German higher education entrance qualification

The german higher education entrance qualification includes:

• general higher education entrance qualification
• subject-bound higher education entrance qualification
• certificates from the former GDR and/or Berlin (East)
• higher education entrance qualification from a German school abroad

General Higher Education Entrance Qualification

Certificates of aptitude for higher education make it possible to pursue any of the courses of study offered at the universities and technical colleges or university in all of the states of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Among other things, the following certificates are considered as qualification for admission to higher education:

• secondary school certificate (school-leaving examination or high school diploma)
• certificate from a comprehensive school with senior grammar school
• certificate of subject-related qualification for admission to higher education from an upper vocational school in conjunction with an auxiliary examination to obtain general qualification for admission to higher education
• certificate regarding successful final examination for a course of studies at a technical college (FH diploma)
• ... (list of all certificates)
  

If a certificate has been obtained outside of Bavaria, then it is additionally required that a certificate from a state or state recognized school and/or university has been submitted, that the certificate is recognized as verification of general qualification for admission to higher education in the country of origin and was obtained at an instructional facility equivalent to those in Bavaria after completion of an equivalent course of education with equivalent performance requirements.

The university decides on the recognition of preliminary test certificates from state technical colleges or universities outside of Bavaria on the basis of the Qualifikationsverordnung, in cases of doubt by way of agreement with the Bavarian State Ministry of Education.

Subject-Bound Higher Education Entrance Qualification

Certificates of subject-bound higher education entrance qualification entitle their holders to study certain, precisely defined courses of study.

Subject-bound higher education entrance qualification can be achieved in many different ways:

• through the preliminary diploma of a technical college or university
• via the Berufsoberschule/Fachoberschule 13
• through a technical academy / specialized instruction
• ... (see the list of certificates in the Qualifikationsverordnung)
  

Preliminary test certificates outside of Bavaria only entitle the holder to study in the case of entrance qualification for studies at a technical college or university and proof of subject-related practical training or prior training, the period of study up to the preliminary examination corresponds to that of a Bavarian technical college or university and apply as subject-related qualification for admission to higher education in the country of origin.

NOTE: Subject-bound higher education entrance qualification (specialized school-leaving examination) only entitles holders to study at technical colleges, but not at universities. It is usually attained through the school-leaving certificate of the secondary specialized school.

 

Certificates from the Former GDR and/or Berlin (East)

Certificates from the former GDR and/or Berlin (East) which were obtained prior to October 3, 1990 are considered as qualification for entrance to higher education to the extent that certificate concerned made it possible to enter a scientific field of study in the former GDR.

 

Higher education entrance qualification from a German school abroad

A certificate of general higher education entrance qualification from a German school abroad is treated like a corresponding Bavarian certificate.

With regard to applications for higher education foreign applicants with a German qualification for admission to higher education (including with certificates from German school abroads) are placed on an equal footing with German applicants.

contact: study@tum.de