Difference between revisions of "Admission Process"

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On this page, you can read about the general application/enrollment (admission) process and receive information about the type of response you have received: acceptance. For rejection, or rejection with a waiting list option, please read this Page: [[Rejection | Rejection & WaitingList]].
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This page explains the enrollment process if you have received a letter of acceptance. If you have received a rejection or a rejection with a waiting list option, please redirect to this Page: [[Rejection | Rejection & WaitingList]].
  
'''The enrollment process'''
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=What happens after I send my application? Rough timetable=
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'''31 March''': After you have submitted your application on STiNE, the IAS selection committee screens your application. If complete and you have succeeded in proving the minimum requirements your application will enter the evaluation process according to the selection criteria. (If not, your application will be rejected and you will receive a letter of rejection from the CampusCenter (central administration), see [[Rejection | Rejection & WaitingList]]. )
  
For the application process and later enrollment process, it is important that applicants understand the two completely different points of contact at the Universität Hamburg, which you have to interact with at different stages of your application/enrollment/studies.  
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'''End of April''': The IAS selection committee finalizes their evaluation. All valid applications are ranked and evaluated. The IAS selection committee sends the ranked list of all eligible applicants and rejected applicants to the CampusCenter (central administration of Universität Hamburg).  
  
''' Points of contact:'''
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'''Beginning of May'''
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The CampusCenter checks and evaluates the list and ultimately decides how many of the top-ranked applicants will receive a letter of acceptance. The IAS selection committee or IAS Team do not have jurisdiction here. Overbooking rates, Hardship cases and Waiting semesters cases are evaluated by the CampusCenter according to University law. This may change the order of who and when an applicant receives a letter of acceptance.
  
To avoid confusion we like to point out that there are two distinct points of contact of the Universität Hamburg you have to deal with for application and enrollment:
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'''Mid-May''' Admission notification (23 May): The Campus Center will publish the results (acceptance, waiting list, rejection) of the current application period in your STiNE account. In case you receive a letter of acceptance - the letter will provide instructions on how and when to enrol. Please also contact the IAS Team asap, so we can send you more information on the study program, onboarding and assist you with any questions you have. Because of the two jurisdictions IAS Team (entire program coordination) & CampusCenter (central administration area) the IAS Team can only estimate who receives what letter when.  For every other letter please read: [[Rejection | Rejection & WaitingList]].
  
1. '''The IAS Team''': The IAS Team is part of the '''Department of Informatics''', Universität Hamburg. Amongst other things, the IAS Team + academic advisor is responsible for the application process, selection process, program coordination, curriculum, questions about the IAS program, counseling of students and applicants regarding study plans, and exams. The IAS Team runs the IAS program and also contains the selection committee (a group of professors, post-doctoral researchers, lecturers, academic advisors) who select the applications. You should direct all questions regarding the content of the program, your curriculum, application, website, wiki, and difficulties while studying to the IAS Team. The IAS Team is managed by this academic advisor, who also is a researcher and lecturer and works closely with the academic office at the department of informatics but not for.
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'''29 May''' Deadline for enrolment.
  
'''The academic office at the department of informatics for enrolled students''': There is also an academic coordinator for IAS (Björn Hanssen) who you should contact when you have questions regarding e.g. module and exam registrations, recognition of credit points, recognition of german lectures or other lectures, transcript, etc.). They are not involved in the application process and will only become relevant once you start studying at Universität Hamburg [https://www.inf.uni-hamburg.de/en/studies/orga/stb.html Contact academic office].
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=I have received a letter of acceptance ("Zulassungsbescheid")=
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Congratulations! You are one of the top 20 of a very long list of applicants. The letter of acceptance is precious for many applicants. The central administration (CampusCenter) manages the enrolment process for the entire Universität Hamburg. Please ask the CampusCenter regarding questions on how to enrol - contact should be stated on your letter of acceptance. If not use the [https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en/campuscenter/beratung/info-beratung-online/kontaktformular-campus-center.html CampusCenter Contact Form]. Please tell also the IAS Team if you have any questions addressed to the CampusCenter (we are interested in updating the wiki). Here is a rather outdated help of the offline '''matriculation form''' : [[Matriculation Form | Help for the Enrollment Form]].  
  
