The application and selection process for Master Plus is as follows:
1. The online application portal opens at the beginning of the application period.
2. Applicants submit their complete application documents by the deadline.
3. We review the applications and either invite applicants to the selection interviews or inform them that their application has been unsuccessful.
4. If you are invited, you will receive further information about the selection interviews at the Claussen-Simon Foundation in Hamburg by email, usually at relatively short notice. In exceptional cases, interviews may also take place online. Selected applicants will be invited on one of three interview days and will take part in two individual 20-minute interviews, each focusing on different topics.
5. Applicants will be informed shortly afterwards whether they have been accepted into the Master Plus funding program.
Applications can only be submitted during the application period via our online application portal. The application period is stated on the Master Plus page. You can access the application portal by clicking the “Application portal” button at the top of the page.
The entire application process is digital. You will be guided through the application step by step and can upload all required application documents directly to the portal. You can find an overview of the documents you need under “Required Application Documents”.
During the application period, you can save your application in progress and continue it later. Please note that you can only access and continue your application while the application period is open. Once the application period has ended, the application portal will also be closed.
No, unfortunately, you are not eligible to apply in this case. We can only accept applications from students who have not yet started their master’s degree.
No. All students who are starting their studies at a public university in Germany are eligible to apply for the Master Plus scholarship. Our Master Plus scholarship holders are based at universities throughout Germany.
Yes. All students who are starting a master’s degree at a public university in Germany are eligible to apply, regardless of their country of birth. All eligibility requirements listed on our website apply to every applicant. This includes a minimum German language level of B1, for which proof or a certificate is required. This level helps ensure that scholarship holders can participate in the events and activities that form part of our non-financial support program. An English-taught master’s program at a German university does not constitute an exception to this requirement.
However, application documents for Master Plus may also be submitted in English if applicants feel they can express themselves better in English.
No, you are not eligible to apply in these cases. We only support students who are enrolled full-time in an on-campus program that is not a dual study program.
Generally, you must be enrolled in a master’s program at a public university in Germany.
The only exception is the private Bucerius Law School in Hamburg. Applicants there are eligible to apply for the Master Plus scholarship due to the long-standing institutional ties between the Claussen-Simon Foundation and Bucerius Law School, as well as the Claussen-Simon Foundation Professorship established there.
Master Plus does not fund master’s degree program completed entirely outside Germany. Applicants who will spend at least 50% of the standard duration of their studies outside Germany as part of a regular master’s program at a German university, or as part of a joint degree or double degree program, are also not eligible for Master Plus funding.
For joint degree and double degree programs, applicants must be enrolled at a university in Germany and must also begin their studies there.
The reason for this rule is the importance we place on the non-financial support offered as part of the scholarship, including in-person events in Hamburg and regional group meetings throughout Germany. Fully engaging in our foundation community is considerably more difficult when a large part of the funding period is spent abroad.
Yes. If you are still in the application process for your degree program, please upload proof in the Master Plus application form showing that you have submitted your application to the relevant university. This could, for example, be a screenshot of an email confirming receipt of your application.
If you are applying to several universities, you are welcome to indicate your preferred choice and whether admission to the program is restricted. You can submit your final university admission by email at a later stage.
You are welcome to address the motivation letter to Finja Feddes, Program Manager for Master Plus. Please make sure not to exceed the maximum length of 4,000 characters, including spaces.
No, we do not provide any specific templates or requirements regarding the format or structure of recommendation letters. Professors and lecturers are generally familiar with how such letters should be written. The letters should include a (digital) signature.
Meaningful and informative recommendation letters are an essential part of the application documents for our selection committees.
No. To ensure equal treatment of all applicants, it is not possible to submit individual recommendation letters after the Master Plus application deadline.
Please make sure that the people writing your recommendation letters are aware of the deadline, and kindly refrain from requesting an exception.
The application documents for Master Plus may also be submitted in English if applicants feel they can express themselves better in English.
Please provide a table showing your expected monthly income and expenses during your master’s degree, ideally in an Excel spreadsheet. Please compare your total monthly income with your total monthly expenses.
If some amounts cannot yet be determined precisely, please use estimates and clearly indicate them as such. Sources of income may include, for example, child benefit, income from a part-time job, possible BAföG payments, or potential financial support from your family.
For expenses, please focus on regular monthly costs, such as rent, food, insurance, semester fees converted into a monthly amount, and leisure expenses.
Please upload this overview to the online application form for Master Plus.
Yes. If you are invited to the Master Plus selection process in Hamburg, we can reimburse your travel expenses afterwards in accordance with the information provided on our website, including the maximum reimbursement amounts depending on your city of departure.
As a rule, you should travel to and from Hamburg by train. If your journey is particularly long, we can also cover the cost of one overnight stay, up to a maximum of €90 per night including breakfast. Please contact us in advance to arrange this.
Yes. As a Master Plus scholarship holder, you may have a part-time job if it does not interfere with the clear commitment required for your full-time master’s degree. Jobs of up to 10 hours per week can generally be combined with our financial support without any issues.
The aim of the scholarship is to enable you to focus on your master’s studies while also having enough time to participate in our non-financial support activities. If you are planning to take on a more extensive or flexible part-time job during your master’s degree, this does not align with our funding approach. In that case, you should carefully consider whether the Master Plus scholarship is a good fit for your current circumstances.