Germany University Admission Requirements for International Students (2027)

To study at a German university you need a school or university certificate that Germany recognises as a university entrance qualification, proof of the teaching language (English for English-taught programs), and any program-specific requirements such as a relevant bachelor's, minimum grades or an aptitude test. The final decision always rests with the university.

This guide explains how to check your eligibility, what happens if your certificate is not enough, and what real programs ask for in 2026/27 and 2027/28.

Requirement 1: a recognised university entrance qualification

Germany calls it the Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (HZB). Check your country and certificate in anabin (run by the KMK) or the non-binding DAAD admission database. Study in Germany lists four possible results:

• Direct access to all subjects – you can apply for a bachelor's directly.
• Subject-restricted access – you can study only subjects related to your school focus.
• Access after one or two years of successful university study in your home country.
• No direct access – you must attend a Studienkolleg and pass the Feststellungsprüfung (assessment test).

What if you need a Studienkolleg?

A Studienkolleg is a preparatory course that ends with the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP). DAAD explains that preparation usually takes two semesters, or one for very strong students. Public Studienkollegs are generally free except for the semester fee; private ones often charge fees, and only a few private ones can award a state-recognised qualification.

If you prefer to study only in English, the realistic options are to complete one or two years of university at home first (if anabin allows it) or to complete a bachelor's at home and apply for an English-taught master's in Germany.

Requirement 2: bachelor's programs

English-taught bachelor's programs are limited, and many big universities teach all bachelor's programs in German (for example RWTH Aachen, TU Dresden and the University of Mannheim). Where English-taught bachelor's programs exist, typical requirements are:

• A school certificate with direct access (or FSP). RWTH Aachen, for its German-taught bachelor's programs, asks for an average of 2.5 or better on the German scale, which TestAS can compensate.
• English at B2. Rhine-Waal University asks for IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 72 for its English-taught programs.
• Sometimes an aptitude test or self-assessment. Rhine-Waal requires an online self-assessment certificate for its Engineering B.Sc. and Engineering for Sustainability B.Sc.; TUM ranks bachelor's applicants in an aptitude assessment using school grades and experience.
• Sometimes basic German or a pre-study internship, depending on the program.

Requirement 3: master's programs

For a master's you need a recognised first degree in a relevant subject. Most universities do not set one university-wide minimum grade; instead each program checks your subjects, credits and grades. Real examples from official pages:

Grades are converted to the German scale, where 1.0 is the best grade and 4.0 is a pass. Each university converts foreign grades itself, so always upload your university's official grading system.

Requirement 4: English (and sometimes German)

Every university sets its own accepted tests and scores. Some accept a previous English-taught degree, others do not. These are minimums published on official pages:

For more on scores, waivers and when German helps, read English-taught programs in Germany.

Country-specific extra requirements

India: APS certificate and dMAT

APS India verifies Indian academic documents; it states the APS certificate is part of the documentation generally required for the German student visa. Universities such as Mannheim and TU Dresden ask applicants from China, India and Vietnam for it. Master's applicants in certain fields must also take the Digital Master Test (dMAT); APS India says its mid-January and mid-March test cycles are relevant for winter semester 2027/28.

Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and others

uni-assist publishes country-by-country document notes. For Afghan certificates it asks for the school-leaving certificate with subjects and grades and the university diploma with transcript. TU Berlin lists extra country-specific requirements for India, China, Vietnam and Iran. Always check the uni-assist country page and the university's international page.

Recognition of your degree: anabin and ZAB

anabin also rates foreign universities and degrees. If a university or employer asks for an official evaluation, the ZAB Statement of Comparability classifies your degree in the German system. It costs €208 and regular processing takes three months, so request it early. Details in documents, translation and legalization.

Documents programs usually ask for

Beyond certificates, German universities often want proof that your previous studies match their program. For a master's application, uni-assist and most universities ask for:

• Your bachelor's certificate and complete transcript, including any diploma supplement (some universities let you apply before you graduate, e.g. RWTH Aachen and Mannheim).
• The official grading system of your university, as a link or PDF of the examination regulations. uni-assist does not accept anabin or Wikipedia links for this.
• Your school-leaving certificate and any university entrance exam result.
• Module descriptions or a curricular analysis, so the university can check your subject credits.
• A CV and motivation letter, and for some programs an essay, GRE, GMAT or letters of recommendation.
• Language certificates and a passport copy.

Why eligible applicants still get rejected

Meeting the minimum does not guarantee a place. Admission-restricted programs rank applicants, and popular English-taught master's programs receive many more applications than they have places. The most common avoidable problems are:

• Missing subject credits. A business bachelor's may not meet a data science master's requirement for credits in mathematics, statistics or computer science.
• Incomplete or uncertified documents. Missing pages, missing grading scales or translations from non-sworn translators delay or stop the check.
• Language proof that does not fit the rule. For example, a medium-of-instruction letter where the program only accepts IELTS or TOEFL.
• Unfinished degree from outside the EHEA. TU Berlin, for example, requires non-EHEA bachelor's degrees to be completed by the application deadline.
• Applying to too few programs. Spread your applications across several universities and both large universities and universities of applied sciences.

Eligibility checklist

1. 1.Check your certificate in anabin or the DAAD admission database.
2. 2.If you need a Studienkolleg, decide whether you can learn German to B1–B2, or whether to study at home first.
3. 3.Shortlist programs where your subject and grades fit the published requirements.
4. 4.Book an English test that meets every program's minimum, with a margin.
5. 5.Check country-specific rules (APS for India, uni-assist country notes).
6. 6.Apply through the right channel – see how to apply to universities in Germany.

Requirements change between intakes. Track deadlines for free on FindUniPath to see official requirements per university for your home country, or start with our complete Germany guide.