Sozialmanagement (M.A.)
DIPLOMA Hochschule Hamburg · Hamburg, Germany
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
Der Master Sozialmanagement (M.A.) an der DIPLOMA Hochschule vermittelt Ihnen wissenschaftlich fundiertes Wissen und praktische Kompetenzen, um soziale Einrichtungen und Organisationen fachlich und organisatorisch zu steuern.
Das Studium verbindet Inhalte aus Sozialmanagement, Projektmanagement und Controlling mit Themen wie Organisations- und Teamentwicklung sowie weiteren Aspekten rund um Führung, Qualität und Rahmenbedingungen im Sozial- und Wohlfahrtsbereich.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- You build core knowledge for leadership and management tasks in the social sector using social-policy, governance, and project-management concepts.
- You learn legal foundations and organisational approaches needed to steer social institutions, providers, associations, and non-profit organisations.
- You develop skills for teamwork, communication of management decisions, and evidence-based planning for social services.
- You deepen knowledge in business administration topics relevant to social organisations, including financing, planning, and management procedures.
- You work on quality management and personnel management topics used in social-sector leadership roles.
- You apply research and management methods through academic assignments such as project work and written reports.
- You complete the Master thesis and a final academic colloquium related to your chosen topic in social management.
- You integrate what you learned across social policy, governance, law, organisational development, and management tools into your thesis work.
Curriculum
The 120 ECTS curriculum combines social-policy, research, legal, business, organisational and social-economy management modules. Students complete one 16 ECTS specialisation from three options and finish with a 24 ECTS master's thesis and colloquium.
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | ECTS / CP | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core module 1 | 1 module | Sozialmanagement | 12 | 12 ECTS |
| Core module 2 | 1 module | Empirische Methoden und Forschendes Lernen | 8 | 8 ECTS |
| Core module 3 | 1 module | Projektmanagement und -controlling | 8 | 8 ECTS |
| Core module 4 | 1 module | Rechtliche Grundlagen der Sozialwirtschaft | 6 | 6 ECTS |
| Core module 5 | 1 module | Organisation und Teamentwicklung | 8 | 8 ECTS |
| Core module 6 | 1 module | Allgemeine BWL, Personal- und Qualitätsmanagement | 10 | 10 ECTS |
| Core module 7 | 1 module | Sozialwirtschaftliche Finanzierung | 6 | 6 ECTS |
| Core module 8 | 1 module | Kontraktmanagement und Verhandlungsführung | 6 | 6 ECTS |
| Core module 9 | 1 module | Sozialraummanagement | 8 | 8 ECTS |
| Core module 10 | 1 module | Sozialwirtschaftsethik | 8 | 8 ECTS |
| Compulsory elective specialisation | Choose 1 of 3 modules | Non Profit Management | 16 | 16 ECTS from one selected specialisation |
| Public Management und Sozialplanung | 16 | |||
| Social Entrepreneurship | 16 | |||
| Final module | 1 module | Master-Thesis und Kolloquium | 24 | 24 ECTS |
| Total | 10 core modules, 1 compulsory elective specialisation, and the master's thesis and colloquium | 120 ECTS | ||
Career outcomes
- With this Master in Sozialmanagement, you can move into leadership and management roles in social institutions, associations, and non-profit organisations.
- You gain job-ready skills at the intersection of social services and management topics like finance, HR, organisation, and social-sector governance.
- You prepare to steer and develop providers and organisations in the social economy by combining practical management approaches with academic learning.
- You can expand your profile through elective focus areas such as Non Profit Management, Public Management and Social Planning, or Social Entrepreneurship.
- The degree supports your progression toward senior and strategic positions because it builds expertise in social policy-oriented decision-making and organisational control.
Employability rate
Graduates in social work and social management related fields in Germany typically see an employability rate of around 86% and an unemployment rate of about 14%, reflecting stable hiring by public and welfare-sector employers who require qualified staff.
