Study in Germany Requirements for International Students (IB, A-Levels, American Diploma, SAT)
Yana Immis
To study in Germany international students are required to go through nine circles of hell. But in the end it is very rewarding.
Today we will discuss all the necessary points for you to apply to a German university, successfully get a visa, and arrive. Take notes and enjoy the read!
What is required to study in Germany?
To be able to study in Germany you need to have:
1. Health Insurance & Sufficient Funds
In the shape of a blocked account or alternatives. In Germany, you must have the insurance at all times by law.
Read more information about the available options here:
2. Proof Of The Relevant Tests
Or a confirmation from employer/university that you worked/studied in English. When you choose your course, make sure to check the language of teaching. You are only required to provide the language test confirmation from the language of your teaching.
As an example: you will study in English, which means there is no need for you to complete a German test.
a. IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Cambridge Advanced Tests
b. GMAT or GRE
See more useful articles for you to know how to pass these tests:
3. A recognized German University Entrance Qualification
A Secondary School qualification if you are willing to study at an Undergraduate level in Germany. If you are looking for Master or MBA studies, you are required to have an accredited Bachelor's Degree.
Both options you can check as the Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (HZB), meaning 'higher education entrance qualification' at the following website.
4. Minimum GPA Requirements Set By A University
You can check and convert your GPA to the German system here.
5. Relevant Work Experience
The majority of the MBA programs require you to have 2-3 years of work experience.
Important: pay attention to what kind of work experience is required:
Is it full-time, part-time, or an internship?
Is it 2 or 3 years long?
Is it required to complete work experience after the Bachelor's Degree issue date?
You need to present all these points in the German embassy when applying for a visa to be able to be granted permission for a long-term study visa (allowing you to work as well).
Not only are you required to present it in the embassy, but the majority of these requirements are also a necessity during the German university application process.
Are There Specific Entry Requirements To Study In Germany?
All the data you need to know from the DAAD website
Whether you can study in Germany with a foreign degree or certificate depends on the equivalence of your degree to a German standard of teaching.
If you are from an EU country, then the possibility of direct enrollment is close to 100% for German Universities.
If you are outside the EU, the possibility you are required to study an additional year in the Studienkolleg or a university in your country is very high.
If you are unsure if the visa & separate admission is required, go through this test to determine if you do.
If you would like to know admission requirements as per your country, please please see the Database on admission requirements as per your country here. More than 130 countries’ data is available.
If your school-leaving certificate is not recognized as a higher education entrance qualification, you can take a Foundation course or Pathway or Studienkolleg if the minimum entry requirements for that specific course are fulfilled. Should you successfully pass the program, you are given the right to study at any university or at only one specific course.
Make sure to consult the admission department of the university as well as Uni Assist. Attention: if unsure, always ask the academic/admission office of the chosen university or an educational consultant. You can always ask me here.
IB Entry Requirements For Germany
The International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB diploma) is a school-leaving qualification that is awarded by the Geneva-based, private sector International Baccalaureate (IB) Organisation and can be earned at thousands of schools worldwide.
With the IB Diploma with a certain set of subjects, you are allowed to enroll in a German university Bachelor program directly! Here is how:
An example of the German Business School Entry Requirements for IB Students:
o min. 24 points
o 2 language courses (at least one must be an advanced foreign language; “Language A”)
o A scientific subject (biology, chemistry, physics) – must be “Higher level”
o Mathematics SL/HL
o A social-scientific subject (business, history, geography, economics)
o 6th compulsory subject must be one of the following (visual arts, music, theatre arts, a further modern foreign language; Latin, classical Greek; general chemistry, applied, chemistry, environmental systems, computer science, design technology; philosophy, psychology, social anthropology, Business Management)
o The subjects demanded need to be graded with the IB-grade 4 at the minimum
o If only one subject is graded with the IB-grade 3, it can be equated, if a further subject of at least the same aspiration level is graded with the IB-grade 5
Should the entry requirements not be fulfilled, you need to apply for a Studienkolleg/Pathway/Foundation course and the university will decide upon the minimum points and subjects required for you to enroll.
Mandatory subjects for alternative majors:
Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science, Pharmacy:
Mathematics SL and Biology HL or Chemistry HL or Physics HL
Mathematics, Natural Sciences (i. e.: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geosciences, Environmental Sciences, Home Economics, Food, and Nutritional Sciences):
Mathematics HL and Biology SL or Chemistry SL or Physics SL
Technical study courses (i. e. Architecture, Informatics, Electronics and Information Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Medicinal Technology, Vehicle and Process Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Library and Information Systems, Supply Technology):
Mathematics HL and Biology SL or Chemistry SL or Physics SL
Psychology, Law, Business, Humanities, Sports Science:
Mathematics HL or SL and Biology HL/SL or Chemistry HL/SL and Physics HL/SL
Either Maths or a Science has to be at HL
COVID19 May 2020 IB Diplomas
With adapting to circumstances around the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, IB Diplomas issued in May 2020 as authorization for university admission, on condition that these terms apply in addition to the updated Agreement of the Recognition of the IB Diploma.
