Master of Theological Studies Application Process and Requirements

There are two official application deadlines:

• March 31 for the summer semester (running from mid-April to mid-July)
• September 30 for the fall/winter semester (running from mid-October to mid-February)

Please note that processing you visa application and enrollment at the university can take several weeks. We, therefore, strongly advise to submit your application two months earlier than the official deadline, if at all possible. 

Applicants must have an undergraduate degree in theology, religious studies or a neighboring discipline with a minimum grade of 2.7 (GPA: 2.3).

Language requirements

All applicants who are NOT native speakers of English must show evidence of proficiency in the English language either by attaining a satisfactory score (a minimum 6,5.0 band score in all areas) on the International English Language Testing System (please note that we do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake) examination or by having received a degree from an accredited university or college (minimum of three full years of course work) where English is the language of instruction. 

We also accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

•  TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 162 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 65 with at least 54 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 5 in each component

Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the degree you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Oxford ELLT, or Trinity ISE test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the degree begins, regardless of your nationality.

German language skills are not a requirement.

Application documents

Please submit your application documents online via heiCO (link).

Official certification of documents is only required after admission. Please note the certification guidelines of the university (link „certification of documents“).

 

The following documents must be uploaded via the heiCO application portal (see link):

• Certificate and transcript of records of a completed B.A. in theology, religious studies or adjacent fields (with above-average success: GPA of 2.3)
• For applicants wishing to specialize in Old Testament studies /Hebrew Bible: certificate of their proficiency in Hebrew
• For applicants wishing to specialize in New Testament studies: certificate of their proficiency in Ancient Greek
• For applicants wishing to specialize in Church History and Intercultural Theology/Religious Studies: certificate of their proficiency in the relevant source languages (e.g. Latin)
• Certificate of proficiency in English: alternatively, a TOEFL test with a score of at least 90 (22 in each subtest); an IELTS test with a score of at least 7 (at least 6.5 in each subtest); a Cambridge Proficiency Test with a result of at least 185 points; a degree from an English-speaking educational institution (high school diploma or undergraduate degree)
• Declaration that you are not currently enrolled in another Master's programme and that your examination entitlement has not already expired in a comparable Master’s programme at another scientific institution

Please note that due to technical issues, applications for this programme will not be possible via heiCO until 5 June at the earliest. 

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact the program coordinator Dr. Christopher Nunn at christopher.nunn@theologie.uni-heidelberg.de.