FAQ

You are eligible to apply for study in the CMEPS program if you:
– Hold a B.A. degree or equivalent in Political Science or related social science (to start your CMEPS studies at AUC or in Tübingen), or
– Hold a B.A. degree or equivalent in Middle East Studies, Islamic Studies, or a related discipline (to start your CMEPS studies in Tübingen) and
– Provide evidence of your proficiency in English, e.g. through a TOEFL or IELTS certificate. Please find more information here (See question: “Do I need to – prove my English language skills to apply?”

Yes. Please apply with your most up-to-date transcript of records. In this case, your final B.A. certificate must be handed to the admissions office as soon as it has been issued.

A bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Political Science or a related social science (at AUC and in Tübingen) or in Middle East Studies, Islamic Studies, or a related discipline (in Tübingen) qualifies you to study in the CMEPS program.
In any case of doubt regarding the eligibility of your B.A. degree, we highly encourage you to apply to our program. Every application will be reviewed and considered. The assessment of the eligibility of your B.A. degree will be done by the selection committee during the selection procedure and can not be assessed before your application.

At the University of Tübingen, admissions are restricted to applicants with a BA degree of 2.5 or above (in the German grading system, equivalent to a grade between B- and C+ in the American grading system). At the AUC, your final grade needs to be a 3.2 GPA or higher.

Students with a B.A. degree in Middle East Studies or Islamic Studies can apply for the CMEPS program in Tübingen, as a ‘two tracks’ system is available. Already having a sound knowledge of Arabic, they will take courses in political science methods during their first year (and some advanced Arabic), while their peers with a first degree in political science will take Arabic lessons. At the AUC, no two-track system is available. Hence, a first degree in political science or a similar field is required to apply to AUC.

English is the language of instruction of the CMEPS program. Language skills in English need to be certified through a certificate for applying.

The following proofs are accepted:

• a TOEFL test, with a total score of at least 90 points in total and a minimum of 21 points in each section of the internet-based test (iBT).
• an Academic IELTS, with a score of at least 6.5 in total and at least 7 in the writing section.
• If applying at Tuebingen, the certificate has to be uploaded to the online application! In case your TOEFL test has expired, please upload it nonetheless, it might still be accepted. You need to upload an English certificate in the online form in order to fulfill the formal conditions.
• If applying at AUC, please also refer to its website section “Application Checklists For Master’s and Graduate Diploma Programs” to learn about its required English test scores. The test has to be valid on your first day of classes at AUC. Unofficial results suffice for processing, but official results are needed before final admission.

If applying at Tuebingen, the following students are exempted from certifying their English language skills:

• students who have successfully completed a first degree program exclusively in English
• students with a recognized higher education entrance qualification which was obtained in English and in a country whose first official language is English or which was obtained in a sovereign function of one of these countries.

The evaluation of the suitability of your language proof is not determined prior to the application process. The applicants should assess whether their language proof or certificate aligns with the above-outlined specifications.

The selection of students is based on the applicant’s academic capabilities, personal qualifications, and motivation. The application is very competitive. When it comes to the selection process, the most relevant factor for selection is the applicant’s B.A. degree grade.
Activities such as internships or work experience that are relevant in the field of political science, such as university assistant jobs, internships in a politician’s office, think tanks, foundations, or in the civil society sector increase the chances of being selected.
A letter of recommendation from a university professor increases an applicant’s chances as well.
Lastly, a concise, well-structured, and well-written letter of motivation that displays close engagement with the study program and the curriculum leaves a positive impression on the applicant.
Information you provide during the online application about German language skills will not affect an applicant’s chances of being selected for a place of study.

Yes, you can apply for CMEPS with a degree higher than a Bachelor’s (B.A.). However, during the application selection process, only your B.A. grade will be considered. Additionally, please note that Tübingen’s exemption of tuition fees for nationals and other qualified individuals may expire. Therefore, it’s advised to check the current policy regarding tuition fees and funding at both universities.

Please ensure you provide an official translation of your degree if it is not in German, English, or French.

