Here’s what incoming students need to know about the academic verification process for the MPP, MIA, MDS and Executive MPA.
If you’re a new student enrolled in the 2021 fall semester, you might’ve already heard about credential evaluation or seen it in our admissions checklist. But what exactly is it? Keep reading to learn more about the credential evaluation process for the MPP, MIA, MDS and Executive MPA programmes, why we ask for your academic documents, and how you can complete this step!
What is credential evaluation?
You've already submitted digital copies of your university transcripts and diplomas when you initially applied. Now we just have to verify these alongside the original or certified copies.
Why is it important?
Credential evaluation is a required step in the enrolment process that ensures the information we’ve received is authentic, and that you fulfil the requirement of having completed at least a bachelor's degree prior to beginning a master’s programme at the Hertie School. Here’s how it works:
You will need to provide original or certified copies of the following documents:
- First bachelor's diploma/certificate and full transcript: If the transcript clearly states the degree awarded and the conferral date, a separate diploma/certificate is not required (the transcript alone will suffice).
- Degree certificates for any additional bachelor's or master's degrees you have obtained (if applicable). You do not need to present official or certified copies for professional certificates or diplomas (non-degrees)!
- An original version of your degree and transcripts can be issued by your undergraduate university with an ink stamp, or sent to us by the university directly via e-mail, post or electronic verification.
- A certified copy is a copy of an original document that has been certified by embassies, ministries or notaries. This includes documents with an apostille certification.
Either option is perfectly fine, but if the original documents are particularly valuable or hard to replace, we strongly encourage you to submit certified copies or electronically verified documents instead.
Don’t panic! We’re aware that some universities take a while to provide students with their official leaving certificate and transcripts. If for this reason you’re unable to send in your documents on time, your university needs to issue an official statement confirming that you have indeed completed all requirements for your previous degree. This statement should be issued by your previous university and submitted to the Admissions office at grad-admissions[at]hertie-school[dot]org.
Once the pending documents become available, you or your university should submit them to us, as explained below.
Degrees and transcripts need either to be issued in English, German, Spanish or French, or translated into one of these languages by a court-sworn translator.
If you’re submitting translations from court-sworn translators, please be sure you also present the originals along with the translations of your documents.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we have restructured the credential evaluation process in order to ensure the safety of both staff and students. Please submit your documents using one of the following methods:
- Option 1: By appointment
In-person credential evaluation will take place by appointment only. Incoming students will be sent a link to schedule a 15-minute timeslot with a member of the Admissions team. These meetings will take place at the Hertie School. During this time, we will review your documents and return them to you immediately.
We will offer additional in-person appointments during Welcome Week (30 August–3 September). These appointments will become available later in the summer.
- Option 2: E-mail/electronic verification
If your university offers an online verification service, please send us the link and further information via e-mail. Alternatively, you can try writing to your previous university’s registrar's office and ask if they can email us the documents directly. Please have the documents sent to the e-mail address from which you received your admission offer.
- Option 3: By post
If you will be joining from abroad without the possibility of e-verification, or if you prefer to send us your documents in advance, you may mail your documents directly to us. Please send your documents to the following address:
Hertie School
ATTN: Admissions
Friedrichstr. 180
10117 Berlin
Germany
We’ll notify you once the process is complete and your documents are ready to be picked up again!
The deadline to submit all documents for verification is 3 September 2021 for MPP, MIA, MDS and Executive MPA students. If your university isn’t able to make your official documents available to you on time, do request an official statement from your university confirming that you have indeed completed all requirements for your previous degree. Send this statement to us via any of the options listed above.
If you have any questions about the credential evaluation process, don’t hesitate to reach out to Kassandra Valles at valles[at]hertie-school[dot]org and Sigo Riemer at riemer[at]hertie-school[dot]org.
