Application Process

Admission to the master’s program Communication and society in Ibero-America at the HCIAS is access-restricted. In order for a successful application, the application requirements listed on this page must be fulfilled. The four-semester program starts in the winter term (October) only.

Application Requirements

• An above-average undergraduate degree in humanities or social sciences. As a rule, 50% of the classes (or 74 ECTS) of your undergraduate degree should correspond to subjects from the humanities or social sciences. The degree program should have a study duration of at least three years.
• Proficiency in English (C1 CEFRL)
• Proficiency in Spanish (B2 CEFRL)

Application Documents

• University degree certificates and transcript of records
• Letter of motivation
  The letter of motivation (in English or Spanish; max. 2 pages, Arial 10, line spacing 1,5) must explain the specific motivation to apply for the master’s program Communication and Society in Ibero-America referring to the applicant’s thematic and regional areas of interest. It should answer questions such as the following:
  • Why do you want to study the master's program and what interests you especially about the program?
  • What's your study background and how would you relate it to the master's program?
  • What do you expect from the master’s program?

• Proof of proficiency in English
  Applicants need proof of proficiency in English with at least level C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). The following certificates are admissible as proof of proficiency:

  • University entrance qualification or University degree from an English speaking country or an English language university degree
  • An undergraduate university degree with at least 50% of English philology (or related subjects)
  • A minimum score of 90 in the internet-based TOEFL
  • A minimum score of 7.0 in the IELTS
  • Certificate of a C1 level from the Heidelberg University’s Language Centre
  • Other certificates are possible. If you have a certificate that is not listed above, please contact us at study@hcias.uni-heidelberg.de

• Proof of proficiency in Spanish
  Applicants need proof of proficiency in Spanish with at least level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). The following certificates are admissible as proof of proficiency:

  • University entrance qualification or University degree from a Spanish speaking country or a Spanish language university degree
  • An undergraduate university degree with at least 25% of Spanish philology (or related subjects)
  • DELE from the Instituto Cervantes certifying a B2 Nivel Avanzado
  • A certificate of a B2 level from the Heidelberg University’s Language Centre
  • Other certificates are possible. If you have a certificate that is not listed above, please contact us at study@hcias.uni-heidelberg.de
• Statement about ongoing examinations
  A statement as to whether the applicant has definitively failed an examination in the master's program or in related programs with essentially the same content or whether the applicant is no longer entitled to take the examination for other reasons, or whether the applicant is in an ongoing examination procedure for such a program.
  Form Statement on Entitlement to Examination

Application Procedure

• International students

To apply for the master’s program, applicants must send the application documents in print by regular mail to the University’s International Relations Office:

Universität Heidelberg
Dezernat Internationale Beziehungen
Zulassungsstelle Masterprogramme
Seminarstraße 2
D-69117 Heidelberg

and additionally via email to the HCIAS program coordination.

Additional documents for international students required by Heidelberg University: please read the information listed under Procedure > Required documents.

After a positive evaluation of the application documents, applicants will receive a letter of admission from Heidelberg University.

• German students and international students with German qualification documents

To apply for the master’s program, applicants must send the application documents by email to the HCIAS program coordination.

After a positive evaluation of the application documents, applicants will receive an admission certificate from the HCIAS.