For commencing CMEPS at Tübingen, you will need to provide a printed and certified copy of your B.A. degree after gaining admission within the first weeks of your stay in Tübingen. The respective original document can be copied and certified at any citizen center (“Bürgeramt”) in Germany. You do not need any certified copies to apply for Tübingen, since uploading scans of the original documents to the application platform “ALMA” completes the application process.

At AUC, you must provide a certified copy of your degree/transcript when applying to the program. If your degree is not issued in English or Arabic, please include a certified translation. You will need to provide your official academic records, including the final transcript of the bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, showing courses and grades, and proof of degree completion.  The transcript and proof of degree completion need to have official stamps and signatures. An official enrollment certificate and/or the equivalency from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Universities may also be required. Original documents can be returned to the applicants at a later date. Please also refer to AUC’s website.

For applications at the University of Tübingen, please use the online application system ALMA:
Kindly note that submissions via email or postal mail are not accepted.
Please read the provided information carefully and follow the required steps as outlined in the online application system.

In the very first step of the application, you are asked to select the semester you are applying for. Please ensure you choose the appropriate winter term. It is important to note that applications for the summer term are not possible, and admission to the program for the second semester is also not possible.

For applications at the American University in Cairo, please apply here.

When applying to AUC, choose “Graduate Admissions” and specify “Fall 202x” as the entry date. Also, select the MA in Political Science, Comparative and Middle East Politics and Society (CMEPS). For further application details at AUC, refer to this site.

Regarding the University of Tübingen, you need to upload the following documents with your application:

• High School Diploma
• B.A. certificate or, if not yet available, the most up-to-date transcripts of records
• Curriculum Vitae, English
• Letter of motivation (up to two pages), English
• Proof of English language requirements

Optional documents

• Evidence of other achievements (internships, work experience, etc.)
• Letter of recommendation of an academic referee. Their contact details should be stated in the CV

Please provide all documents (CV, motivation letter, etc.) in English language. As an exception, certificates from a university, an internship employer, or another institution in German or French language do not require translation.

To apply at AUC, you need to submit the following documents with your application:

• Official transcript from your graduating university
• Curriculum Vitae
• At least two online letters of recommendation from persons familiar with your academic or professional background
• Statement of Purpose
• If you are not an AUC Graduate, then proof of English language skills (either TOEFL or IELTS)
• 2 passport-sized photographs
• Copy of your passport
• Please not that you will need to pay an application fee of 350 L.E. for the AUC application

The application window for Tübingen spans each year from February to May 15th, with no provision for late submissions. Application is only possible during that regular time frame.

The early admission deadline at AUC for the Fall semester is scheduled for mid-December, and the late admission deadline is set for the End of March. However, for the most accurate and up-to-date information on these dates, please inquire at the AUC’s website as they may be subject to change.

The application process is done by completing the application at ALMA and uploading all relevant documents there. The selection committee reserves the right to invite applicants for an interview on rare occasions, but usually, that does not take place. No other procedures are foreseen.

In case of receiving a letter of acceptance, you will be given a short timespan to send a scan of your hand-signed enrollment documents via email to the administration of Tübingen University. These documents will be provided via the ALMA platform. The sending of the signed scans then completes your enrollment. If you fail to send the hand-signed enrollment document via email within the given deadline, you will lose your admission. Furthermore, you will be asked to hand in printed and certified copies of relevant documents (e.g., your B.A. degree) within the first weeks of your stay in Tübingen at the administration. The respective documents can be certified at low cost at any citizen center (“Bürgeramt”) in Germany.

Starting with the application deadline, we inspect all received applications and try to inform the successful candidates as soon as possible. However, applications are just reviewed at the end of the application period. We thank you for your understanding that this process may take up to 6-8 weeks, depending on the number of applications received.

For Tübingen, letters of acceptance are usually provided at the middle or end of June via ALMA. Letters of rejection and a ranking on the waiting list are distributed via ALMA a few weeks later. Please log in to ALMA with the username and password that you created at the beginning of the application process to review the status of your application.

AUC applicants who applied before December 15th receive notification of their status by the end of March. AUC applicants who applied before April 1st receive notification of their status by the end of July.