Overview
Credential evaluation is a required step in the enrolment process. Although you submitted digital copies of your university transcripts and diplomas when you initially applied, we now have to verify these documents by checking them alongside the originals. This is to ensure that 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.
Which documents do I need to provide?
If you completed your high/ secondary school in Germany, we will need:
- 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).
- Diplomas for any additional bachelor's or master's degrees you have obtained (if applicable). If you have completed professional certificates or diplomas (non-degree), you do not need to present official or certified copies in these cases.
- A scan of your original Abitur with all pages included.
If you completed your high/ secondary school outside of Germany, we will need:
- 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).
- Diplomas for any additional bachelor's or master's degrees you have obtained (if applicable). If you have completed professional certificates or diplomas (non-degree), you do not need to present official or certified copies in these cases.
- No secondary education documents are required, however please inform us of the country in which you completed high/ secondary school, and the year you graduated.
For the credential evaluation, you need to provide original or certified copies of all documents.
What is an original or certified copy?
- An original version of your degree and transcripts is issued by your undergraduate university with an ink-stamp, or sent by the university directly to us via e-mail, post or electronic verification.
- A certified copy is a copy of the original documents that has been certified by embassies, ministries and notaries. This includes documents with an apostille certification.
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.
Translations from court-sworn translators will be accepted if you present the originals along with the translations of your documents.
I haven't received my diploma or final transcripts yet. What should I do?
We are aware that some universities take a while to provide the official leaving certificate, transcripts, and diplomas. If for this reason you are unable to provide us with the required 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 in any of the ways listed below.
Once the pending documents become available, you or your university should submit them to us, as explained below.
I have submitted official transcripts but haven't heard back. What should I do?
If you have already submitted your official degree documents, or your former university has mailed transcripts to us, please send us a brief reminder by email. Thank you!
How does credential evaluation take place?
We kindly ask you to adhere to one of the following options for completing credential evaluation:
- By appointment
In-person credential evaluation will take place by appointment only. Using this link, you can schedule a 15-minute timeslot with a member of the Admissions team. These meetings will take place at the Hertie School (Friedrichstr. 180, 10117 Berlin) in room 1.58. During this time, we will review your documents. Documents will be returned to you immediately.
- During Welcome Week
We will offer additional in-person appointments for credential evaluation during Welcome Week (August 28th-September 1st). These appointments will become available later in the summer and will be scheduled around Welcome Week activities. Please check our scheduling site periodically for additional times.
- 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 your respective programme’s email address:
- mpp-admissions[at]hertie-school[dot]org
- mia-admissions[at]hertie-school[dot]org
- mds-admissions[at]hertie-school[dot]org
- empa-admissions[at]hertie-school[dot]org
- By post
If you will be joining from abroad without the possibility of e-verification, or prefer to send us your documents in advance, you may mail your documents directly to us. Please send us original or certified copies and translations (when applicable) of your documents to the following address:
Hertie School
ATTN: Admissions
Friedrichstr. 180
10117 Berlin
Germany
Please note: if you choose to post your documents, we will notify you once the process is complete and your documents are ready to be picked up. Due to limited in-person office hours, there may be a slight delay in processing/pick-up times.
If the original documents are particularly valuable or hard to replace, we strongly encourage you to submit certified copies instead.
When must I have credential evaluation completed by?
The deadline to submit documents is 1 September. If for whatever reason you are not able to meet this deadline, please write to us as soon as possible.