The scholarly focus of the Philipps-Universität – with 12 Leibniz Prize winners, one of Hesse’s leading research institutes – is on the fields of infection and tumor research, synthetic microbiology, material sciences, cognitive and applied neurosciences, language dynamics research, biodiversity and climate research, and conflict research.

 

Studying at UMR

Landgrave Philipp founded the university in 1527 as the first Protestant university in the world. It started with four subjects: Theology, Law, Medicine and Philosophy. Today it has 16 departments that offer a wide range of subjects in the natural sciences and liberal arts. Numerous famous people studied or taught in Marburg.

 

Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor
The Bachelor is the first professionally qualifying university degree. A Bachelor's program at the Philipps University normally lasts 3 years (6 semesters). It is modularly structured and normally comprises 180 credits according to the European Credit Transfer System. The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree is awarded in the sociological, linguistic and cultural studies programs. The Bachelor of Science (BS) degree is awarded in the scientific and economic studies programs.

Magister
The Magister is a first professionally qualifying university degree. A Magister's program at the Philipps University normally lasts 5 years (10 semesters). It is modularly structured and normally comprises 300 credits according to the European Credit Transfer System.

State examination
Those who study medicine, dental medicine, pharmacy or law at the Philipps University complete their studies with the state examination. The education is divided into two sections: The theoretical education at the university ends with the first state examination, consisting of oral and written examinations in the area of specialization and in various compulsory subjects. 

The practical education component is a clerkship for law students and practical year ("Praktisches Jahr" - PJ) and internship ("Arzt im Praktikum"- AIP) for doctors. Only after this two-year practical period can the second state examination be taken and the title granted. University entrance qualification is required for a study program with the state examination degree. Admission is restricted by a Numerus Clausus (NC).

Teacher training
The teacher training program also concludes with the state examination and consists of two to three school subjects, as well as pedagogical accompanying subjects. The education at the Philipps University is concluded with the first state examination. That is followed by a two-year internship at a secondary school. The teacher training program ends with the second state examination.

 

Graduate Programs

Master
The Master is an advanced university degree. A Master's program at the Philipps University normally lasts 2 years (4 semesters). It is modularly structured and normally comprises 120 credits according to the European Credit Transfer System.

The Master of Arts (MA) degree is awarded in the sociological, linguistic and cultural studies programs. The Master of Science (MS) degree is awarded in the scientific and economic studies programs. A first university degree is required to be admitted to a Master program (Master admission qualification). This is normally a Bachelor program in which at least 180 credits were obtained. The previous study program must be compatible with the Master program in terms of content. Additional admission requirements, such as foreign language skills or the passing of an eligibility assessment process, must frequently be fulfilled.

For admission to advanced programs, you need to have a university entrance qualification. If you would like to learn in advance whether your foreign certificates entitle you to advanced study in Germany, you can use ANABIN, the info portal for foreign education degrees. Click on "Institutions" and "Search." There, you can enter the country in which you obtained your first university degree. Here you can determine whether your university is recognized in Germany (status H+). Then click on "University degrees" and determine whether your first university degree is sufficient (Class A3 or higher).

Doctorate degree
The doctorate degree is obtained through a doctorate program, which can follow a successfully completed course of study. Depending on the university, the doctorate degree is obtained with a doctorate thesis (dissertation) in connection with a disputation (oral defense of the dissertation) or a via voce (oral examination in all areas relating to the subject).

 

Exchange & Study Abroad

Come over for a semester? There are many ways to spend a semester or year at Philipps-Universität Marburg: within European programs or partner institution agreements, as a “Freemover”, or in one of our specially designed programs for international students. With some, you can even come without a perfect command of the German language. 

 

Short Term Programs

You would like to:
... spend a summer or winter at a traditional German university?
... improve your German language skills?
... experience Germany and its culture?

Then come to Marburg and join our short term programs!