Apply now to begin your studies in the upcoming winter semester
To be eligible to apply for a study place in the Social Media Marketing & Management programme, applicants must first successfully complete a mandatory entrance exam. This entrance exam consists of three parts: an application form, an English proficiency test, and an online interview.
Please note: Passing the entrance exam is a prerequisite for applying to the programme, but it does not guarantee admission, as only a limited number of places is available. Admission is based on a ranking, with the entrance exam accounting for 70% and the school leaving certificate for 30%.
Online info session: application & admission
5 May 2026, 4 pm (CET)
Join our upcoming online info session to learn more about the application and admission process and get all your questions answered!
Please send an email to contactSMM@hdm-stuttgart.de to register for the session.
The documents you need for your application may vary based on your nationality
Germany
Requirements
1) Abitur, Fachhochschulreife, fachgebundenes Abitur or other recognised advanced vocational training
2) Certificate of successful completion of the entrance exam
EU/EEA
Requirements
1) University entrance qualification
2) Certificate of recognition issued by Studienkolleg Konstanz
3) Certificate of successful completion of the entrance exam
Worldwide, non EU/EEA
Requirements
1) University entrance qualification
2) Certificate of recognition issued by Studienkolleg Konstanz (APS certificate required for applicants from China, India and Vietnam)
3) Certificate of successful completion of the entrance exam
Before starting your studies
1) Visa
2) Blocked account
Exceptional cases and special entry requirements
If your situation doesn’t fit the standard application categories, you can find guidance in our FAQ section at the bottom of this page, where we address a range of exceptional cases. You can also contact our admissions team directly at admissionsSMM@hdm-stuttgart.de.
To the FAQ sectionMark your calendar: entrance exam dates
Entrance exam (Round 1):
- Online application form deadline: 20 May 2026 (via application portal)
- Oxford Online Placement Test: 1 June 2026 (by invitation)
- Online interviews: 2/3 June 2026 (by invitation)
- All application documents deadline: 10 June 2026 (school leaving certificates and certificates of recognition can be submitted until 15 July 2026)
Entrance exam (Round 2):
- Online application form deadline: 30 June 2026 (via application portal)
- Oxford Online Placement Test: 6 July 2026 (by invitation)
- Online interviews: 9/10 July 2026 (by invitation)
- All application documents deadline: 15 July 2026
Important: International applicants from non-EU/EEA countries without a German higher education entrance qualification must apply for entrance exam (Round 1). All other international applicants may apply for (Round 1) or (Round 2). However, as your school leaving certificates must be recognised by the Studienkolleg Konstanz, we recommend applying for entrance exam (Round 1).
Step-by-step guide for your successful application
Admission to our Bachelor's programme in Social Media Marketing & Management requires one of the following qualifications. For details on the recognition of prior study programmes and academic periods, please visit the AN! website.
- General higher education entrance qualification ("Abitur")
- Subject-specific higher education entrance qualification ("Fachgebundenes Abitur")
- Entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences ("Fachhochschulreife")
- Recognised vocational qualification (e.g. master craftsman, business administrator, vocational training with relevant work experience and a passed aptitude test)
- Foreign educational certificates (incl. recognition documents)
Please access our application portal and create an account. After registering, you will automatically need to fill in your personal data and upload your school certificate (and, if applicable, your recognition document). Please read the following guidance before uploading your documents.
Guidance for uploading certificates:
- If you have already completed school, please upload your school leaving certificate.
- If you have not yet completed school, please upload your most recent school report, including your expected date of completion.
- If you hold an international qualification and have already applied for its recognition, please upload the recognition document in the designated upload field.
- Please upload only the documents listed above. Do not include your CV or any additional certificates beyond those specified.
Once your profile is complete, proceed to start your application by selecting “My Applications” (in the left-hand menu). You will be asked to enter an application token. Please make sure to have the token ready.
Application token: 689078
The online application form is the first part of the entrance exam. It collects relevant personal information and includes questions about your skills, experience, and ambitions. Please ensure that you answer all questions truthfully and that all information is filled in in English.
Once you have submitted the online application form, this stage is complete. After the deadline has passed, we will review all submissions and invite selected candidates to proceed to the next stage of the entrance exam.
After evaluating the submitted online application forms, we will invite the best candidates to the second selection round, which includes an English language test and an interview. If you are selected, you will receive an email with all the details regarding the test and interview. Both will be conducted online, so please ensure you have a computer, headphones, and a reliable internet connection.
In general the English test evaluates your overall language proficiency needed for the programme. It focuses on the following areas:
- Reading comprehension: understanding short academic or media-related texts
- Grammar and vocabulary: selecting correct structures and appropriate wording
- Listening comprehension: identifying key information from spoken audio
Candidates with a B2 level of English or higher are eligible to participate in the online interview. The interview is an opportunity for you to learn more about us and ask any questions about the programme. During the interview, we will focus on your motivation to study Social Media Marketing & Management as well as your personal background. The interview will last approximately 10-15 minutes and will be conducted via Zoom.