Together, this suggests a generally reliable career outlook in social and social-economy institutions where management competencies remain in demand.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree or equivalent (foreign qualification recognized for admission) | To be admitted to the Master’s program, you need proof of a completed Bachelor’s or Diplom examination. The same also applies if you have a foreign degree that is at least equivalent, in a related field, with a standard duration of at least six semesters (equivalent to 180 credits). |
| Final grade threshold (may require an admissions interview) | If your previous degree grade is 3.6 or lower, you may be admitted if you successfully demonstrate your suitability for the Master’s program in a classification interview with the admissions committee. |
Module matching by study area
| Study area | Match possible? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Social Work | Direct match | A completed bachelor's or Diplom degree in Social Work is explicitly listed as a suitable academic background. Applicants are generally expected to have professional experience in social services or a related field. |
| Social Pedagogy | Direct match | A completed bachelor's or Diplom degree in Social Pedagogy is explicitly listed as a suitable academic background. Applicants are generally expected to have professional experience in social services or a related field. |
| Childhood Pedagogy | Direct match | A completed bachelor's or Diplom degree in Childhood Pedagogy is explicitly listed as a suitable academic background. Applicants are generally expected to have professional experience in social services or a related field. |
| Sociology | Direct match | A completed bachelor's or Diplom degree in Sociology is explicitly listed as a suitable academic background. Applicants are generally expected to have professional experience in social services or a related field. |
| Health and Social Management | Direct match | A completed bachelor's or Diplom degree in Health and Social Management is explicitly listed as a suitable academic background. Applicants are generally expected to have professional experience in social services or a related field. |
| Social Economy | Direct match | A completed bachelor's or Diplom degree in Social Economy is explicitly listed as a suitable academic background. Applicants are generally expected to have professional experience in social services or a related field. |
| Business and Economics with a social-sector focus | Direct match | A completed bachelor's or Diplom degree in Business or Economics may qualify when the prior programme has a social-sector focus. Relevant professional experience in social services or an adjacent field is generally expected. |
| Other related social-science, education, health or management discipline | Individual assessment | The university accepts a completed bachelor's or Diplom degree in a related discipline, subject to an individual assessment of academic relevance and professional experience. |
Language requirements
The programme and its teaching materials are delivered in German. The official programme information does not publish a programme-specific IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo or fixed German-language certificate score for international applicants; applicants should obtain an individual assessment from DIPLOMA Hochschule.
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | EUR 9810 / total program | Payment plan I consists of 30 monthly instalments of EUR 327. The separate EUR 985 examination fee is not included in this tuition amount. |
| Tuition | EUR 10896 / total program | Payment plan II consists of 48 monthly instalments of EUR 227. The separate EUR 985 examination fee is not included in this tuition amount. |
| Tuition | EUR 11820 / total program | Payment plan III consists of 60 monthly instalments of EUR 197. The separate EUR 985 examination fee is not included in this tuition amount. |
| Examination fee | EUR 985 / one time | One-time examination fee charged in addition to the selected tuition payment plan. |
Proof of financial resources
Bangladeshi applicants who require a German student visa must prove that they can cover their living expenses. The German Embassy in Dhaka currently accepts the following official forms of financial proof for study-visa applications.
- A blocked account in Germany in the applicant's name with a minimum balance of EUR 11,904 for 12 months.
- The blocked-account confirmation must state that the account holder may withdraw EUR 992 per month.
- A formal declaration of commitment from a sponsor living in Germany under Section 68 of the German Residence Act may be submitted instead of a blocked account.
- An official scholarship or stipend confirmation may be used as proof of funding; the scholarship amount may reduce the amount required in the blocked account.
- Financial proof for living expenses is separate from the university's tuition and examination fees.
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | October - Winter intake | April - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application portal opens | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (final submit) | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | N/A | N/A |
| Semester begins | October 01, 2026 | April 01, 2026 |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | October - Winter intake | April - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | October - Winter intake | April - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Official transcripts deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A | N/A |
📝 How to Apply
Review entry requirements for international applicants
Check the admission requirements for Master’s programs and confirm that your foreign Bachelor’s or Diplom qualification is in a relevant field and meets the standard duration requirement. If your grade is 3.6 or lower, note that admission may include a classification interview with the admissions committee. Prepare your documents early so you can submit them in the format requested by the university during the application window.
Submit your application online
Complete the university’s official application process online within the published application period. Upload your academic documents (transcripts and degree proof) so the university can assess your eligibility for the Master’s program. Make sure your submission includes the required evidence of your previous degree completion and qualification equivalence.
Attend any required admissions interview (if applicable)
If the university requires a classification interview based on your academic grade or individual assessment, schedule and attend it as instructed by the admissions committee. Use your academic background and study plan to explain how your prior education supports your Master’s studies. After the decision, follow the university’s next steps to complete enrollment procedures.