Entry requirements for Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees: frequently asked questions

To be admitted to a Bachelor’s degree programme at the HSD, the following requirements must be met:

• Your school-leaving qualification must be recognised as equivalent in Germany (verification via Anabin / uni-assist).
• If not directly equivalent: proof of having passed the assessment test (FSP) for the relevant department OR successful completion of HSD’s internal university entrance examination.
• A recognised Bachelor’s degree completed in the applicant’s home country replaces the school-leaving qualification and entitles the holder to undertake a Bachelor’s degree programme at the HSD.
   

Language requirements

• German or English language skills: Proof of B2 level (depending on the language of instruction for the degree programme) through official certificates (see accepted language certificates).
• Exception: No certificate is required if you can provide evidence that your previous school or higher education was completed entirely in the language of the degree programme.

If you are unsure whether you meet the formal requirements, we recommend that you submit a complete application including all the necessary documents. We will then review your documents and provide you with prompt feedback on whether you are eligible for a Bachelor’s degree programme at the HSD.

To be admitted to a Master’s programme at the HSD, the following requirements must be met:

• Relevant higher education qualification: You must have successfully completed a Bachelor’s degree in a subject-specific or relevant field. If you obtained your Bachelor’s degree abroad, both the higher education institution and the qualification must be recognised in Germany in accordance with the guidelines of the anabin database.
• Language proficiency: If your previous education (school or first degree) was not completed in the language of instruction for the programme, official proof of language proficiency at B2 level is required.
• We assess on a case-by-case basis whether the content and subjects of your Bachelor’s degree programme align with the academic requirements of your chosen Master’s programme.

Are you unsure whether you meet the entry requirements? If you are unsure whether your degree or combination of subjects is suitable, we recommend that you submit a complete application with all the necessary documents. We will then be happy to assess your eligibility directly as part of the ongoing admissions process.

Yes, if you obtained your school-leaving qualification abroad, it must be officially recognised in Germany in order for you to be able to enrol on a Bachelor’s degree programme. The anabin database is generally used to check whether your foreign qualification is equivalent to a German university entrance qualification and allows you direct entry to a university. If your qualification does not allow for direct entry, our university offers the option of sitting an internal university entrance examination. Once you have successfully passed this examination, you can commence your degree programme with us, even without holding a directly equivalent school-leaving qualification. We recommend that you submit your documents as part of your application so that we can assess on a case-by-case basis whether your qualification is directly recognised or whether the internal examination is the right route for you to enter the degree programme.

Yes, successfully passing an assessment test at a Studienkolleg can enable you to gain entry to a Bachelor’s degree programme if your foreign school-leaving qualification does not allow for direct admission. It is essential that the test is taken in the specific specialised course required for the desired degree programme.

Yes, the HSD offers an internal university entrance examination as an alternative route to gaining admission to a degree programme. This examination comprises three main sections. Firstly, applicants must demonstrate sufficient language proficiency at B2 level in the relevant language of instruction (German or English); the relevant certificates or language course results must be submitted before the subject-specific examination or before enrolment. The cognitive part of this entrance examination is replaced by the standardised TestAS (Test for International Students), which assesses general and subject-specific cognitive skills such as logic, mathematics and pattern recognition. The third part consists of a 90-minute, subject-specific online examination, which is held prior to the HSD. This examines knowledge of biology, with a focus on cell, human and neurobiology, as well as biochemistry and behavioural biology; in the field of social and cultural sciences, with questions on politics, social structures and the German education system; and in mathematics, covering general principles and statistics.

Yes, if you obtained your bachelor’s degree abroad, it must be officially recognised in Germany in order for you to be able to enrol on a master’s programme. The anabin database is used to check whether both the foreign higher education institution and the specific degree programme comply with German guidelines. In addition to this formal recognition, the admissions process always involves an individual assessment of academic suitability. This means that the content and subjects of your foreign Bachelor’s degree must correspond to the specific academic requirements of the Master’s programme you wish to pursue.

Yes, a relevant or related Bachelor’s degree is an absolute prerequisite for admission to a Master’s programme at the HSD. As part of the application process, we always assess on a case-by-case basis whether the content of your first degree meets the subject-specific requirements for your chosen Master’s programme.

Yes, in principle it is possible to make up for missing academic credits through so-called bridge exams, provided that only individual subjects are missing for admission to the Master’s programme. Whether this option is available to you will be assessed on a case-by-case basis following your application, based on the Transcript of Records you submit. Please note, however, that we cannot guarantee that all the required bridge exams will be offered in English. We recommend that you submit a complete application with all your supporting documents so that we can assess your eligibility in detail and determine what options are available to you.