After the interview, you will be issued a certificate indicating your overall grade on the entrance exam. The entrance exam accounts for 70 % of your final score, while your school leaving grade contributes 30 %.
Please apply only if you have successfully passed the entrance exam. If you have not taken the entrance exam or did not pass, kindly refrain from submitting your application documents through HdM’s admission portal.
Please note: Passing the entrance exam does not guarantee a place on the programme. It only means that you are eligible to apply.
To apply for a place on the degree programme, you must register on the HdM admission portal. After successful registration, you will be able to upload your documents, including your school leaving certificate, the recognition from Studienkolleg Konstanz (if applicable), and the certificate confirming that you have passed the entrance exam.
Important: All applicants from the EU/EEA must additionally register on hochschulstart.de and prioritise their applications there. After successfully passing the entrance exam, you will receive further information about this process. All applicants from non-EU/EEA countries only need to upload their documents via the HdM admission portal.
Study fees vary depending on your individual status
Costs per semester: Non EU/EEA students**: EUR
Student Services (compulsory for every student): 96.50*
Students' Union (compulsory for every student): 15.00*
Administrative Costs (compulsory for every student): 80.00*
Tuition Fees: 1,500.00*
Health Insurance (compulsory for every student): 110.00*
Total costs EUR: 1,801.50*
Costs per semester: EU/EEA students: EUR
Student Services (compulsory for every student): 96.50*
Students' Union (compulsory for every student): 15.00*
Administrative Costs (compulsory for every student): 80.00*
Total costs EUR: 191.50*
*Costs are subject to change
**Non-EU/EEA students with a German school leaving certificate (e.g. Abitur) are exempt from the tuition fee.
Further information about the application process
Entry with vocational qualifications
Applicants with recognised advanced vocational qualifications, such as a Meister diploma, or equivalent professional credentials are eligible for a Bachelor's degree programme. Applicants with at least two years of vocational training and three years of relevant work experience may also qualify, but must complete an eligibility assessment and a guidance interview at HdM.
German applicants: entry with international qualifications
- If you are a German citizen and completed your Abitur abroad, please check:
- You live abroad: Your certificates can be recognised by the Regional Council in Stuttgart.
- You live in another German federal state: Contact the certificate recognition authority in your respective state.
- If you are a German citizen and obtained other foreign qualifications, use the anabin database for an initial assessment of equivalency. For admission to HdM, formal recognition must be obtained from Studienkolleg Konstanz. Important: Apply as early as possible – ideally as your first step – as processing times can be long. The certificate must be submitted by 15 July. Late submissions cannot be considered.
- If you are a German citizen and hold an IB (International Baccalaureate), your diploma must be recognised by the Regional Council in Stuttgart, whether obtained in Germany or abroad.
International applicants: entry with international qualifications
In order to be admitted to HdM, international applicants with an international degree need a recognition of certificates from the Studienkolleg Konstanz. During the recognition process, the relevant authority will check whether you can study with your school-leaving certificate at a University of Applied Sciences in Baden-Württemberg and will convert your grade into the German grading system. You will receive a certificate of recognition, which is required for your application at HdM.
Important: Please make sure to apply for the recognition as early as possible – ideally before you submit your application to HdM – as long processing times are to be expected. The certificate of recognition must be submitted by the end of the application period (15 July). Late submissions cannot be considered.
International applicants: entry with German Abitur
International applicants who have obtained a German higher education entrance qualification such as Abitur are eligible to apply directly to HdM. No additional recognition of certificates is required, as the German Abitur is already a recognised qualification for admission to Universities of Applied Sciences in Baden-Württemberg.
Please note that all applicants must still meet the programme-specific requirements, including proof of sufficient English language proficiency and successful participation in the entrance exam.
If you are unsure whether your school-leaving certificate qualifies as a German Abitur, please contact the HdM admissions office before submitting your application.
International applicants from China, India, Vietnam, Mongolia
Your application must include an original certificate from the Academic Examinations Center ("Akademische Prüfstelle APS"). Please refer to your national representation for further information on requirements, deadlines and the application process.
Visa and blocked account
As an international student, you will need a visa and proof of sufficient funds to study in Germany. The visa process can take several months, so we highly recommend applying well in advance. In many cases, you can schedule a visa appointment even before receiving your admission letter. However, you will need the letter when attending the appointment. Make sure to familiarise yourself with the specific documents required for your visa application, the necessary financial proof, and the available funding options for your studies in Germany. For more information, please visit Student Visa Germany and Blocked Account.
Recognition of prior study courses and study periods
For details on the recognition of prior study courses and study periods, please visit the AN! website (available in English).
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contactSMM@hdm-stuttgart.de