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==Enrollment Deadline==
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'''Usually 1 week after notification (~29 May):''' For enrollment, the accepted applicants have to follow the procedure stated in their letter of acceptance (that is always the most up-to-date information). Check your letter! It is always a good idea to emphasise that you are an international student while enrolling - check your international address.
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After completing the enrollment form and fulfilling the points of the instructions - you are enrolled. Congratulation!
  
2. '''CampusCenter Team:''' part of the '''central administration''' of the entire university. The Team for Application and Admission ("Team Bewerbung und Zulassung TBZ") is located at the Campus Center - Main Campus and part of the central administration (Do not confuse this with the IAS Team and Selection Committee). They are running the online system STiNE, are centrally responsible for all admissions at the university, as well as for processing admissions and handling legal issues for around 44000 students at UHH. The CampusCenter provides central student documents (student ID card, confirmation documents) and has full control over all formal issues leading to your enrollment (after the Selection Committee reviewed and ranked the applications). Once you are fully enrolled (paid semester contribution), responsibility is (partly) handed back to the IAS-Team and the academic office at the department of informatics and to your academic advisor who is the contact for all study issues. The CampusCenter is responsible for sending your letter of acceptance/rejection/waiting list and the enrollment process. You will need to send your enrollment documents to the CampusCenter once accepted!. Please contact the Campus Center for all questions regarding the official enrollment or confirmation of enrollment for a visa. Contact them via the [https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en/campuscenter/beratung/info-beratung-online/kontaktformular-campus-center.html CampusCenter].
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==FAQ for newly enrolled students==
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Here the IAS Team has collected some questions that you may wonder about:  
  
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===Acknowledgement of enrollment===
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The CampusCenter usually sends an (automatic) acknowledgment for receiving your enrolment documents (at least for online enrollment). If you need a special acknowledgment for your '''visa''', you need to request it via the [https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en/campuscenter/beratung/info-beratung-online/kontaktformular-campus-center.html CampusCenter Contact Form].
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Once enrolled, your place for the Master International Adaptive Systems is secured until the semester starts, even though you might not have received any preliminary semester documents and have not paid the semester contribution. Please read the paragraph about Health insurance and semester contribution.
  
As a rule of thumb - always contact the IAS Team first: [https://www.master-intelligent-adaptive-systems.com/contact/ How to contact the IAS Team]
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===Rough schedule after enrollment===
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'''End of August - end of September''', the CampusCenter will send you an email with your student STiNE login, preliminary semester documents and only then will demand the payment of your semester contribution. After you have paid, you will receive your complete semester documents, new STiNE student login & tans.
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At this point, you may have arrived in Hamburg and probably will have started studying. Sending the preliminary documents this late is an administrative decision of the central administration (CampusCenter) at Universität Hamburg. Sorry. Sometimes they send the email with preliminary documents only very late in September. ''Do not worry''. If you need an acknowledgement of preliminary enrollment for assurance/visa/bank account, please request it, [https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en/campuscenter/beratung/info-beratung-online/kontaktformular-campus-center.html CampusCenter Contact Form].
  
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Please also tell the IAS-Team in cc if you have any worries/questions regarding enrollment.
  
=What happens after I send my application (for students starting in 2020)?=
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'''Late September - first weeks of October: ''' There are a [https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en/piasta/veranstaltungen/piasta-welcome.html
'''31 March''' You have sent your application to the IAS Team at the Department of Informatics before the 31 of March. In the next step the IAS Team evaluates your application.  
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general international welcome week organised by PIASTA] and an IAS specific orientation week to help you settle in, receive computer science logins and understand the process of booking courses. Please attend. Orientation/Introductory courses for IAS start usually in the second week of October shortly before the lecture period starts (see onboarding emails regarding IAS Orientation oe-ias@informatik ... in July/August).
  
