Applications & Admissions: Frequently Asked Questions

You can generally apply to HSD Hochschule Döpfer up until the relevant application deadlines for your chosen semester. The application deadline for starting your studies in the winter semester is 30 September. The application deadline for starting your studies in the spring semester is 31 March. We recommend applying early, as the application process may close earlier due to capacity constraints.

The entry requirements and school-leaving qualifications you need to study at HSD Hochschule Döpfer generally depend on the specific degree programme and the qualification you wish to obtain. For Bachelor’s degree programmes, a university entrance qualification is generally required, such as the general university entrance qualification, the subject-specific university entrance qualification or the university of applied sciences entrance qualification. Depending on the degree programme, additional professional qualifications, practical experience, a completed education or further evidence of competence may also be required.

For Master’s degree programmes, a first professional university degree is usually required, often a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant or related subject area. The exact subject-specific requirements may vary depending on the Master’s programme.

You can find out exactly which entry requirements must be met on the page for your chosen course. If you are unsure whether your school-leaving qualification, education or previous professional experience is sufficient for an application, the HSD Study Advisory Service will be happy to assist you. There, your personal qualifications can be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

You can usually have certificates certified by public authorities authorised to issue official certifications. These often include citizens’ advice bureaux, town halls, local councils, city councils or notaries. Schools, Universities of Applied Sciences and other public institutions may also issue certifications under certain conditions, provided they are authorised to do so.

In principle, depending on the Master’s programme, you may already apply even if the mark for your Bachelor’s thesis or your final degree certificate is not yet available. The key point is that you submit the required documents and supporting evidence as far as possible and make it clear which documents will be submitted at a later date.

As a rule, proof of your first professionally qualifying higher education qualification must be provided for final admission. As long as individual pieces of evidence of your degree are still missing, your application can initially be assessed subject to conditions. Whether a provisional assessment is possible, and in what form, depends on the specific Master’s programme and the documents you have already submitted.

If you are about to complete your Bachelor’s degree but have not yet received your Bachelor’s thesis mark, we recommend seeking individual advice. The HSD Study Advisory Service will be happy to review with you which documents can be submitted now and which supporting evidence needs to be provided at a later date.

Once you have applied to HSD Hochschule Döpfer, the documents you have submitted will first be reviewed. This involves checking whether your application is complete and whether you generally meet the formal entry requirements for your chosen degree programme. These may include, for example, school reports, evidence of qualifications, professional qualifications or other programme-specific documents.

If any documents are missing or if certain details still need to be clarified, HSD may contact you with queries or request further evidence. Once the documents are complete, your application will be processed further in terms of both content and form. The outcome of this review forms the basis for the next steps in the application process.

Please ensure that you submit your documents in full, in a legible format and by the deadline. If you have any specific questions regarding the status of your application or particular supporting documents, the HSD Study Advisory Service will be happy to assist you.

To study at HSD Hochschule Döpfer, applicants must generally have a sufficient command of German, as the course content, examinations and day-to-day communication during the course are usually in German. The minimum language requirement is German at B2 level.

The time taken to process an application to HSD Hochschule Döpfer may vary depending on the degree programme, the time of application and whether the documents submitted are complete. Generally speaking, an application can be assessed more quickly if all the required documents have been submitted in full, are legible and are correct.

If documents are missing, certificates need to be submitted at a later date, or specific entry requirements need to be checked, the processing time may be extended accordingly. Individual cases, such as those involving foreign qualifications, vocational qualifications or outstanding evidence, may also require more time.

The application process at HSD Hochschule Döpfer generally involves several steps: Firstly, you apply online for your chosen degree programme. You then submit the required documents so that your application can be assessed for compliance with formal requirements. Depending on the degree programme or your individual circumstances, an interview may also take place. Once all requirements have been met, you will receive your student contract.

The application documents may include, for example, school reports, proof of qualifications, professional qualifications, language proficiency certificates or other programme-specific documents. Which documents are required in each individual case depends on the programme and your educational or professional background to date. It is important that all documents are complete, clearly legible and submitted by the deadline.

Click here to apply.

Once your documents have been received, HSD will check whether the formal requirements have been met and whether any supporting documents are still missing. If you have any specific questions about your application, missing documents or special entry requirements, the HSD Study Advisory Service will be happy to assist you.

Regulated healthcare professions generally include professions in the healthcare sector where education or entry into the profession is governed by statutory requirements. These include, in particular, medical professions and healthcare professions for which there are clear requirements regarding education, examinations, the practice of the profession or state recognition.

Examples of regulated healthcare professions include, amongst others, pharmacists, midwives, registered nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, paramedics, dietitians, medical technologists, and anaesthesia and surgical assistants. Depending on their legal classification, other healthcare professions may also be included.

For prospective students, this distinction is particularly important if a degree programme requires completed vocational training or professional experience in a regulated healthcare profession. As the exact requirements may depend on the specific degree programme and your individual training background, the HSD Study Advisory Service will be happy to review your personal qualifications with you.

Yes, HSD Hochschule Döpfer is a state-recognised, privately run University of Applied Sciences.

