Admission and Application
Admission to all MSQ Programs at GSEFM occurs as part of a competitive process on the basis of the review of the application dossiers by the faculty admissions committee. In evaluating the application dossiers, the admissions committee inter alia gives consideration to the following factors:
Fields of previous studies, previous degree and grade point average: An undergraduate specialization in economics or business administration is not required. As the first-year courses in the GSEFM MSQ Programs assume familiarity for example with multivariable calculus, statistics through simple regression, and matrix algebra, adequate mathematical preparation is very important. The minimum previous degree prerequisite is a Bachelor's degree (to be completed at the time of beginning of Ph.D. Program studies), in a degree program with thorough coverage of quantitative methods. While there is no minimum grade point average, given the quality of applications regularly received by GSEFM, the admissions committee's standard should be expected to be well above a "B" grade point average.
Research plan: Beyond a previous education emphasizing quantitative methods, a strong interest in the substantive issues covered in the GSEFM MSQ Program for which an application is submitted to as well as the ability to communicate clearly are essential for successful MSQ Program studies. The research plan to be submitted by candidates as part of the application dossier should describe the motivation for pursuing a Research Master, and outline the type of research projects a candidate would like to pursue at GSEFM.
GRE: All applicants to the MSQ Program in Economics and the MSQ Program in Law and Economics are expected to take the quantitative section of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) aptitude test. While the GRE also contains verbal and analytical writing sections, the admissions committee does not require these to be taken. A GRE quantitative score in the upper 20th percentile is viewed by the admissions committee as the minimum score providing evidence in favor of reasonably strong quantitative skills, but given the quality of applications regularly received by the admissions committee, individual admissions are likely to be conditioned on a significantly better test performance. For the MSQ Program in Economics and the MSQ Program in Law and Economics, the GRE quantitative score cannot be substituted for by the GMAT quantitative score. All applicants to the MSQ Program in Finance, the MSQ Program in Management and the MSQ Program in Marketing are expected to take either the quantitative section of the GRE or of the Graduate Management Admission (GMAT) aptitude tests. A GRE or GMAT quantitative score in the upper 20th percentile is viewed by the admissions committee as the minimum score providing evidence in favor of reasonably strong quantitative skills, but given the quality of applications regularly received by the admissions committee, individual admissions are likely to be conditioned on a significantly better test performance. See http://www.gre.org for further information on the GRE. The GRE Designated Institution Code for GSEFM is "7276", with department code "1801". See http://www.mba.com/mba for further information on the GMAT. GSEFM at this stage does not have a GMAT Designated Institution Code.
Language Competency: The exclusive language of all GSEFM MSQ Programs is English. Sufficiently strong English language skills may be documented in one of the following forms: (i) A diploma/degree certificate from a secondary school with English as the official language of instruction (the secondary school must have been attended for at least two years); (ii) At least one year of successfully completed university-level studies in a degree program being exclusively taught in English language; (iii) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores. The minimum scores are as follows: TOEFL/iBT: 93; TOEFL/PBT: 580; IELTS: 7.0. See http://www.ets.org/toefl and http://www.ielts.org for further information on the TOEFL and the IELTS. The TOEFL Designated Institution Code for GSEFM is "7276", with department code "84".
Application and admissions notification timelines:
Applications will be reviewed in three stages.
In stage one, all applications received by February 1 will be reviewed. Particularly strong applicants from this pool of applications will receive a positive admissions decision around the middle of March. All other applicants from this pool of applications will learn about the admissions decision around the beginning of August.
In stage two, all applications received between February 2 and May 1 will be reviewed. Particularly strong applicants from this pool of applications will receive a positive admissions decision around the middle of June. All other applicants from this pool of applications will learn about the admissions decision around the beginning of August.
In stage three, all applications received between May 2 and July 15 will be reviewed. Applicants from this pool of applications will learn about the admissions decision around the beginning of August.
As pre-semester courses typically begin in early September, applicants will need to consider factors such as the time required to relocate to Frankfurt (including - where applicable - the time required to obtain a visa) when determining whether an admissions decision communicated around the beginning of August would still allow for sufficient time to begin studies at GSEFM by early September. GSEFM will not be in a position to approve a student's delay in joining GSEFM (including the pre-semester courses), irrespective of visa and/or moving arrangements a student may have to make. GSEFM therefore in the strongest form possible advises candidates to file applications as early as possible, but certainly no later than May 1.
