Are you a BCA, BBA, B.Com, or B.Ed graduate looking to pursue a master's degree in Germany, but unsure if your 3-year degree qualifies you for admission? This blog will explain everything.

Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to obtain a master's degree in Germany with a 3-year bachelor's degree.

There are many top universities in Germany, such as TU Munich, TU Berlin, and RWTH, that offer excellent master's programs and are open to considering applicants who have completed a 3-year bachelor's degree. The subjects or programs available for a master's degree in Germany may depend on your background and the subject you studied in your bachelor's degree. For example, if you completed a bachelor's degree in science, you may be able to pursue a master's degree in a science-related subject.

Masters in Germany eligibility criteria on credits

Masters programs can place a criteria on undergraduate studies in one of two ways:

• 180 ECTS credits (in a relevant field of study) - 3 year degree programs typically maps to 180 credits, therefore students with a BCA, BBA, B.Com, or B.Ed degree are generally eligible to apply for a master's program in Germany. If you find there are insufficient credits on your transcripts, then it is because your are comparing credits in your country to ECTS. To calculate credits, count 1 year of study as 60 points.
• Subject wise credits - for example: 20 credits in Mathematics + 30 credits in Computer Science. In this case, you need to show the courses from your degree which add up to these credit points and you're eligible. You can use the ECTS calculator on our website.

What if you don't meet the credits requirement?

If, for some reason, the number of credits you received during your Bachelors degree is less than 180, you have 2 options:

1. If the credit gap is low - recalculate credits, add lab work, self study-hours etc. Complete missing courses from online platforms like Coursera. And finally, write a strong application essay (Statement of Purpose).
2. If the credit gap is high - Before wasting a lot of time and money on applications, send an email to the universities you are interested in and ask them how you can cover up the credit gap or if there are suitable programs for you.

See also:

• Guide on studying in Germany
• Handling insufficient ECTS credits
• German grade calculator
• Study in Germany student community