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Master’s · Sociology & Social Sciences

Philosophy of Science M.A.

Leibniz University Hannover · Hannover · Official programme page

19 facts from 7 official pages · last checked 14 November 2026

Reviewed by Dennis Maaß, admission and immigration expert
Published 8 November 2026 · Last reviewed 8 November 2026

Key facts

Length, deadlines and costs

Language
English
Source
“Language of Instruction English Language Requirements English B2”

www.uni-hannover.de/en/studium/studienangebot/info/studiengang/detail/philosophy-of-science-1 · checked 14 November 2026

Taught entirely in English; only English (B2) is required for the application.

Study mode
On campus
Source
“International Stay abroad possible, but not obligatory.”

www.uni-hannover.de/en/studium/studienangebot/info/studiengang/detail/philosophy-of-science-1 · checked 14 November 2026

LUH flags its two distance-learning master's programmes as "Fernstudium" in the course type and charges additional fees for them; this programme is neither, and the page presents a stay abroad as the exception, so teaching takes place at the university in Hannover. No LUH page uses the words "on campus".

Length
4 semesters
Source
“Standard Course Duration 4 semesters”

www.uni-hannover.de/en/studium/studienangebot/info/studiengang/detail/philosophy-of-science-1 · checked 14 November 2026

Intakes
Winter, Summer
Source
“Course Start Winter semester, Summer semester”
“(1) It is possible to commence the master's degree programme Philosophy of Science in the winter or summer semester.” page

www.uni-hannover.de/en/studium/studienangebot/info/studiengang/detail/philosophy-of-science-1 · checked 14 November 2026

Non-EU deadline
30 Nov 2026 (summer 2027)Early deadline for applicants from non-EU countries; the application window opened on 15 October 2026.31 May 2027 (winter 2027)Early deadline for applicants from non-EU countries; the application window opens on 15 April 2027.
Source
“First-year students from Germany and the EU 1 June - 15 July of the year for the winter semester 1 December - 15 January of the year for the summer semester First-year students from non-EU countries ( VPD from uni-assist is required ) 15 April - 31 May of the year for the winter semester 15 October - 30 November of the previous year for the summer semester”

www.uni-hannover.de/en/studium/studienangebot/info/studiengang/detail/philosophy-of-science-1 · checked 14 November 2026

Applicants from non-EU countries have an earlier deadline than everyone else: six weeks before the regular one. The uni-assist VPD must be applied for at least eight weeks before that, so a winter 2027/28 application means starting at uni-assist by the beginning of April 2027 at the latest (and the APS certificate, for Indian applicants, before that). A letter of motivation in English is part of the application.

Non-EU tuition
None
Source
“Although tuition fees are no longer charged in Lower Saxony, it goes without saying that costs are incurred at university, such as the semester fee, accommodation and living costs, and costs for learning materials.”
“Long-term tuition fees of €500 are due as soon as students exceed the standard period of study plus six "tolerance semesters".” page

www.uni-hannover.de/en/studium/finanzierung-foerderung/studienfinanzierung · checked 14 November 2026

No tuition fee, whatever the nationality; students pay the semester fee of 453.16 EUR (winter semester 2026/27). Long-term study fees of 500 EUR per semester start only after the study credit is used up - for master's students whose bachelor's degree was earned abroad, at a private or at a non-state-funded institution that is usually after 8 semesters.

Application fee
€75 one-off uni-assist handling fee for the first VPD application in a semester; 30 EUR for each further application in the same semester.
Source
“Pay the processing fee (€75 for the first application, €30 for each additional application in the same semester).”

www.uni-hannover.de/en/studium/vor-dem-studium/bewerbung-zulassung/voraussetzungen-zum-studium/vorpruefungsdokumentation · checked 14 November 2026

LUH itself charges nothing for the application in its own portal, but applicants from non-EU countries cannot apply without the uni-assist VPD, so the uni-assist fee is unavoidable. One VPD can be used for several master's applications in the same semester.