Application materials to be submitted include:
- A completed copy of the application form.
- A one- to two-page statement of objectives describing the candidate's motivation (in particular research plans) for pursuing a Research Master. The statement of objectives must be in English language and must not exceed 2,000 words.
- Degree certificates/diplomas of college and of secondary school work (if an official degree certificate/diploma is not available in English or German, the degree certificate/diploma must be accompanied by a certified English language translation; if a degree certificate/diploma is not yet available, the most recent transcript should be provided instead).
- Two confidential English language letters of evaluation (if letter writers are not sending their letters of evaluation directly to GSEFM at gsefm@wiwi.uni-frankfurt.de, the letters must be in a sealed envelope).
- Test scores: If the relevant test scores are not available at the time of the application, a statement as to when the tests will be taken. Although applications may be filed prior to availability of GRE/GMAT/TOEFL/IELTS (as applicable) test scores, the admissions committee will not be able to reach a final decision on an application until the relevant tests scores have been made available to the committee. It is thus in candidates' own interest to file their GRE/GMAT/TOEFL/IELTS (as applicable) test scores together with all other application documents by February 1 (stage one), May 1 (stage two) or July 15 (stage three). Test scores that are older than four years cannot be accepted.
Submission of application materials:
Applications for multiple GSEFM MSQ Programs are allowed. Please send separate application packages for each Program you wish to apply for (Economics, Finance, Law and Economics, Management, Marketing).
You will need to submit (at least) two files, in total not larger than five megabytes, per e-mail to gsefm@wiwi.uni-frankfurt.de:
1) The application form (Filename: LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME_DEGREE_PROGRAM_form.pdf, where DEGREE is MSc and PROGRAM is one of Economics, Finance, Law and Economics, Management or Marketing).
2) Supporting documentation (Filename: LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME _docu.pdf, where DEGREE is MSc and PROGRAM is one of Economics, Finance, Law and Economics, Management or Marketing) in English language in the following order:
a) A cover letter including a statement whether financial aid is being sought.
b) A one- to two-page statement of objectives describing your motivation (in particular research plans) for pursuing a Ph.D. The statement of objectives must not exceed 2,000 words.
c) Degree certificates/diplomas of college and of secondary school work
(if an official degree certificate/diploma is not available in English or German, the degree certificate/diploma must be accompanied by a certified English language translation; if a degree certificate/diploma is not yet available, the most recent transcript should be provided instead).
d) TOEFL or IELTS results sheet, unless results are directly sent to GSEFM by the institution administering the examination or if one of the exceptions as stated above apply to you.
e) GRE (GMAT as an alternative only when applying for the Finance, Management or Marketing programs) results sheet, unless results are directly sent to GSEFM by the institution administering the examination.
Only applications in pdf format complying with these guidelines will be accepted. Should you encounter difficulties sending pdf files, please contact the Office of Academic Records at gsefm@wiwi.uni-frankfurt.de, or by letter: Graduate School of Economics, Finance, and Management, Office of Academic Records, Goethe University Frankfurt, Grüneburgplatz 1 (House of Finance, PF6), 60323 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
No application fees are charged. Application dossiers cannot be returned, however. Due to the high number of applications, GSEFM is not in a position to confirm reception of applications. Unless facing an acceptance deadline from another university, please refrain from inquiries about the status of your application. All applicants will be duly informed. Applicants who do not receive an offer in the first or second stage will be re-considered in the third stage. GSEFM cannot offer feedback on the application dossiers of candidates who did not receive admission. Re-applications from candidates who had applied in a previous academic year but were not admitted at that time are allowed. Re-applications must occur in the form of complete sets of application documents and cannot refer to any of the application documents sent in a previous academic year.
All inquiries related to applications and admissions are to be directed to:
Graduate School of Economics, Finance, and Management- Office of Academic Records -
Goethe University Frankfurt
Grüneburgplatz 1 (House of Finance)
60323 Frankfurt am Main
Germany
House of Finance, Room 1.46
E-Mail: gsefm@wiwi.uni-frankfurt.de
Phone: +49 69 79833803
Fax: +49 69 79876333803