'''Mid-May''', the IAS Team sends a list ranking all eligible applicants to the CampusCenter Team (the central administration of Universität Hamburg).
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'''Lecture start mid-October'''
Once the ranking is done, the enrollment process is happening at the CampusCenter until you are fully enrolled. This also means that we at the department of informatics have no access to the enrollment process in detail and only receive the final list of enrolled students shortly before the start of the semester! Please tell the IAS Team as soon as you have received a letter of acceptance and when you have enrolled yourself in order for you to receive all informational emails regarding the start of your studies. [https://www.master-intelligent-adaptive-systems.com/contact/ Find the IAS Team contact information here]. The IAS Team will stay in contact with the accepted students after application to ease the transition into your new study program in October/November, e.g. weeks of orientation. The IAS-Team with the academic advisors manages the IAS study program. In general, you should always contact or at least cc the IAS Team (= your academic advisor) first.
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Check the [https://www.master-intelligent-adaptive-systems.com IAS Website] & the [https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en/campuscenter/studienorganisation/studienverlauf/semestertermine.html universities main page] whether there are changes regarding the lecture start and the way of teaching (digital / in-class). The last 2 semesters have been taught in digital form. Unfortunately, the University makes this decision on short notice.  
  
'''Admission Notifications:'''
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===I do not have German health insurance! What do I have to do?===
'''Mid-May''', the Campus Center will publish the results (acceptance, waiting list, rejection) of the current application period in your STiNE account. The Campus Center Team decides how many of the top-ranked students receive a letter of acceptance (around 20 + overbookings) and provides instruction on how to enroll. Everybody else receives either a waiting list notification or rejection (missed minimum requirements or incomplete application). For rejections and waiting list, please read this page: [[Rejection | Rejection & WaitingList]].
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You can ''' only''' get German health insurance once you have a valid address in Germany. The Campus Center Team for Application and Admission is aware of this problem for international students. As long as you have provided an address outside Germany in your enrollment documents, you only need to confirm German health insurance once you are in Germany and have accommodation. It is always a good idea to state in the enrollment form that you are an international student from outside Europe/Germany (if the online form lets you). The CampusCenter advises international students to provide their health insurance at the latest in mid-October.  
  
'''For accepted students:'''
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Please check the official information here: [https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en/campuscenter/bewerbung/bachelor-staatsexamen/zulassung-einschreibung/krankenversicherung Info of Universität Hamburg] and [https://www.hamburg.com/welcome/career-profession/study/11872998/health-insurance/ General Info of the city of Hamburg]. If you are over 30 years old, please also read the section about 30 years and older: [https://www.hamburg.com/welcome/career-profession/study/11872998/health-insurance/ Info of the city of Hamburg] :  
  
'''Enrollment Deadline:'''
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Please note "travel health insurance" does ''not'' provide sufficient coverage for the duration of studies in Germany.
'''25th June! usually 1-2 weeks after notification:''' For enrollment, the accepted applicants have to follow the procedure stated in their letter of acceptance (that is always the most up-to-date information). For 2020, online enrollment is possible. Check your letter! It is always a good idea to emphasize that you are an international student if it is possible in the new online process - see health insurance section and links in the FAQa.
 
After sending/uploading the enrollment form and copies of your certificates, the accepted applicants are enrolled and for sure a student of the Universität Hamburg. Congratulations.  
 
  
Acknowledgment of enrollment:
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Please see the FAQ section on [[FAQ:Main|health insurance]].
The CampusCenter may not send any acknowledgment for receiving your documents (especially if you have sent documents via postal mail). If you need an "special" acknowledgment for a visa, you need to request it via CampusCenter contact form.
 
Once enrolled, your place for the Master International Adaptive Systems is secured until the semester starts even though you might not have received any preliminary semester documents and have not paid the semester contribution. Please read the paragraph about Health insurance.
 
  
By '''Mid of August - 30 September''' (maybe later or earlier due to the coronavirus pandemic) the CampusCenter will have sent an email with your new student STiNE login, preliminary semester documents, and demand for payment of your semester contribution. After you have paid you will receive your full semester documents (at that point you will have arrived in Germany and at Universität Hamburg, probably will have started studying). Sending the preliminary documents that late is an administrative decision of the central administration (CampusCenter) at the Universität Hamburg. Sorry. Sometimes they are really late in September (2020 might be even later) with sending this one email with preliminary documents. ''Do not worry'' and if you need an acknowledgment of preliminary enrollment for assurance/visa/bank account please request it, [https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en/campuscenter/beratung/info-beratung-online/kontaktformular-campus-center.html CampusCenter Contact Form]. Please also tell the IAS-Team in cc if you have any worries regarding enrollment.  
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If the next semester classes are in digital form - you do not need German health insurance if you are not in Germany.
  