In 2020, the HSD was successfully granted institutional accreditation by the German Science Council and was successfully re-accredited in 2025. Institutional accreditation by the German Science Council is a quality assurance process that assesses whether a University of Applied Sciences delivers teaching and research that meets recognised academic standards.

In its statement on institutional accreditation, the German Science Council certified that:

The degree programmes are designed to meet market needs and fully live up to the institution’s aspirations as a University of Applied Sciences. The University of Applied Sciences has demonstrated that it can develop degree programmes in line with its profile and successfully position them in the market, and, thanks to the practice-oriented focus of its degree programmes, has a large network of collaborative partnerships. It has established research collaborations with Universities of Applied Sciences and non-university research institutions and has already been able to leverage these on numerous occasions to secure funding for research projects. The University of Applied Sciences attaches great importance to the quality assurance of its teaching. The operator has demonstrated that it safeguards the institution’s academic freedom as well as its academic standards and organisational structures. (WR, Statement on the accreditation of HSD Hochschule Döpfer, 31 January 2020)

Furthermore, HSD has successfully achieved system accreditation. System accreditation focuses on a University of Applied Sciences’ internal quality assurance system. With system accreditation, the University of Applied Sciences is granted the right to award the Accreditation Council’s seal to the degree programmes it has assessed.

Yes, all degree programmes at HSD Hochschule Döpfer are accredited. As HSD’s quality management system has been system-accredited by the Accreditation Council, the University of Applied Sciences has been granted the right to award the Accreditation Council’s seal to the degree programmes it has assessed. Even though – or perhaps precisely because – the University of Applied Sciences has this right, the accreditation process is subject to strict formal criteria in each case. If a new degree programme is undergoing the accreditation process, we will make this clear separately. As a system-accredited University of Applied Sciences, we plan the accreditation process in such a way that accreditation is granted in good time for the start of the new degree programme. You can find all information regarding the accreditations of the individual degree programmes at HSD here.

At HSD Hochschule Döpfer, there is no age limit for applying for a place on a course. Just under 60 per cent of our students are over 25 years old.

If you apply via our online application form, you can only apply for one degree programme and one location. However, it is no problem at all to choose a different location during the application process or after receiving your enrolment contract, provided there is still space available there.

Even if you are abroad at the time of your application, you can still apply to us for a place on a degree programme. If you are unsure whether your school or university qualifications meet the Entry requirements, please contact the HSD Study Advisory Service.

Admission to a degree programme at the HSD is valid across all campuses, provided that the programme is offered in the same form at all campuses. 

If you obtained your school-leaving qualification abroad, please contact the HSD Study Advisory Service. We will be happy to provide you with information on the next steps.

In principle, we recommend applying early. If you do not yet have all the required documents at the time of your application (e.g. your school leaving certificate or proof of work experience, depending on the degree programme), this is not a problem. You can submit these documents at a later date. However, they must be submitted by the start of the academic year at the latest so that we can enrol you as a student. Only once you have been enrolled will you receive your student number, your student ID card, your timetable and access to the learning materials.

No, all degree programmes at HSD Hochschule Döpfer are not subject to entry requirements. This means that you can study with us without your A-level certificate needing to show a specific average mark. Here at HSD, we firmly believe that your A-level results alone do not necessarily indicate whether you are suited to a degree course.

Yes. Applicants who can demonstrate a vocational qualification but do not hold a secondary school leaving certificate may also be admitted to the degree programme.

This applies subject to the following conditions:

• Passing a Fachwirt, Meister or Techniker examination, or an equivalent qualification
• Completion of lower secondary education (Mittlere Reife) or an equivalent qualification, plus completed vocational training relevant to the degree programme and at least two years’ relevant professional experience

In accordance with Section 199a(2) of the German Social Code, Book V (SGB V), there is a mutual obligation to notify between statutory health insurance providers and University of Applied Sciences. To enrol on a course at HSD Hochschule Döpfer, you must provide proof of your health insurance status.

Since 1 December 2022, HSD Hochschule Döpfer has been using the electronic student registration procedure. Paper-based notifications from health insurance funds can no longer be accepted from this date onwards. This registration procedure is mandatory for all applicants from the 2022 spring semester onwards.

The following information is regularly exchanged between the University of Applied Sciences and the health insurance providers:

• Insurance status
• Start date of cover following a change of health insurance provider
• Arrears in the payment of health insurance contributions
• Settlement of outstanding health insurance contributions
• Start of studies
• End of the semester (de-registration)

What do I need to know as an applicant:
The University of Applied Sciences requires details of your insurance status prior to enrolment. Please contact your health insurance provider in advance. They will then inform us about the registration procedure. If you are covered by statutory health insurance at the start of your studies, please inform your health insurance provider that you will be commencing your studies at the University of Applied Sciences Döpfer. Please provide your health insurance provider with the University of Applied Sciences’ reference number H0001521. If you are privately insured, it is sufficient to contact any health insurance provider and inform them of this. They will then confirm your private insurance cover to us.

What do I need to bear in mind as a student?
The change only affects you if you switch health insurance providers. In this case, please contact your health insurance provider. This does not apply to those who are privately insured.