you have to cover only your living costs. Check this Welcome brochure and our website for more information on living costs.
How do I prepare for my trip to Marburg?

The University's Welcome Center will answer the incoming students' questions regarding health insurance, bank account, visa, living in Marburg in general. Please register for the service here.

Send an email: welcome@uni-marburg.de

Welcome Centre
Philipps-Universität Marburg
Deutschhausstr. 11+13, 35037 Marburg
Tel.: +49-6421 28-24954
Fax: +49-6421 28-28998
Is it difficult to find a room in Marburg?

It is for sure not easy - in particular around August to November when new students arrive for the start of the winter semester. We can offer assistance. Yet, we will do so only after it is for sure that you will start in Marburg.

Every semester we have got a limited number of furnished rooms in the students’ facilities available for the new functional materials students. We cannot guarantee to provide a room for every new student as the allocation depends on the number of requests.
Furthermore please note that it is possible to rent a room only for a limited period (for approx. 10 months). Due to reasons of fairness and long waiting lists, you will have to move out after that or apply regularly for another room in the student dorms.
If you are interested in a room, please send a scan of your visa and flight ticket as soon as possible after the reception of your letter of acceptance to fm@physik.uni-marburg.de.
What is the latest date for enrollment

Please find information on enrollment dates here:
https://www.uni-marburg.de/de/studium/studienorganisation/semestertermine

You have got the possibility to enroll
a. in Marburg until Friday afternoon before the start of the courses.
b. from abroad by sending the following documents via postal mail until September, 30^th, for the winter semester or March, 31^st, for the summer semester to

Philipps- Universität Marburg
Besondere Auswahl- und Zulassungsverfahren
35037 Marburg
Germany

1. A copy of your letter of acceptance
2. A signed version of the "Antrag auf Immatrikulation" ("enrollment request"; you will receive information with your admission documents).
3. A Certificate of the academic degree which entitles you to be admitted to the course of studies of the respective Master's program (certified copy). This document should be sent only if it was not included in your application via uni-assist.
4. Proof of payment of semester contribution. Please transfer the semester contribution (the amount see later in our homepage) to the following account:
     Recipient Philipps-Universität Marburg
     IBAN: DE31 5005 0000 0001 0065 92
     SWIFT-BIC: HELADEFFXXX
     Bank: Landesbank Hessen Thüringen

Please list your surname, first name, date of birth, and the application number in reference for your payment.

5. Certification of German health insurance coverage. This is a form from the health insurance company. If you are insured through a private health insurance scheme, please submit a release from the compulsory health insurance issued by a compulsory health insurer. The certification is not required if you are already enrolled at Philipps-Universität Marburg and have certified your membership in a health insurance program.
Can I arrive after the start of the courses?

It is not advisable to come to Marburg after the start of the semester as you miss the first weeks of the courses, which you might have to repeat as a consequence. Anyway, the latest acceptable date of arrival would be two weeks after the start of the lessons, i.e. the end of April for each summer semester and the end of October for each winter semester.
Is there an application deadline for each semester?

The summer term (Sommersemester) application period begins: October, 1^st , and ends on Januar, 15^th, i.e. you have to conclude the online application process on your side till this date.

The winter term (Wintersemester) application period begins: April, 1^st.

https://www.uni-marburg.de/en/fb13/academics/degree-programs/msc-fm/how-to-apply/application-dates-and-deadlines

The official deadline notification site of Phillips-University Marburg is: https://www.uni-marburg.de/en/studying/admissions/general-information/deadlines
If I have not completed my bachelor's degree?

If no graduation certificate with a final overall GPA has been submitted by the application deadline, conditional matriculation is still possible. When submitting proof of progress toward a bachelor’s degree requiring 180 credits, the applicant must demonstrate successful completion of at least 80% of the required credits from module examinations or partial module examinations required for the attainment of the bachelor’s degree. The transcript must include a grade point average that was calculated on the basis of the graded module examinations and partial module examinations that comprise 80% of the required credits for the bachelor’s degree. Matriculation is subject to the successful completion of all coursework and examinations in the bachelor's degree program prior to commencement of the master's degree program. The deadline is 31^st March for the commencement of the master's program in the spring semester and 30^th September for the commencement of the master's program in the winter semester. Students must submit proof of the obtainment of the graduation certificate by the end of the lecture period of the first semester of study.

https://www.uni-marburg.de/en/fb13/academics/degree-programs/msc-fm/how-to-apply/admission-requirements