'''Arriving in Hamburg and orientation weeks:'''
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=== Where do I have to send the matriculation (enrollment) documents? ===
'''26 October: ''' The last two weeks in October are welcome/orientation weeks. Please attend. Orientation/Introductory courses for IAS start on 26 October 2020 (see mails regarding Orientation). Additionally, for all (international) students there are online introductory courses organized by PIASTA: https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en/piasta/veranstaltungen/piasta-welcome.html
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The letter of acceptance contains instructions on how to enroll. Enrollment is online. You will have to upload some documents and after enrollment completion, your study place is reserved for you.
  
'''Semster starts 2 November 2020'''
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===How to waive your place (after enrollment)===
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the winter semester will start late - 2 November 2020.  The Universität Hamburg has not made any more decisions regarding another online semester so far. All accepted students who have confirmed their acceptance and enrollment plans with the IAS Team will receive updates via mail asap. Please, also check https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en/newsroom/intern/2020/0131-corona-faq.html for general information about studying at UHH with coronavirus.  
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In case you are one of the 20 fortunate students receiving a letter of acceptance and have enrolled yourself but decided you do not want to start studying the IAS Master, please fill in this form as early as possible:
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Please be a fair player; otherwise, people on the waiting list won't be contacted, and the place will be lost. Nobody will be contacted once the semester has started.  
  
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* [https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en/campuscenter/bewerbung/bachelor-staatsexamen/zulassung-einschreibung/verzicht.html Free your accepted place for somebody on the waiting list]
  
The central administration (CampusCenter) manages only the notification whether you are accepted/rejected/put on the waiting list and the formal enrollment and visa issues. That means please notify the [https://www.master-intelligent-adaptive-systems.com/contact/ IAS Team] when you receive a letter of acceptance right away. Then we can inform you about how/when the winter semester starts for the new batch and provide you with updates on the coronavirus changes.
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===I have visa problems ===
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Use this [https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en/campuscenter/beratung/info-beratung-online/kontaktformular-campus-center.html contact form] of the CampusCenter for requesting visa help (official documents etc.).
  
=I have received a letter of acceptance ("Zulassungsbescheid")=
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Please note that you need to provide detailed personal information (name, program, enrolled, country, problem, application nr, student number) and ask precise questions. The CampusCenter does not have the time to write 100 emails asking for info step by step. If your visa matter is time relevant, please emphasize that in your request.
Congratulations! You are one of the top 20 of a very long list of applicants. The letter of acceptance is very precious for a lot of applicants. The letter of acceptance should tell you how and when you need to enroll yourself.  Some help for the offline '''matricualtion form''' is provided here: see the [[FAQ:Matriculation Form | matriculation form page]]. The enrollment is managed by the central administration's CampusCenter Team Application and Admission who manages all enrollments of the entire Universität Hamburg. If you have questions regarding how to enroll please ask the CampusCenter
 
  
If you are NOT planning to take the place PLEASE waive the acceptance officially - only when you do so before the semester starts another applicant will be notified. * [https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en/campuscenter/bewerbung/bachelor-staatsexamen/zulassung-einschreibung/verzicht.html Free your place for somebody on the waiting list]
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If nobody answers within 48h or you have a timely pressing matter, please check again that you have stated the importance and provided all information necessary.
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Please keep the IAS Team informed - we may have direct contact for very important cases  [https://www.master-intelligent-adaptive-systems.com/contact/ You can find the IAS Team contact information here].
  
==I have already sent certified/attested copies for application, do I have to send them again for matriculation?==
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=== Postponing the start of your studies once enrolled ===
Until 2019 yes. 2020 online enrollment is possible. For 2021 we do not know yet. Please follow the instructions stated in the letter of acceptance. You have to understand that the "IAS Team (+selection committee)" at the Department of Informatics is the place where you sent your application. The University’s Team at the CampusCenter ("Team for Application and Admission, Ger: ''Team Bewerbung und Zulassung'') is the place where you send your enrollment documents = central administration of the entire Universität Hamburg. They are two different institutions spread across Hamburg.  
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In general, the IAS program commences once a year in the winter semester - you should start studying in October the year you have applied - in general, there is no "postponing" possible.  
  
