What is the PreMaster?
The PreMaster at the Karls is a two-semester part-time preparatory course in English, which is offered every winter semester. In the PreMaster’s program, you will take various modules to acquire the relevant basics in the areas of business management, economics, scientific work and other subject areas that you need to be well prepared and successful in our Master’s programs, which also start every year in the winter semester.
The PreMaster can be carried out in two models:
You complete the PreMaster before the respective Master’s program – then your standard period of study is 3 years (1 year PreMaster + 2 years M.A.)
You complete the PreMaster parallel to the 1st year of the respective Master’s program – then your standard period of study is 2 years (1st year). Year: PreMaster and semesters 1 & 2 of the M.A., 2nd year: semesters 3 & 4 of the M.A.).
Once you have successfully completed the PreMaster, you will receive an official PreMaster certificate and a corresponding Transcript of Records. This means: on the one hand, the PreMaster may be a means to help you meet the necessary formal requirements for admission to the Master’s program at the Karls. On the other hand, it offers you a lot more.
The PreMaster starts in the winter semester.
PreMaster Program Management
Prof. Dr. Wendelin Küpers
PreMaster – Everything at a glance
Application deadline
EU: September 1, non-EU: July 15
Start of studies
Winter semester
Duration of study
2 semesters
Tuition fee
395 € / month
ECTS points
30
Teaching language
English
Practice
Company projects, practical semester and semester abroad
Lectures
Mondays to Fridays (and block seminars)
Who is the PreMaster for?
The PreMaster is for all those who would like to study the Master in Management or Master in Social TransFormation – Politics, Philosophy & Economics at the Karls and
- have not achieved the required 30 ECTS in management, business or economics (applies to the Master’s in Management) or in political and social sciences, economics, philosophy or related fields (applies to the Master’s in Social Transformation) in their Bachelor’s degree (in this case, participation is an admission requirement), and/or
- have achieved sufficient ECTS in these fields during their Bachelor’s degree, but would like to refresh their memory before starting their Master’s degree, and/or
- want to familiarize themselves with the way of teaching and learning at the Karls ahead of time to ensure a smooth transition to the Master’s degree, and/or
- arrive in Karlsruhe early, build up a social environment, perhaps even have a job to accompany their studies and make friends at the Karls.
This program provides a unique opportunity to refresh my knowledge and get familiar with the Karls early on. The positive experiences I’ve made in the PreMaster confirm my decision to do my Master’s here 100%!
Elena Schmidt, BBA (Germany), voluntary PreMaster
PreMaster admission requirements
Your admission to the PreMaster is only possible in combination with admission to our Master’s degree programs Master in Management or Master in Social TransFormation – Politics, Philosophy & Economics. You can find all relevant information here.
In the online application you will find a box to click on to let us know that you are also interested in the PreMaster.
If you are not sure whether the PreMaster is a mandatory requirement for admission to the Master’s degree program, don’t worry! In this case, we will automatically contact you as soon as we have reviewed your application.
Application deadline for the PreMaster:
- Are you from an EU country?
Then the application deadline for you is September 1. - Are you from outside the EU but already have an existing visa for Germany?
Then the application deadline for you is July 15 (after that only by individual arrangement). - Are you from outside the EU and do not yet have an existing visa for Germany?
Then the application deadline for you is July 15* (thereafter depending on the visa process in your home country).
To ensure a relaxed application process, we recommend that you apply as early as possible, as the number of study places is limited.
Please note: You can find relevant information about the Master’s degree here.
*Exceptions may be made for applicants from countries that do not require a short-term visa for Germany:
Albania, Andorra, Australia, Brazil, Canada, El Salvador, Honduras, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, San Marino, Switzerland, USA, etc.
Please contact our Student Admissions Service in your specific case.
The PreMaster, to me, means the chance to explore a field and a diversity I would otherwise not have been able to explore. It makes me appreciate and enjoy the challenge of studying abroad even more. This has definitely been the right choice for me.
Silvia Vásquez, Bachelor in Law (Colombia), PreMaster
Fees
The payment of fees for the PreMaster depends on your chosen model:
- Upstream model (standard period of study: 3 years): € 395 per month in the PreMaster, then € 790 per month in the M.A.
- Parallel model (standard period of study: 2 years): € 1,185 per month in the first year of study (€ 395 PreMaster + € 790 M.A.), and € 790 per month in the second year of study.
This results in total costs of €23,700 for both variants.
In addition, all students pay a contribution of currently €67.70 per semester to the Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe.
For more information on funding and scholarships, we recommend our page on student funding and the corresponding search on the DAAD website.