Places
Unrestricted
Source
“Admission Unrestricted admission”
“For master's degree programmes with unrestricted admission , all applicants who fulfil the admission requirements will be admitted a university place.” page

www.uni-hannover.de/en/studium/studienangebot/info/studiengang/detail/philosophy-of-science-1 · checked 14 November 2026

No cap on places: everyone who meets the requirements is admitted.

Admission

What you need to apply

3-year bachelor’s
Case by case
Source
“have acquired a bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification at a German university or a foreign university belonging to the Bologna signatory states in philosophy or in another relevant undergraduate degree, or in an academic discipline relevant for the master's degree programme Philosophy of Science”

www.uni-hannover.de/fileadmin/luh/studium/ordnungen/zugang/englische_uebersetzungen/ZZO_MA_Philosophy_of_Science_2018_EN_edited_16.04.2019.pdf · checked 14 November 2026

The regulations set no minimum length or credit count for the first degree - a bachelor's degree from a Bologna signatory state counts, and equivalence of other foreign degrees follows the ZAB/anabin assessments with the selection committee deciding. A three-year 180-credit degree is the case the rules are written around (150 credit points make an unfinished degree provisionally eligible), but acceptance of a specific foreign degree remains an individual decision, and conditions can be imposed for up to two semesters.

Subject background
A bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in philosophy, in another relevant undergraduate degree or in an academic discipline relevant to the programme (physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, mathematics, political science, sociology, psychology, historiography, economics and management are named). The selection committee decides on suitability and may require missing modules within two semesters.
Source
“have acquired a bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification at a German university or a foreign university belonging to the Bologna signatory states in philosophy or in another relevant undergraduate degree, or in an academic discipline relevant for the master's degree programme Philosophy of Science”
“Or a Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification at a German university or a foreign university belonging to the Bologna signatory states in philosophy or in another relevant undergraduate degree, or in an academic discipline relevant for the Master's degree programme Philosophy of Science (including physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, mathematics, political science, sociology, psychology, historiography or economics).” page

www.uni-hannover.de/fileadmin/luh/studium/ordnungen/zugang/englische_uebersetzungen/ZZO_MA_Philosophy_of_Science_2018_EN_edited_16.04.2019.pdf · checked 14 November 2026

Minimum grade
Not stated by the university
2 pages checked, 14 Nov 2026

No minimum grade. The final or average mark is improved by 0.2 for each of the four parameters the letter of motivation fulfils, and admission is unrestricted.

How your grade is converted
Foreign grades are converted into the German grading system by uni-assist in the Vorprüfungsdokumentation (VPD); LUH's selection then uses that converted grade. LUH publishes no conversion table or formula of its own.
Source
“For applicants from non-EU countries , grades will be converted by uni-assist and listed in the VPD.”
“In addition, your grades are converted into the German grading system.” page

www.uni-hannover.de/en/studium/vor-dem-studium/bewerbung-zulassung/voraussetzungen-zum-studium/zulassungsarten · checked 14 November 2026

Applicants from Germany and the EU have their grades converted by LUH's own admissions team instead. The converted grade is what the ranking list is built on.

English
Level B2. IELTS 5.5 · TOEFL iBT 72 · TOEFL band 4 · Home Edition accepted · PTE 59. Cambridge: B2 First (previously FCE). telc English B2/C1 University and UNIcert II are also accepted. TOEFL, IELTS and PTE certificates are valid for two years; telc, Cambridge and UNIcert certificates have no expiry date.
Source
“Test of English as a Foreign Language ( TOEFL® iBT or Home Edition ) with a result of 4.0 or 4.5 (previously at least 72 points) International English Language Testing System ( IELTS Academic, paper-based, digital or online) with a result of 5.5 B2 First (previously FCE ) Pearson Test of English ( PTE Academic, paper-based or digital) with a result of at least 59 points telc English B2⋅C1 University UNIcert ® II”
“(3) In addition, applicants require English language proficiency at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.” page

www.uni-hannover.de/en/studium/vor-dem-studium/bewerbung-zulassung/voraussetzungen-zum-studium/sprachnachweise · checked 14 November 2026

