Reconsideration of Master's Program Application Rejection

Dear Forum Members,

I hope this message finds you well. I am seeking advice regarding a recent issue I encountered with my application for the Master's program in Molecular and Plant Sciences at Universität Hamburg. My application number is BW-1841291.

I received a rejection letter stating that my application was excluded from the admission procedure for formal reasons, specifically that I did not provide proof of sufficient ECTS credits in the required practical courses. According to the selection commission, only two modules with 12 ECTS credits were recognized as practical courses.

I am surprised by this decision because my university places a significant emphasis on practical training. Approximately one quarter of my university hours were dedicated to laboratory practices. I had also included a document detailing 250 hours of practical training related to the master curriculum at my university, which appears not to have been taken into account. Additionally, my internship and Final Year Project, both entirely practical, were not considered either.

I have already sent follow-up emails to Dr. Markus Brändel, the contact person for admissions, on May 23rd and May 24th, but I have not yet received a complete response. In these emails, I requested clarification on what is considered a practical module and why my provided documents were not acknowledged. I also inquired about the possibility of an oversight or error in the review process and whether there is still an opportunity for me to enroll in the program.

Given this situation, I would like to know if it is possible to have my application reconsidered despite the formal rejection. Can an application be reconsidered if the rejection was due to what might be an administrative oversight? Or is the decision of the selection commission final, even if I disagree with their assessment?

Thank you in advance for any advice or information you can provide.

Best regards,
Irene Santolaya

Dear Irene Santolaya,

if you have any questions about the decision, you were right to contact the department. Please wait for an answer from Mr. Brändel.

If you do not agree with the rejection, you have the opportunity to appeal against the decision.
Please refer to the rejection notice for further information.

Kind regards
Sandra Hoffmann