Application
We are pleased that you are interested in studying at our university. Here you will find information about the application process as well as about the documents and work samples you must submit.
Admission can only be granted to those who meet the admission criteria and have successfully demonstrated their artistic eligibility for the respective program. The procedure for determining artistic eligibility is divided into preselection and eligibility assessment and is carried out in accordance with the currently valid regulations and statutes of the Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF.
The link to the university application portal can be found in the application process under Section 1 - Application Instructions.
Application Deadline
Applications are accepted only once a year for the winter semester. The application period begins on 14 April and ends on 15 May 2025. Please note that this is a receipt deadline, not a postmark deadline.
Attention: Please note that changes regarding the application deadline and the procedure for determining program-specific eligibility are possible. We therefore recommend that you check this website regularly for information.
Application Process
1. Notes on the Application Process
All applicants must apply online. Please use the Film University's application portalfor this purpose.
If you hold a foreign certificate and have already registered and applied using uni-assist, you must additionally apply on the Film University's application portal regardless of this.
ATTENTION! Shortly before the application deadline, server problems and delays in the online application process may occur due to many (last minute) applications. So do not wait until the last day of the deadline! Applications and late submissions after the application deadline will not be accepted!
ATTENTION! You should have prepared all the required files before registering in the university application portal.
Please note:
- Applications in paper form will NOT be considered.
- Registration/application in the university application portal is exclusively possible during the application period. Please note that the application deadline is a cut-off deadline.
- An administrative fee is charged for the application. Applications for which the administrative fee has not been remitted will not be considered for the assessment procedure.
- Incomplete applications will not be considered for the assessment procedure.
- You can track the processing status of your application in the university application portal. Please refrain from making inquiries by telephone.
1.1. General documents
- Curriculum vitae in table form (PDF)
1.2. Proof of Master Program Entrance Qualification
If you have acquired your master program entrance qualification in Germany, please inform yourself about the required proof in the paragraph 'German Certificate’. If you have acquired your qualification outside Germany, please inform yourself about the required documents you must submit under ‘Foreign Certificate’. For the M.A. Directing the regulations of Section 10 para. 5-6 BbgHG (Brandenburg Higher Education Act) apply.
German Certificate:
Please submit proof of a completed university degree, usually a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in directing or a comparable degree in film/media or in a degree program in which film is taught as a major or another university degree.
Please note: In the event that the Bachelor degree is not yet available due to missing individual examination achievements, please submit certification (PDF) from the examination office of your current university. The certification must show that, based on your examination results to date, you can be expected to complete your Bachelor degree in good time before starting your Master program.
Foreign Certificate:
If you have gained your Master program entrance qualification abroad, you must have your certificates reviewed and evaluated by uni-assist e.V. before applying. The processing time can be up to 6 weeks. Please take this into account in your scheduling. The examination is subject to a fee and must be completed before the end of the application deadline. Please upload the pre-verification document (Vorprüfungsdokument, VPD), which you will receive from uni-assist e. V., together with the other application files in the university application portal.
In the event that you are unable to submit your Master's entrance qualification (Bachelor's, Diplom, ....), which you will acquire abroad, by the end of the application deadline due to missing individual examinations, please submit a current transcript of records from your current university to uni-assist e.V.. Then uni-assist will check in advance whether your university and your planned degree are recognized. At uni-assist, you will then be listed as a so-called "case of doubt (ZF)" until you submit your successful degree to uni-assist. After another check, you may receive a "preliminary examination document (VPD)", which you must then submit to us!
Please note:
- This requirement also applies if you are a German citizen.
- Special regulations apply to applicants from the Republic of India, the People's Republic of China and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, please inform yourself.
1.2.1. Entrance examination for professionally qualified applicants without a professionally qualifying university degree
The entrance examination is only for applicants without a professionally qualifying university degree, i.e. not for applicants who have already obtained a professionally qualifying university degree (Bachelor, Diplom,...) or will still obtain one due to missing individual examinations!
Professionally qualified applicants who do not have a professionally qualifying university degree according to § 10 para. 5 sentence 2 BbgHG are eligible to participate if:
- they have a university entrance qualification corresponding to the degree programme applied for in accordance with § 10 para. 2 to para. 4 BbgHG in conjunction with the regulations for determining aptitude for the Bachelor's degree programmes at the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF (§ 2 Assessment Regulations BA) and
- when examining the admission requirements for the Master's degree programmes as part of the assessment of the submitted documents and work samples, the artistic aptitude for the degree programme in accordance with the regulations for determining the aptitude for the Master's degree programmes of the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF is recognisable and
- they can provide evidence of at least three years of relevant professional activity for the degree programme applied for or a corresponding qualification through successful completion of study-specific modules at a university outside a Bachelor's degree programme, if the coursework and examinations completed as part of the certificate modules do not differ significantly from the coursework and examinations of the Bachelor's degree programme, which usually opens up access to the Master's degree programme.
The following documents (summarised in a pdf file!) must be uploaded to the Studienbewerbungsportal:
- an application for admission to the aptitude test in German.