English at B2 is required of every applicant. The minimum is the CEFR level in the admission regulations; the accepted certificates and scores come from LUH's central list of language certificates (edition 02/2026). TOEFL iBT Home Edition is accepted and the TOEFL minimum is given on both scales (old 0-120 score and the 1-6 band scale of January 2026). The Duolingo English Test appears on no LUH page, so it is not among the accepted certificates, but LUH does not say it is refused either; the central page warns "The information provided here is not exhaustive." TOEFL scores can be sent electronically, for which the web page gives DI code 7122 and the PDF list DI code 7211 - ask the Admissions Office which is current.

German
Not needed when applying
Source
“Language of Instruction English Language Requirements English B2”

www.uni-hannover.de/en/studium/studienangebot/info/studiengang/detail/philosophy-of-science-1 · checked 14 November 2026

The programme page lists English B2 as the only language requirement; the admission regulations ask for no German (a German university entrance qualification or a German bachelor's degree merely replaces the English proof).

Selection
A letter of motivation written in English, scored on four parameters (experiences and interests, qualifications from the first degree, professional expectations, intended academic focus); each parameter fulfilled improves the final or average mark by 0.2 for the ranking list, with random order for ties.
Source
“(3) The letter of motivation must be written in English.”

www.uni-hannover.de/fileadmin/luh/studium/ordnungen/zugang/englische_uebersetzungen/ZZO_MA_Philosophy_of_Science_2018_EN_edited_16.04.2019.pdf · checked 14 November 2026

Admission is unrestricted, so the ranking only matters if applications exceed the places available.

India, Pakistan, Nigeria

Rules for applicants from India, Pakistan and Nigeria

English test waiver
Possible for applicants from India, Nigeria, Pakistan, with a school-leaving certificate from an English-medium school or with enough English at school, or with a previous degree taught in English
Source
“Applicants that are native speakers of English, or applicants who can present evidence of an English university entrance qualification, or who have completed a bachelor's degree taught in English are not required to take tests to prove sufficient English language proficiency.”

www.uni-hannover.de/fileadmin/luh/studium/ordnungen/zugang/englische_uebersetzungen/ZZO_MA_Philosophy_of_Science_2018_EN_edited_16.04.2019.pdf · checked 14 November 2026

Three routes without a test, two of which are open to applicants from India, Nigeria and Pakistan: a school-leaving certificate (university entrance qualification) obtained in English, or a bachelor's degree taught in English. The regulations set no further conditions; keep the school's or university's own confirmation of the language of instruction ready.

Rules that name these countries
  • India: Applicants with Indian school or university transcripts must submit an individual APS certificate with their application, and need it before they can apply for the uni-assist VPD; group APS certificates are not accepted.
    Source
    “Applicants with school or university transcripts from Vietnam, India, and China (excluding Macao and Hong Kong) must submit an individual APS certificate or an APS certificate with their application. This is required in order to apply for the VPD .”

    www.uni-hannover.de/en/studium/vor-dem-studium/bewerbung-zulassung/voraussetzungen-zum-studium/aps-bescheinigung · checked 14 November 2026

    China and Vietnam are named in the same rule. LUH exempts applicants from India who already live in Germany without a visa procedure, who earned their highest relevant university degree outside India, who passed a Studienkolleg assessment test, or who hold a German or EU scholarship. No rule on LUH's pages names Nigeria or Pakistan.

The rules for your country across all universities, and the visa rules on English tests, are on the India, Pakistan and Nigeria pages.

More on this programme

Every value was read on an official page and is stored with a verbatim quote; open “Source” to see it. “Not stated by the university” means none of the pages we checked says, and lists those pages. Rules change: confirm with the university before you apply or pay.