Admission to the MAGEA program always starts in the winter semester.

The MAGEA program is a consecutive master's program. In general, the application period runs from April 15 - May 31 of the year in which the studies are to be taken up. For the start in winter 2024/25, the application period runs from April 15 until August 15, 2024. The application deadlines for the MAGEA program are regularly announced centrally online by Freie Universität.

Graduates of German universities can apply directly via the application portal of the Freie Universität Berlin. Applicants with foreign university degrees must apply via uni-assist. Documents sent directly to the institute cannot be considered.

Please note that our program's academic advisors cannot answer inquiries concerning the formal application process via Freie Universität and/or uni-assist (e.g. necessary documents, certification). In these matters, please contact Freie Universität Berlin's admission office (info-service@fu-berlin.de).

This website provides information regarding:

• Prerequisites
• Documenting your English language proficiency
• Documenting your proficiency in a program-related language
• When and where to submit proof of language proficiency
• Frequently asked questions

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Prerequisites

To be eligible for admission to the master’s program, you need to fulfill the following requirements:

1. You must hold a first university degree (e.g. a bachelor’s degree) comprising of at least 180 credit points (ECTS). As part of this degree you have to have earned at least 30 ECTS in courses in East Asian Studies and/or Chinese, Japanese or Korean studies (excluding language training). We check your eligibility based on your transcripts of records where course titles explicitly refer to the one or more of these fields of studies. Alternatively, publicly available short descriptions of the courses or term papers written in the context of the respective courses can be submitted alongside the application.

2. You must provide proof of excellent English language skills (at least level C1 CEFR) if you have not obtained your first university degree in a program where English is the language of instruction.

3. You must provide proof of proficiency (at least level B1 CEFR or equivalent) in one of the following languages: Chinese, Japanese, Korean.

For an explanation of the admission process please visit this website on applications for master’s program at Freie Universität Berlin or refer to the detailed admission regulations in English and German (the latter is the legally binding version).

 

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Documenting your English language proficiency 

MAGEA’s language of instruction is English. We must stress that a high level of academic English proficiency is required in order to study our master's program successfully. Even if you formally fulfill the language requirements, we recommend that you reflect on your personal language proficiency. Students are expected to read and understand academic texts, to discuss and present advanced scholarly questions when attending classes and to articulate their thoughts in an academic style when submitting assignments or writing research papers and their master's thesis. 

Applicants must submit proof of academic English language proficiency on a C1 (CEFR) level together with their application. 

To document your academic English language proficiency, you can submit one of the following certificates:

A university degree with English as the primary language of instruction, as evidenced by either the designation of English as the language of instruction on the transcript or transcript supplement (please make this clear in your application materials), or a certificate from the university. University entrance qualification from an English-speaking country/English as the language of instruction language certificates by university language departments (C1 level) confirmation of completed C1 level language courses (taken at a university or a public/private language school). Recognized academic language certificates with corresponding minimum scoring: IELTS (General or Academic): overall score at least 7.0 (C1) TOEFL Internet-based iBT or iBT Special Home Edition: overall score 95 or higher, at least 25 in writing Cambridge Examinations: C2 Proficiency, C1 Advanced, B2 First (A): overall score at least 180 UNIcert® (level III or higher) PTE Academic (also online): overall score at least 76 Erasmus Language Tests (C1 level)   Language certificates that are not recognized (among others) German high school diploma/Abitur (according to the FU language department, this is only equivalent to B2 level) OPIC Other non-academic English test certificates

Other language proficiency certificates may also be recognized under certain circumstances. Please inquire in advance at global-east-asia@geschkult.fu-berlin.de to determine if this applies to you.

Please note: When applying via uni-assist, be sure to upload a document (even if your native language is English). Otherwise your application will not be forwarded to the selection committee.

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Documenting your proficiency in a program-related language

You can prove your language proficiency in Chinese, Japanese or Korean by submitting one of the following documents:

Chinese

HSK4 Certificate A university entrance qualification in Chinese ((大學) 聯考 (Taiwan), gaokao 高考 (PR China)) or a university degree with a curriculum taught in Chinese. Completion of the Advanced Module Chinese in accordance with the Study and Examination Regulations for the Bachelor's Program in Chinese Studies/East Asian Studies at Freie Universität Berlin dated September 11, 2009 (FU-Mitteilungen 41/2013, p. 961) with a minimum grade of 2.7. Completion of the basic module Chinese IV according to the Study and Examination Regulations for the Bachelor's Program in Chinese Studies/East Asian Studies at Freie Universität Berlin dated May 31, 2018 (FU-Mitteilungen 24/2018, p.484) with a minimum grade of 2.7 Proof of completion of 600 teaching hours (incl. attendance, preparation and follow-up time according to the prevailing examination regulations) in Modern Chinese Standard Language. Successful completion of a placement test at the Institute for Chinese Studies of the FU Berlin.

Japanese

JLPT N3  a university degree with a curriculum taught in Japanese Completion of the module Japanese III (modern) or Japanese III (pre-modern) according to the Study and Examination Regulations for the Bachelor's Program in Japanese Studies/East Asian Studies at Freie Universität Berlin dated July 31, 2009 (FU-Mitteilungen 49/2009) Completion of the basic module Japanese V according to the Study and Examination Regulations dated November 16, 2011 (FU-Mitteilungen 5/2012) with a minimum grade of 2.7.

Korean

TOPIC II, Level 3 (Minimum 140 points); KLAT 3  a university degree with a curriculum taught in Korean

 

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When and where to submit proof of language proficiency

Applicants must prove all necessary language skills upon application – a preliminary admission is not possible. 

Proof of German language proficiency is not necessary for the application.

Do not send your certificates to our program's academic advisors, but upload them directly to the relevant application portal.

 

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FAQ