In case you are experiencing any problems while enrolling yourself, then please contact both teams together in one email.
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If you want to '''start in the next year's winter semester''', you need to waive your place and apply again without any better chances than any other application of the new application period.
  
For 2020 your letter of acceptance states this:
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= Statistics 2024 =
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Short statistics: There were 551 applications and only 20 open spaces to be filled. Therefore, the requirements for applying are strict with no exception. We received applications from 50 nations for 20 spaces. The Top 30 included 19 nations, 40% women, 50% men, and 10% diverse.
  
To enroll, you will first need to accept the university place. Pursuant to Section 25 subsection 1 no. 1–3 of the University    Admission Bylaws (UniZS), you must meet the following requirements:
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= Waiving your enrollment (free your place for somebody else) =
  
1. Carefully complete the following form: www.uni-hamburg.de/online-enrollment
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If you have enrolled yourself and '''you do not want to start studying''', PLEASE waive the enrollment officially - only when you do so before the semester starts. The CampusCenter can notify another applicant on the waiting list.
Submit this form and attach all of the supporting documents detailed in the checklist www.uni-hamburg.de/checklistmasterinternational
 
2. Universität Hamburg must receive your complete enrollment application by June 25, 2020. '''This deadline is final; no extensions can be granted.'''
 
  
If you fail to meet any of these requirements, your application will become invalid and you will no longer be able to enroll.
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* Use this form: [https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en/campuscenter/bewerbung/bachelor-staatsexamen/zulassung-einschreibung/verzicht.html Free your place for somebody on the waiting list]
  
If your letter of acceptance states the above, please follow these instructions and follow these links: they should lead you to the online procedure. Please check your letter and with the campus center if you are unsure what to do.
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* Contact the IAS Team asap
  
==I do not have German health insurance! What do I have to do?==
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=Points of contact=
You can '''only''' get German health insurance once you have a valid address in Germany. The Campus Center Team for Application and Admission is aware of this problem for international students. You need to provide the confirmation once you are in Germany and have accommodation. It is always a good idea to state in enrollment/matriculation form, that you are an international student from outside Europe/Germany (if the online form let's you).
 
  
Please check the official information here: [https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en/campuscenter/bewerbung/bachelor-staatsexamen/zulassung-einschreibung/krankenversicherung Info of Universität Hamburg ] and [https://www.hamburg.com/welcome/career-profession/study/11872998/health-insurance/ Info of the city of Hamburg]. If you are over 30 years old please also read the section about 30 years and older: [https://www.hamburg.com/welcome/career-profession/study/11872998/health-insurance/ Info of the city of Hamburg] :  
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To avoid confusion, we would like to explain the two distinct points of contact at the Universität Hamburg that you have to communicate with for the application, enrollment process and onboarding process:
  
Travel health insurance does ''not'' provide sufficient coverage for the duration of studies in Germany.
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1. '''Your first point of contact is the IAS Team.''' The IAS Team is part of the '''Department of Informatics''', Universität Hamburg. The IAS Team and academic advisor are responsible for the application process, selection process, program coordination, program curriculum, questions about the IAS program, counselling of students and applicants regarding study plans and exams. The IAS Team runs the IAS program and contains the selection committee (a group of professors, post-doctoral researchers, lecturers, academic advisors) who select the applications. Please direct all questions regarding the program's content, curriculum, application, website, wiki, and difficulties while studying to the IAS Team. The academic advisor manages the IAS Team. The academic advisor is a researcher and lecturer who cooperates closely with the academic office at the informatics department. Please keep in mind that their main tasks are research and teaching - not administrative when contacting the IAS Team. [https://www.master-intelligent-adaptive-systems.com/contact/ Contact the IAS Team]
  
Please see the FAQ section on [[FAQ:Main|health insurance]].
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'''The academic office at the department of informatics for enrolled students''': You should contact the academic coordinator for IAS Björn Hanssen when you have questions regarding module and exam registrations, recognition of credit points, recognition of German lectures or other lectures, transcript, etc.). They are not involved in the application process and will only become relevant once you start studying at Universität Hamburg. [https://www.inf.uni-hamburg.de/en/studies/orga/stb.html Contact academic office].
  
If the next semester is online - you do not need a German health insurance if you are not in Germany.
 