- a signed curriculum vitae in tabular form (in addition to the curriculum vitae already submitted!) with essential information on previous training and artistic activities.
- proof of the relevant university entrance qualification in accordance with § 10 Para. 2 to Para. 4 BbgHG in conjunction with the regulations for determining aptitude for the Bachelor's degree programmes at the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF.
- can provide evidence of at least three years of relevant professional experience for the degree programme applied for or a corresponding qualification through successful completion of study-specific modules at a university outside of a Bachelor's degree programme, if the study and examination achievements completed as part of the certificate modules do not differ significantly from the study and examination achievements of the Bachelor's degree programme, which as a rule opens up access to the Master's degree programme.
- a signed written justification (max. two pages) stating how knowledge and skills were acquired that correspond to parts of a Bachelor's degree programme in terms of content and requirements.
- Complete proof of relevant coursework and examinations already completed and certificates of preliminary, intermediate and final examinations already taken or their recognition.
If no evidence of relevant study and examination achievements is available, this must be declared in writing.
- Documented evidence of the type, scope and quality of relevant professional activities. All professional activities must be listed in tabular form and the overview must be signed.
- a notification that, when examining the admission requirements for the Master's degree programmes as part of the assessment of the submitted documents and work samples, the artistic aptitude for the degree programme in accordance with the regulations for determining the aptitude for the Master's degree programmes at the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF is recognisable and that it is therefore possible to take part in the entrance examination.
Eingangsprüfungsordnung MA
1.3. Proof of German Language
If you obtained your university entrance qualification at a non-German-speaking institution and do not hold German citizenship, you must provide evidence of sufficient German language proficiency at least at the DSH-1 level or an equivalent language certificate according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Please upload this with the other application files in the university application portal.
The recognized language examinations for the Master program Directing are detailed here.
If you do not have a language certificate of the level required by the degree program by the application deadline, you can apply if you have a language certificate of at least level B1. An application without a language certificate or a language certificate with a lower level than B1 is incomplete and will not be considered for the assessment procedure. |
1.4. Work Samples
Focus of Study: Documentary Film
- A professionally produced documentary film directed by the applicant. The film should provide an overall impression of the applicant's artistic orientation and subject(s) of interest. If the film was created in teamwork, clear documentation of the applicant's own contribution is required (MPG, MPEG, MP4, MOV, 1 GB).
- A treatment for an artistic directing project for the graduation film (minimum 5, maximum 10 pages). All subgenres are accepted, such as essay film, web documentary, short series, etc. A financing and exploitation concept must also be included.
- A written documentation of work that provides an overall impression of the applicant's artistic position (1 to 2 A4 pages).
- A written statement of the objectives and plans that the applicant intends to achieve with the Master program (1 to 2 pages).
Focus of Study: Feature Film
- A professionally produced feature film directed by the applicant. The film should provide an overall impression of the applicant's artistic orientation and subject(s) of interest. If the film was created in teamwork, clear documentation of the applicant's own contribution is required (MPG, MPEG, MP4, MOV, 1 GB).
- A treatment for an artistic directing project for the graduation film (minimum 5, maximum 10 pages). A financing and exploitation concept must also be included.
- A written documentation of work that provides an overall impression of the applicant's artistic position (1 to 2 pages).
- A written statement of the objectives and plans that the applicant intends to achieve with the Master program (1 A4 page).
The restrictions specified by the university application portal apply. Video files must be playable in current browsers without additional software/codecs.
2. Pre-Selection
Based on the materials submitted, the admissions committee will decide which applicants will receive permission to take the admission test and inform them in writing.
3. Admission Test
Focus of Study: Documentary Film
Creative / Practical Assignment:
- Making a short film on a given topic
Interview:
Interview on the applicant's artistic and personal profile
Pitching the submitted project; speaking about the submitted project and also about specific interests and motivation
Demonstrating a grasp of methodological and technological specialized knowledge when discussing how to realize the project
Focus of Study: Feature Film
Creative / Practical Assignment:
- Making a short film on a given topic
Written Assignment:
- Creation of a short script based on a literary text
Interview:
- Interview on the applicant's artistic and personal profile
Pitching the submitted project; speaking about the submitted project and also about specific interests and motivation
Demonstrating a grasp of methodological and technological specialized knowledge when discussing how to realize the project
The admission test results will be communicated in writing to the applicant no later than 4 weeks after the last test.
ATTENTION! Shortly before the application deadline, server problems and delays in the online application process may occur due to many (last minute) applications. So do not wait until the last day of the deadline! Applications and late submissions after the application deadline will not be accepted!
Do you have questions about the application?
General and formal questions - Student Affairs section
You can send general queries and formal questions about your application by e-mail to studienbewerbung(at)filmuniversitaet.de.
Subject-specific questions
To clarify subject-specific questions, please contact Bewerbungen.MA.Regie(at)filmuniversitaet.de
Please also note the opportunity to obtain information at our Open Day (on the first Saturday in November).