The admission process in a university is the first step to fulfilling your dream of studying in Germany. It is as simple as you can think. The following steps will guide you on how it works and how you can determine if you are eligible to study at a university in Germany.
Who can study at a German university?
Every student who has a higher entrance education qualification (13 years of minimum high schooling) can study in a German university. This condition may be relaxed for some country students where higher secondary school education equals the level of the German school system. On the other hand, the one who has not had a higher entrance education qualification to directly study in a university for a minimum bachelor degree program, can study at a studienkolleg (click here to know what is a studienkolleg in Germany) for a year to get ready for the direct admission in a university program after passing FSP.
Step-by-Step Admission Application Process
Step 1- Qualification Assessment
Check your qualification if it gives you eligibility to study at a University directly. You can do it by going to this website http://anabin.kmk.org/anabin.html. If you do not find your institution on this database website, it means you do not qualify for direct admission into a degree program. This surely happens when you do not necessarily have 13 years of education to study directly in a university (conditions apply however for many countries, see details here http://anabin.kmk.org/anabin.html). In this case, you will surely have to study for a year at studienkolleg. If you do have 13 years of education or more, then follow step 2 below.
Step 2- Choosing a University
In step 2, you will choose a university for you. Before choosing a university, you must make sure that you have decided which course of study. This is important as not all universities offer all the courses that international students want. This simply means certain universities offer specific courses. Once you have decided a course or field of studies for you for further higher education then follow step 3 below.
Step 3- How to find a university
Once you have decided on your desired course of studies, you can find a university on the database of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). This website helps you choose a course as an international student. Use this database carefully so that you can save time and search for your desired course and university without any issues. Once you have chosen a course and university, follow step 4 below.
Step 4- Direct or Indirect Admission Application
Applying directly to the university or through Uni-Assist is the next step. You will have to get information on the webpage of your desired university as if they will give you a direct admission facility or you will have to get admission through Uni-Assist (this organization does charge a minimum 70 Euros for the admission process). You can get more info about Uni-Assist by clicking on this link https://www.uni-assist.de/
Step 5- Gathering Documents
Ask your desired uni about the required documents you have to send for the admission process. For example, you must present your higher education school-leaving certification, bachelor’s and or master’s degree certificates This process may take a lot of time to prepare well in advance so that the deadline can be caught without any problem.
Step 6- Educational Documents Attestation
For some countries (for example Pakistan), the students must get educational documents attestation from respective educational boards and universities before sending these documents to the university. So do not forget this if you need to do this.
Step 7- Language Proficiency
You need to show that you have the required language proficiency to study in Germany. You either need German language (only in case when your course will be taught in German medium of instruction with B2 level for a bachelor’s degree and C1 for a master’s degree) or English language (IELTS or TOEFL) test certificate proofs with a minimum level of 6.0 score for bachelor degree and 6.5 (IELTS score) for a master degree program.
Step 8- Get an Admission Letter
Once you have sent all your required documents to your university, you will get a letter of admission upon acceptance. This letter you will use to apply for your student residence permit.