  
== Where do I have to send the matriculation (enrollment) documents? ==
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2. '''CampusCenter Team:''' The CampusCenter Team is part of the '''central administration''' of the entire university. The Team for Application and Admission ("Team Bewerbung und Zulassung TBZ") is located at the Campus Center (Main Campus) and part of the central administration (Do not confuse this with the IAS Team and Selection Committee). They are running the online system STiNE, are centrally responsible for processing admissions and handling legal issues for the approximately 44000 students at UHH. The Campus Center provides student documents (student ID card, confirmation documents). It has full control over all formal issues leading to your enrollment (after the Selection Committee of the IAS Team reviewed and ranked your application). Once you are fully enrolled (paid semester contribution), responsibility is partly handed back to the IAS-Team and the academic office at the informatics department; and to your academic advisor, who is the contact for all study issues. The Campus Center is responsible for sending your letter of acceptance/rejection/waiting list and the enrollment process. You will need to send your enrollment documents to the Campus Center once you are accepted!. Please contact the Campus Center for all questions regarding the official enrollment or confirmation of enrollment for a visa. Contact them via the [https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en/campuscenter/beratung/info-beratung-online/kontaktformular-campus-center.html Campus Center].
The letter of acceptance tells you how to enroll. In 2020 the online enrollment is possible.
 
  
==How to waive your place (after enrollment)==
 
In case you are one of the 20 lucky students receiving a letter of acceptance in June 2020 and have enrolled yourself, but decided you do not want to start studying the IAS Master, please fill in this form as early as possible:
 
Please be a fair player, otherwise, people on the waiting list won't be contacted and the place will be lost. Nobody will be contacted when the semester has started.
 
  
* [https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en/campuscenter/bewerbung/bachelor-staatsexamen/zulassung-einschreibung/verzicht.html Free your accepted place for somebody on the waiting list]
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As a rule of thumb - always contact the IAS Team first: [https://www.master-intelligent-adaptive-systems.com/contact/ How to contact the IAS Team]
 
 
==I have visa problems ==
 
Please contact immanuel.petermeier@uni-hamburg.de from the central administration. Please note, you need to provide in detail personal information (name, program, enrolled, country, problem, application nr) and ask a precise question. Mr. Petermeier is responsible for all Internationals of the entire university - it may take a while for him to answer. He has certainly no time to write 1000 emails asking for your full information email by email. You may also use the contact form of the CampusCenter.
 
Please put the IAS Team in cc. [https://www.master-intelligent-adaptive-systems.com/contact/ You can find the IAS Team contact information here].
 
 
 
== Postponing the start of your studies once accepted ==
 
You may come late during the first semester until 31 March the next year if you pay your semester contribution. That means you miss your first semester (if it is not online). The IAS study program cannot hold your place for longer than that. That means if you want to start in the next year's winter semester you need to apply again without any better chances than any other applicant of the new application period.
 
 
 
=Statistics 2020 =
 
Short statistics: Usually, there are more than 400 applications and only 20 open spaces to be filled therefore the requirements for applying are strict with no exception. Even in the coronavirus times, the application number has been >300 from 35 nations for 20 spaces. The Top 30 included 19 nations, 40% women, 60% men.
 

Latest revision as of 13:33, 26 April 2024

This page explains the enrollment process if you have received a letter of acceptance. If you have received a rejection or a rejection with a waiting list option, please redirect to this Page: Rejection & WaitingList.

What happens after I send my application? Rough timetable

31 March: After you have submitted your application on STiNE, the IAS selection committee screens your application. If complete and you have succeeded in proving the minimum requirements your application will enter the evaluation process according to the selection criteria. (If not, your application will be rejected and you will receive a letter of rejection from the CampusCenter (central administration), see Rejection & WaitingList. )

End of April: The IAS selection committee finalizes their evaluation. All valid applications are ranked and evaluated. The IAS selection committee sends the ranked list of all eligible applicants and rejected applicants to the CampusCenter (central administration of Universität Hamburg).

Beginning of May The CampusCenter checks and evaluates the list and ultimately decides how many of the top-ranked applicants will receive a letter of acceptance. The IAS selection committee or IAS Team do not have jurisdiction here. Overbooking rates, Hardship cases and Waiting semesters cases are evaluated by the CampusCenter according to University law. This may change the order of who and when an applicant receives a letter of acceptance.