The recognition is granted for the university admissions for winter semester 2020 and it will be automatically extended in case there will be no statistical deviations of student final grades, in comparison to student grades from the past 3 years of examinations
Read the latest IB Agreement on the Recognition of the 'International Baccalaureate Diploma/Diplôme du Baccalauréat International'
GCE Entry Requirements For Germany
The GCE is accepted in Germany under certain conditions as a direct subject-restricted university entrance qualification. The following conditions apply:
Four examination subjects that are independent of one another and have general education (non-vocational).
Must include 1 language, Mathematics or one of the subjects of the natural sciences (biology, chemistry, or physics)
A minimum of three of the four examination subjects must have been passed on the level of GCE AL. The level GCE AS is sufficient for the fourth examination subject.
An example of the German Business School Entry Requirements for GCE Students:
o 1 language course A/AS level
o Mathematics A-level
o 1 Natural Science course
o 1 elective course as desired
o 3 out of 4 courses must be A-level. The remaining course can be AS-level
Based on the desired course of study, the following additional prerequisites must be fulfilled:
Humanities, law, social sciences, economics, art:
a subject in the GCE AL that corresponds to the chosen field of study
and have a GCE AL in mathematics for a course of study involving economics and social sciences.
Natural science:
a total of two GCE AL examinations in the subjects of mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics.
Technical studies and mathematics:
a GCE AL in mathematics
and a GCE AL in biology, chemistry, physics, or computer science.
Medicine (medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, or pharmacy):
Three of the following GCE AL subjects: mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics.
GCE Specifics
Two subjects on the level of GCE AS can be included in the assessment in place of one GCE AL.
Evidence of GCE AS/AL examination subjects that are vocational in nature can only be accepted in individual cases. The “GCE Applied A Level” introduced in the United Kingdom in 2005/2006 will not qualify an applicant for university access in Germany under any circumstances.
Proof of an applicant’s “key skills” will not be taken into account for university access in Germany.
A language examination in English that has not been taken as part of the GCE AL/AS examinations cannot be substituted for a subject in GCE AL/AS.
The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), the International GCSE, and the GCE Ordinary Level (GCE O Level) certificates, which are conferred in the United Kingdom and at British international schools, will be regarded as a school-leaving certificate from a German “Hauptschule” (a school that offers Lower Secondary Education) or as a “Mittlere Reife” (an intermediate school-leaving certificate that is usually awarded after ten years of schooling in Germany) and will NOT be taken into consideration for university entrance in Germany.
American Diploma & SAT & AP Entry
Requirements For Germany
It is obligatory for your High School Diploma to be acquired after continuous attendance of the classes 9 to 12 at a US High School and to comprise a total of 16 "academic units" in the forms 9 to 12:
4 units (3 units are sufficient for 11 forms) English with a minimum grade C: English IV or Honors or AP English,
2 units Second Language,
3 units Social Studies,
5 units in total Mathematics and Science:
2 or 3 units Mathematics with a minimum grade C: Algebra II or Trigonometry and Precalculus, 2 or 3 units Science with a minimum grade C: Biology, Chemistry or Physics,2 academic units free to choose from.
An example of a German Business School American Diploma & SAT & AP Entry Requirements
US High school degree min. 3.0 GPA out of 4.0 and one of the following:
o SAT min. 1300 points English math and writing
o ACT min. 29 points
o AP (must have taken calculus, language and a subject that exists in German high school)
SAT
Until February 2016: A total of 1,300 points must be proven in the two parts "Math" and "Critical Reading". This is not the overall score achieved; this is the sum of points scored in the parts “Math” and “Critical Reading” independent of the results achieved in the “Writing” part.
From March 2016: A total of 1,360 points must be proven in the two parts "Math" and "Evidence-Based Reading and Writing".
Starting with the admission deadline for the winter semester 2019/2020, the admission options in connection with SAT and ACT do not apply anymore. This means that SAT and ACT results do not lead to a better rating for admission to a German institution of higher education than the High School Diploma without additional certificates.
AP
Providing your AP tests cover the compulsory subjects specified below, you qualify for direct subject-restricted admission. This allows you to apply directly to a German higher education institution for Mathematical subjects, Technology, Natural Sciences, Medicine or Pharmacy.
Condition:
The following subject areas must be covered by your AP tests with at least grade 3:
Mathematics (Calculus AB or BC)
1 natural science subject (Biology, Chemistry or two half AP tests in Physics C)
1 language (French, Spanish, Latin, German, English Literature or English Language and Composition)
1 further subject (e.g. European History, American History, Computer Science or two half AP tests respectively in Macroeconomics and Microeconomics)
Providing your AP tests cover the compulsory subjects specified below, you qualify for direct subject-restricted admission. This allows you to apply directly to a German higher education institution for Humanities, Social Sciences, Jurisprudence or Economics.
Condition:
The following subject areas must be covered by your AP tests with at least grade 3:
English (English Literature or English Language and Composition)
1 further foreign language (French, Spanish, Latin, German)
1 mathematical/natural science subject (Calculus AB or BC, Biology, Chemistry or two half AP tests in Physics C)
1 further subject (e.g. European History, American History, Computer Science or two half AP tests respectively in Macroeconomics and Microeconomics)
Associate Degree
With your educational background, you qualify for direct general admission, providing you can prove two years of study at a recognised higher education institution with "college level" courses that meet the following requirements:
5 independent general education subjects, thereof English, one foreign language, mathematics, and one natural science subject
thereof at least three subjects with three ascending semester courses
