Applying with a German university entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur)
Before you apply for a degree program, please read the information about the requirements, the selection criteria, and the required documents.
This will make the application process much easier for you and helps you to avoid mistakes and delays.
| General university entrance qualification | You can apply for any degree program. |
| Subject-specific university entrance qualification |
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| University of applied sciences qualification |
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| Studying without a university entrance qualification | Under certain conditions, it is also possible to study without a university entrance qualification. |
If you would like to do service after completing your secondary school degree, you can apply for a university place either before or during your time of service. If you are admitted during your time of service, you can defer starting and complete your service.
It is important to keep the notification of admission somewhere where you can easily find it again! At the latest at the second application date after your service is completed, you can once again apply for that degree program and your application will be given preference.
However, you will not automatically be considered in the application process the next year - you need to submit a new application for admission (online application).
Attach a copy of your earlier notification of admission as well as a certification of your time of service.
After the preferred candidates have been awarded a place, the following quotas are filled before further candidates are considered:
| 5% | Hardship cases |
| 8% | International applicants (non-EU citizens) |
| 2% | Those pursuing a second degree |
| 1% | Persons with a high public profile and are tied to a place (e.g. top athletes) |
The remaining university places are awarded as follows:
...90% according to the university’s own selection (merit quota)
University places are awarded on the basis of selection criteria that are set out in the selection regulations for each degree program: Average grade of the university entrance qualification (A-levels, high school diploma, etc.), weighted individual grades of the university entrance qualification, selection interview, relevant vocational training, internships, voluntary work, prizes, and awards.
...10% according to waiting time (waiting time quota)
Every half year that has passed since you obtained your university entrance qualification and have not been enrolled at a university in Germany is automatically counted as a waiting semester. In principle, a maximum of seven semesters of waiting time are taken into account.
The applicant with the most semesters of waiting time, i.e. who has waited the longest, is awarded the first place. The person who has waited the second longest takes the second place and so on. This continues until 10% of the university places have been allocated.
The grades of the university entrance qualification (A-levels, high school diploma, etc.) do not play a role here.
Documents you will have to upload during the online application process...
for every applicant:
- University entrance qualification
if you have made the corresponding requests during your online application:
If you have already completed a degree program at a German university.
- Degree certificate from your first degree program with the average grade
- Detailed reason for starting another Bachelor’s/Master’s degree
- Detailed proof of the reason you are submitting the request (e.g. medical certificate)
- Transcripts that show you repeated a grade in school
- Statement from the school
- If applicable, medical certificate or other suitable proof
... with membership in an Olympic team, team sport team, perspective team, additional team, or junior team 1 of the German Olympic Sports Confederation at the national level
- Documentation of the association you are in
You do not need to send any paper documents! The ranking lists are made based on the information provided online.
Even if you don’t have to submit any written documents with your application,
you will have to take an orientation test (except for those applying for a Zweitstudium)
- for Bachelor’s (other than Education for Business and Economics) e.g. www.was-studiere-ich.de
- for Education for Business and Economics www.bw-cct.de
The orientation test should be taken before the deadline for applications. However, proof of the orientation test does not have to be uploaded with the application. It must be submitted with the application for enrollment after you have been admitted.
If you are already enrolled in the 3rd or higher semester and want to change your degree program, you will need a certificate of academic program advising. Here you will find a list of academic program advisors.
For the online application you will need...
- Information from your university entrance qualification (Abitur)
online you will also be asked about:
- Vocational education (all parts including the oral examination must be completed by the application deadline!)
- Internships, other activities, prizes/awards, voluntary service.
The corresponding documentation will only need to be submitted if you admitted.
You will receive a checklist with all relevant documents to enroll with your notification of admission.
No. With your application number and password, you can see online which data the university has received and what the status of your application is.
Once you have activated email notifications in the applicant portal, you will receive notification via email when the status of your application changes, that is, if you are admitted to or excluded from the admission process or when you are admitted to the degree program - you can see what changed by logging in to the application portal.
You can only apply for a place once you have received your secondary school diploma since data from it is needed for your application (i.e. for the compilation of the ranking list).
You can apply for a maximum of three degree programs at the same time.
No.
For Bachelor’s degree programs, you may only apply one time per university. If you apply again, the first applicant number will be blocked.
However, with that same applicant number you can apply for up to 3 degree programs.