Mid-May Admission notification (23 May): The Campus Center will publish the results (acceptance, waiting list, rejection) of the current application period in your STiNE account. In case you receive a letter of acceptance - the letter will provide instructions on how and when to enrol. Please also contact the IAS Team asap, so we can send you more information on the study program, onboarding and assist you with any questions you have. Because of the two jurisdictions IAS Team (entire program coordination) & CampusCenter (central administration area) the IAS Team can only estimate who receives what letter when. For every other letter please read: Rejection & WaitingList.

29 May Deadline for enrolment.

I have received a letter of acceptance ("Zulassungsbescheid")

Congratulations! You are one of the top 20 of a very long list of applicants. The letter of acceptance is precious for many applicants. The central administration (CampusCenter) manages the enrolment process for the entire Universität Hamburg. Please ask the CampusCenter regarding questions on how to enrol - contact should be stated on your letter of acceptance. If not use the CampusCenter Contact Form. Please tell also the IAS Team if you have any questions addressed to the CampusCenter (we are interested in updating the wiki). Here is a rather outdated help of the offline matriculation form : Help for the Enrollment Form.

Enrollment Deadline

Usually 1 week after notification (~29 May): For enrollment, the accepted applicants have to follow the procedure stated in their letter of acceptance (that is always the most up-to-date information). Check your letter! It is always a good idea to emphasise that you are an international student while enrolling - check your international address. After completing the enrollment form and fulfilling the points of the instructions - you are enrolled. Congratulation!

FAQ for newly enrolled students

Here the IAS Team has collected some questions that you may wonder about:

Acknowledgement of enrollment

The CampusCenter usually sends an (automatic) acknowledgment for receiving your enrolment documents (at least for online enrollment). If you need a special acknowledgment for your visa, you need to request it via the CampusCenter Contact Form. Once enrolled, your place for the Master International Adaptive Systems is secured until the semester starts, even though you might not have received any preliminary semester documents and have not paid the semester contribution. Please read the paragraph about Health insurance and semester contribution.

Rough schedule after enrollment

End of August - end of September, the CampusCenter will send you an email with your student STiNE login, preliminary semester documents and only then will demand the payment of your semester contribution. After you have paid, you will receive your complete semester documents, new STiNE student login & tans. At this point, you may have arrived in Hamburg and probably will have started studying. Sending the preliminary documents this late is an administrative decision of the central administration (CampusCenter) at Universität Hamburg. Sorry. Sometimes they send the email with preliminary documents only very late in September. Do not worry. If you need an acknowledgement of preliminary enrollment for assurance/visa/bank account, please request it, CampusCenter Contact Form.

Please also tell the IAS-Team in cc if you have any worries/questions regarding enrollment.

Late September - first weeks of October: There are a [https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en/piasta/veranstaltungen/piasta-welcome.html general international welcome week organised by PIASTA] and an IAS specific orientation week to help you settle in, receive computer science logins and understand the process of booking courses. Please attend. Orientation/Introductory courses for IAS start usually in the second week of October shortly before the lecture period starts (see onboarding emails regarding IAS Orientation oe-ias@informatik ... in July/August).

Lecture start mid-October Check the IAS Website & the universities main page whether there are changes regarding the lecture start and the way of teaching (digital / in-class). The last 2 semesters have been taught in digital form. Unfortunately, the University makes this decision on short notice.

I do not have German health insurance! What do I have to do?

You can only get German health insurance once you have a valid address in Germany. The Campus Center Team for Application and Admission is aware of this problem for international students. As long as you have provided an address outside Germany in your enrollment documents, you only need to confirm German health insurance once you are in Germany and have accommodation. It is always a good idea to state in the enrollment form that you are an international student from outside Europe/Germany (if the online form lets you). The CampusCenter advises international students to provide their health insurance at the latest in mid-October.

Please check the official information here: Info of Universität Hamburg and General Info of the city of Hamburg. If you are over 30 years old, please also read the section about 30 years and older: Info of the city of Hamburg :

Please note "travel health insurance" does not provide sufficient coverage for the duration of studies in Germany.

Please see the FAQ section on health insurance.

