To be eligible for admission to the Master’s programme, applicants must hold an undergraduate degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) comprising at least 180 ECTS credits, or a higher qualification (e.g. a German Magister or Diplom) awarded by an accredited university. The ifs welcomes talented applicants from all academic backgrounds, including those whose previous degrees are in fields unrelated to film and media.

In exceptional and well-justified cases, applicants with outstanding artistic qualifications who do not meet one or more of the formal admission requirements may apply to participate in the programme as advanced training participants.

Applicants must have worked in the field of media production for at least one year (see FAQ for details).

The MA Serial Storytelling requires very good English language skills of at least B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, e.g. by a TOEFL iBT result of at least 4 (before 2026: 72 points) or equivalent test results.

German language proficiency is only required for applicants to the German-language track. Applicants who are not native speakers of German and who wish to apply to the German-language track may be asked to provide proof of German language proficiency.

A solid understanding of the basics of screenwriting and dramaturgy in theory and practice is a prerequisite for this programme. This is assessed in the application process. If an applicant’s knowledge and skills in this field prove to be yet insufficient at the time of selection, the applicant may be required to enroll in the ifs’ »Summer School Screenwriting« (or in a comparable course) before the start of the Master’s Programme (additional costs apply). In these cases, admission is pending until proof has been provided.

To determine whether qualifications obtained abroad meet the ifs admission requirements, applicants can consult the ANABIN database: http://anabin.kmk.org. 

Applicants whose qualifications do not formally meet the admission requirements may still be considered for the programme if they can demonstrate outstanding talent and relevant professional experience. In such cases, they may be invited to participate in the admission procedure to demonstrate their individual artistic aptitude and apply for admission as an advanced training participant.

International students who require a residence permit must provide proof of sufficient financial resources to cover their living expenses in Germany. The required amount is based on the current maximum BAföG rate and is currently €992 per month for one year (€ 11.904 in total for the first year).

Fees for EU citizens

Tuition fee per semester:      2,750 euros including study fund
Semester fee at TH Köln:      more information
One-time registration fee:    400 euros

Fees for non-EU citizens

Tuition fee per semester:      3,750 euros including study fund
Semester fee at TH Köln:      more information
One-time registration fee:    400 euros

In order to finance the tuition fees, it is possible to apply for interest-free loans from the Friends of the ifs Society once from the 2. semester onwards until the end of studies. The approval of loans depends on the financial situation of the applicants and the available funds. Repayment of the loans begins 6 months after completion of studies. In addition, the Friends of the ifs Society e.V. awards special scholarships to students facing financial hardship in exceptional cases. The scholarships cover the tuition fees. Affected students may contact the Friends of ifs at any time.

The Friends of the ifs Society also supports Deutschlandstipendium scholarships, which are awarded by TH Köln.

Financing options

Please note that we may not always be able to provide the exact document required by the DAAD, as our admissions process typically begins after the application deadline for DAAD scholarships.

However, we may be able to issue an alternative certificate before the scholarship application deadline. This document is neither an acceptance letter nor does it contain any personal information about the applicant. Instead, it confirms the entry requirements for the MA programme and provides general information about the course of study.

In the past, the DAAD has accepted this type of certificate as part of scholarship applications submitted by prospective students. For further information on funding opportunities, please see “Fees & Financing.”

Applicants must provide proof of English language proficiency at CEFR level B2, for example through a TOEFL iBT result of at least 4 (before 2026: 72 points) or equivalent test results. This requirement does not apply to applicants who obtained a degree from an academic programme or a higher education qualification from a school where English is the language of instruction. In addition, all applicants will be required to demonstrate an adequate command of English during the selection process, including interviews and written assignments.

Only candidates applying for the German-language track need to be fluent in German (written and spoken). Non-native German speakers who wish to write series in German may be asked to submit a proof of language proficiency.

Tasks 1 – 3 of the application tasks must be answered in English. Applicants for the international track are requested to submit also tasks 4 – 7 in English. Candidates for the German-language track are requested to submit tasks 4 – 7 in German.

Non-EU students are welcome to apply for the MA Serial Storytelling.

Yes, you may also submit your finished scripts. But depending on the volume of material received, we cannot guarantee that the jurors will be able to read the additional scripts.

Yes, you can apply with a Bachelor’s degree or a graduate-level diploma, which includes the Magister.

To earn the Master’s degree, you are required to hold a Bachelor’s or equivalent degree. Applicants with outstanding artistic qualification may be allowed to enroll in this programme without previous academic experience. In this case, however, no Master’s title is awarded on completion of the programme.

Applicants are expected to have a solid foundation in screenwriting and dramaturgy. These competencies will be assessed as part of the selection process.

If your skills are not yet deemed sufficient, you may be required to complete the ifs »Summer School Screenwriting« (or an equivalent high-level screenwriting programme) prior to commencing the MA Serial Storytelling. Please note that participation in such a programme involves additional costs.

In such cases, admission to the MA Serial Storytelling programme will be conditional upon successful completion of this requirement. Final acceptance can only be confirmed once proof of completion has been provided.

You will not have to come to Germany for an interview: Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an entrance exam, which will be conducted online. The exams will consist of interviews and writing tasks. Each applicant must be available for approximately one day during the interview period given below. 

Announcement shortlist:

26 January 2027 

Interviews:

9-11 February 2027

You don’t have to submit a certified copy of your BA certificates. However, if your certificates were issued in a language other than German or English, they must be translated into German or English by a sworn translator, and this translation must be certified. For the application process, scanned PDF copies of the certified copies are sufficient.

Yes. Applicants must have gained relevant practical experience in the field of media or writing for at least one year. If you do not have a full year of practical professional experience yet, but expect to have completed a year of experience before September 2027 (i.e. before the beginning of the study programme), please indicate this in your application. If you are unsure whether or not the type of experience you have might be deemed relevant, please check with the ifs’s series department. (serialstorytelling(at)filmschule.de).

We generally do not recommend taking on employment during the programme. Ultimately, this is a personal decision and depends on your individual circumstances. However, please bear in mind that the MA Serial Storytelling is a full-time, 120 ECTS master's programme with a demanding workload.

During the first three semesters, students are expected to attend classes for approximately 14 weeks per semester. Mandatory courses are held five days a week, typically from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 or 5:00 p.m., with longer hours possible during project phases and intensive workshops. Outside the teaching periods, students are required to complete substantial writing assignments and project work.

The fourth semester is dedicated to the master's project. During this period, students must be present in Cologne for approximately six weeks to participate in oral examinations, preparatory sessions, presentations, and other programme-related activities. A significant amount of time is also devoted to researching and writing the master's project.

Given the programme's intensive nature and the substantial time commitment required throughout all four semesters, balancing studies with regular employment can be challenging.

This decision is up to you, but please be aware of the fact that the MA Serial Storytelling is a full-time 120 credits Master’s programme:

In the first three semesters, we expect attendance for a period of about 15 weeks per semester, with mandatory courses running five days a week from 10 am till 4 pm or 5pm (even longer during project phases, etc.). In-between lecture periods there will be extensive writing assignments. During the fourth semester, which is dedicated to writing the master’s project, students are required to be in Cologne for a period of approximately six weeks to attend the oral exams, preparatory sessions, and presentations. Here, too, a considerable amount of time will need to be dedicated to the writing process.

Yes, the enrollment of students of the ifs at TH Köln is mandatory.

Students who are accepted to the programme will be provided with a list of useful links.

For an estimation of the average costs of living in Cologne please click here.