Starting Your Studies

If you would like to apply for the English-language Master's program (Extended) Ecumenical Studies (MESt), please refer to the website of the degree program to find out which documents are required.

The German-language degree programs of the Faculty of Protestant Theology do not have any admission requirements.

You only need to apply if you wish to study “Evangelische Theologie” in combination with a subject with restricted admission. In this case, you must first apply for the subject with restricted admission. Once you have been admitted, you can also enroll in the subject with open admission.

For degree programs with open admission, the enrollment deadline set by the Administration Office applies – generally in March and September.

If you wish to study in a degree program with restricted admissions, the enrollment period ends earlier. You will be informed of the deadline after you have been admitted to the program.

Please note that there are also deadlines for your application. The application period for the Master’s program Ecumenical Studies can be found on the program website.

How do I enroll?

To enroll, you need to bring along an identification document (identity card, passport), the enrolment application, and a health insurance certificate.

Enrollment takes place at the University of Bonn’s Office of Student Affairs, at Poppelsdorfer Allee 49.

Finding an affordable room can be challenging in Bonn. Therefore, you should start looking for a place to live as soon as possible.

Subsidized and thus cheaper rooms can be found through the “Studierendenwerk Bonn”. For MESt students, a limited number of rooms is usually already reserved. Please contact the MESt coordinator if you are interested in a student dormitory room.

For students of Protestant theology, the “Adolf-Clarenbach-Haus” might be an option, too. It also offers affordable student rooms.

Further information on how to apply for a dormitory room or apartment can be found on the University‘s website.

In the first week of each semester, the Faculty of Protestant Theology offers informational events for all first-year students.

After you have enrolled at the University of Bonn, you will receive an email with the events relevant to your course of study.

If you are a student of Protestant Theology aiming for a church degree (“Evangelische Theologie mit Abschluss Kirchl. Examen"), you have to attend the event to which you are invited. For all other students attendance of the informational events is optional, but we strongly recommend that you attend.

You will not only be given a course folder ("Studiengangsordner") with a study plan, but you can also ask any questions you may have. If you are unable to come to the event, please contact the Examination Office of the Faculty of Protestant Theology.

For international students, the ERASMUS coordinator organizes a welcome meeting.

We look forward to meeting you!

After having attended the informational events for your studies, you should register for courses. An overview of the courses offered can be found in the electronic course catalogue BASIS. 

How to register for BASIS and which courses you should choose is explained at the informational events for first-year students.

Classes usually start during the first weeks of April or October – for details, see the course descriptions on BASIS.

On the first day of the lecture period we will start with an opening program, including a joint church service. The student association also offers welcoming events for all students.

During the opening events no classes will be held.

On the late afternoon of the first day of the lecture periode the courses will start. Please refer to the electronic course catalogue BASIS to find out when the exact start of a course is.

As a rule, in the first session the lecturers will give information on what is expected of you in order to successfully participate in a course. It is therefore important that you do not miss this session.

Should you ever be unable to attend a seminar session, please contact your lecturer in advance. Since discussion is of great importance for theology, you should participate not only regularly but also actively. You will benefit from it!

During your first semester, at the latest before the exams begin, you must register at the Examination Office for the examination process of your degree program.

The following documents are required:

• Final grade certificate
• Passport photo
• Student card or enrollment certificate
• Language certificates or other certificates relevant to your studies

Furthermore, please bring the documents you received at the information events for first-year students – see step 4:

• Registration form for examinations
• Address form
• Tabular listing of your academic career to date
• If you wish to have credit points from previous studies recognized, please also bring the relevant certificates