If the next semester classes are in digital form - you do not need German health insurance if you are not in Germany.

Where do I have to send the matriculation (enrollment) documents?

The letter of acceptance contains instructions on how to enroll. Enrollment is online. You will have to upload some documents and after enrollment completion, your study place is reserved for you.

How to waive your place (after enrollment)

In case you are one of the 20 fortunate students receiving a letter of acceptance and have enrolled yourself but decided you do not want to start studying the IAS Master, please fill in this form as early as possible: Please be a fair player; otherwise, people on the waiting list won't be contacted, and the place will be lost. Nobody will be contacted once the semester has started.

I have visa problems

Use this contact form of the CampusCenter for requesting visa help (official documents etc.).

Please note that you need to provide detailed personal information (name, program, enrolled, country, problem, application nr, student number) and ask precise questions. The CampusCenter does not have the time to write 100 emails asking for info step by step. If your visa matter is time relevant, please emphasize that in your request.

If nobody answers within 48h or you have a timely pressing matter, please check again that you have stated the importance and provided all information necessary. Please keep the IAS Team informed - we may have direct contact for very important cases You can find the IAS Team contact information here.

Postponing the start of your studies once enrolled

In general, the IAS program commences once a year in the winter semester - you should start studying in October the year you have applied - in general, there is no "postponing" possible.

If you want to start in the next year's winter semester, you need to waive your place and apply again without any better chances than any other application of the new application period.

Statistics 2024

Short statistics: There were 551 applications and only 20 open spaces to be filled. Therefore, the requirements for applying are strict with no exception. We received applications from 50 nations for 20 spaces. The Top 30 included 19 nations, 40% women, 50% men, and 10% diverse.

Waiving your enrollment (free your place for somebody else)

If you have enrolled yourself and you do not want to start studying, PLEASE waive the enrollment officially - only when you do so before the semester starts. The CampusCenter can notify another applicant on the waiting list.

  • Contact the IAS Team asap

Points of contact

To avoid confusion, we would like to explain the two distinct points of contact at the Universität Hamburg that you have to communicate with for the application, enrollment process and onboarding process:

1. Your first point of contact is the IAS Team. The IAS Team is part of the Department of Informatics, Universität Hamburg. The IAS Team and academic advisor are responsible for the application process, selection process, program coordination, program curriculum, questions about the IAS program, counselling of students and applicants regarding study plans and exams. The IAS Team runs the IAS program and contains the selection committee (a group of professors, post-doctoral researchers, lecturers, academic advisors) who select the applications. Please direct all questions regarding the program's content, curriculum, application, website, wiki, and difficulties while studying to the IAS Team. The academic advisor manages the IAS Team. The academic advisor is a researcher and lecturer who cooperates closely with the academic office at the informatics department. Please keep in mind that their main tasks are research and teaching - not administrative when contacting the IAS Team. Contact the IAS Team

The academic office at the department of informatics for enrolled students: You should contact the academic coordinator for IAS Björn Hanssen when you have questions regarding module and exam registrations, recognition of credit points, recognition of German lectures or other lectures, transcript, etc.). They are not involved in the application process and will only become relevant once you start studying at Universität Hamburg. Contact academic office.


2. CampusCenter Team: The CampusCenter Team is part of the central administration of the entire university. The Team for Application and Admission ("Team Bewerbung und Zulassung TBZ") is located at the Campus Center (Main Campus) and part of the central administration (Do not confuse this with the IAS Team and Selection Committee). They are running the online system STiNE, are centrally responsible for processing admissions and handling legal issues for the approximately 44000 students at UHH. The Campus Center provides student documents (student ID card, confirmation documents). It has full control over all formal issues leading to your enrollment (after the Selection Committee of the IAS Team reviewed and ranked your application). Once you are fully enrolled (paid semester contribution), responsibility is partly handed back to the IAS-Team and the academic office at the informatics department; and to your academic advisor, who is the contact for all study issues. The Campus Center is responsible for sending your letter of acceptance/rejection/waiting list and the enrollment process. You will need to send your enrollment documents to the Campus Center once you are accepted!. Please contact the Campus Center for all questions regarding the official enrollment or confirmation of enrollment for a visa. Contact them via the Campus Center.


As a rule of thumb - always contact the IAS Team first: How to contact the IAS Team