Application Procedure

How to apply

The MA Programme Physical Activity and Health can only be started in the winter semester (classes starting in October 2024), and the application for the winter semester 2024/25 starts on February 15th, 2024. The deadline for the application is May 31, 2024. We recommend that non-EU-citizens apply until 31 March 2024, to have sufficient time for their visa applications.

All the required documents must be submitted on the online portal Campo. (Please do not mail any required application materials to FAU. The documents should be uploaded exclusively online via Campo.)

 

Required Documents

For the application procedure, you will need to submit the following documents in order to apply to the MA Programme Physical Activity and Health:

  • Curriculum vitae/Resume
  • Cover letter (1 to 2 pages) describing your interest/motivation and qualifications to join our programme
  • For applicants with a degree from a German academic institution: Copies of all degrees from secondary and academic education, including grade records (e.g. transcript of records, Studienbuch) for each degree
  • For applicants with a degree from an international academic institution: Certified copies of all degrees from secondary and academic education, including grade records (e.g. transcript of records) for each degree
  • For applicants with degrees in Physical Education, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology, or Medicine: A list of your previous courses/classes with a high relevance for our Programme. Documentation of 1 year work experience (full-time) in the fields of Sport/ Physiotherapy/ Public Health
  • For non-native English speakers whose BA/MA language of study was NOT English: A minimum level B2 English language certificate
  • For non-native German speakers: If available: German language certificate minimum level A1

Cover letter
The cover letter is an important part of your application. It should express why you are interested in joining our programme and what professional career you envision for yourself afterwards. In addition, the cover letter should state your prior exposure to/experience with the subject areas of Physical Activity, Physiotherapy, or Public Health. The cover letter should be 1-2 pages.

Curriculum vitae/Resume
Your curriculum vitae/Resume should provide us with brief information on your secondary and academic career. It should list all schools/universities you attended in the last years. Any professional experience (internships/part-time or full-time jobs) relevant to our programme should be listed. It should also include information on your date and place of birth, nationality, and current place of residence. You may use a template like the Europass-CV Template (Download the template and instructions or visit the Europass-Homepage).

Certified copies (applicants with international degrees only)
You will be asked to submit certified photocopies of all your all degrees from secondary and academic education, including grade records (e.g. transcript of records) for each degree. All copies will have to be sent to us only by e-mail (not by mail or fax). Please note that our central university administration requires all copies to be certified.
The central university administration will decide on a case-by-case basis whether the certification of a photocopy is sufficient or not. As a general rule, a certified copy is one that has been declared identical to the original by an authorized individual.

A photocopy will only be considered certified if

  • it bears the stamp of the certifying institution
  • it has been signed by the certifying person
  • the date of certification has been clearly marked next to the signature
  • the institution and person certifying it are authorized to certify photocopies

Usually, every academic institution has administrative staff that are entitled to certify your degrees/records. If in doubt, you can also ask your local German embassy or consulate for institutions issuing certifications that are recognized by German universities.

Listing of courses/classes with high relevance to our programme (for applicants with degrees in Physical Education, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology, or Medicine only)
The programme is open to students who do not have degrees in Sport Science, Kinesiology /Exercise Science, Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation Science, Health Education, Health Science/Public Health.

Such other degrees can be e.g. Physical Education, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology, or Medicine). This list should provide us with a brief summary of all classes or coursework that you have attended and that are relevant to the subject areas of physical activity and/or (public) health. Potential examples include courses/classes covering the topics of sport science, physical education, physical therapy, rehabilitation science, kinesiology, gerontology, public health, epidemiology, research methods, or statistics.

Documentation of 1 year work experience in the fields of Sport/ Physiotherapy/ Public Health (for applicants with degrees in Physical Education, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology, or Medicine only)
The programme is open to students who do not have degrees in Sport Science, Kinesiology /Exercise Science, Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation Science, Health Education, or Health Science/Public Health.

Such other degrees can be e.g. Physical Education, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology, or Medicine). Students with such degrees need to document at least 1 year of work experience (full-time) in the fields of Sport, Physiotherapy, or Public Health in order to be eligible to apply to the programme. The documentation can be an attached letter from the institution/company.

English language certificate (non-native English speakers whose BA/MA language of study was not English only)
Attending an academic MA programme in a non-native language is quite demanding. Your language skills must be sufficient to listen to lecturers, read scientific articles/books, discuss its contents, answer written questions about the contents of texts, and write term papers. Many students in the programme are either English language native speakers, or have English language skills on the C1 or C2 level. All applicants whose native language is not English and who did not do their BA/MA in a programme that used English language as a medium of instruction must therefore submit an English language certificate demonstrating that their language skills fulfil the requirements of our programme. The minimum language skill level required is B2 of the CEFR European language portfolio. Please visit our “Admission Requirements” section for more information on language certificates.

German language certificate (non-native German speakers only)
State level regulations require that all non-native German speakers acquire the level A1 of German language skills at least one year after beginning their studies in Germany. Applicants who already have German language skills can document those as part of the application package. Applicants who do not have German language skills yet can apply nevertheless. Enrolled students can take part in German language classes free of charge at the university to acquire the necessary German language skills during the first year. All classes/courses/examinations are in English language.

 

 

Where to send your application

All the required documents must be submitted on the online portal Campo. (Please do not mail any required application materials to FAU. The documents should be uploaded exclusively online via Campo.)

 

 

Review of application

Your application will be reviewed by two faculty members of the DSS based on the following criteria:

  • Prior knowledge in the fields of Sport Science, Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation Science and Public Health
  • Prior knowledge in the fields of Physical Education, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology, or Medicine
  • Prior knowledge in research methodologies (e.g. statistics, qualitative research)
  • Practical experiences (e.g. work experience, internships) in the fields of Sport Science, Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation Science and Public Health

Applicants will be infomed about the outcome of the review. As we usually process several hundred applications, we kindly ask you to allow us at least 4 weeks to review your application.

 

 

Additional information

If you have any questions concerning the content of the Master’s programme or the application procedure, please contact our programme advisor Karim Abu-Omar.

If you have already applied via campo, please give us always your application-ID when contacting us. Also use this in the names of your documents, if you need to send any of them by email.