3.3.1 Educational qualifications for entrance

For students on exchange programmes, different regulations apply (► 3.7).

University admission criteria and recognition of certificates
Admission to courses at a German higher education institution is based on a university entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung, HZB), such as the German Abitur certificate. Holders of other certificates need to present proof of their appropriate qualification, e.g. a school leaving certificate plus, if applicable, evidence of previous university studies in their home country. For specific regulations relating to various countries, the initial counselling services for international applicants can be consulted (► 3.1).

You can find information on this topic online through the "information system on the recognition of international high school certificates" (Informationssystem zur Anerkennung ausländischer Bildungsabschlüsse, anabin).

Educational qualifications can be checked or recognised before an application is made. In order to complete this optional check, documents must be submitted to the address below. A certificate (fee required) regarding your educational qualifications will be issued to you. 
 

Senate Department for Education, Youth and Families
Office for the Recognition of Educational Qualifications
Senatsverwaltung für Bildung, Jugend und Familie
Anerkennung von ausländischen Abschlüssen und Qualifikationen

Bernhard-Weiß-Str. 6
10178 Berlin
E-Mail: zastbe@senbjf.berlin.de
Web: www.berlin.de/sen/bjf/anerkennung
Phone: (+49 30) 90 227-52 20 / -52 32 / -69 87

Please check online for current office hours.

Pre-university courses and aptitude tests
If you do not have a direct university entrance qualification (HZB), but rather admission to a pre-university/access course (Studienkolleg), you can apply for the one-year pre-university course via uni-assist to Humboldt-Universität (► 3.4). The assessment of your educational qualifications is available through the databank anabin, under Schulabschlüsse mit Hochschulzugang.

Humboldt-Universität offers access courses (Studienkolleg) in cooperation with Freie Universität, which include T-, M-, W- and G-courses (see below).

The pre-university courses are designed to qualify students for an aptitude test (Feststellungsprüfung) where they are expected to prove that they are appropriately qualified for admission to a German university. The test includes the German language test for university admission (DSH).

Those who pass the aptitude test will be given the HZB certificate for a particular subject area.