Apply in University
The Foreign Students' Office admits foreign students to the universities. The entrance application must be submitted by January 15 each year for the summer semester (beginning on April 1) and by July 15 for the winter semester (beginning on October 1).
The following documents should be enclosed along with the application:
*A certified copy of the certificate for admission to higher education or in other words the foreign high school qualification
*A translation (from an official translator) of the high school certificate
*A passport-size photograph
*Bio-data with exact information about one's education (schools visited, exams taken etc)
*Proof of higher studies attended till now if applicable
*Language certificate as proof of required German language knowledge
An officially certified photocopy of the assessment test to determine the eligibility of foreign applicants to studies at institutions of higher education in Germany with subjects and mark list, if the test has been taken
The “central office for allocation of study places” (ZVS) plays a specific role. It's responsible for instance for allocating places for students for courses of study such as medicine. Students who come from countries belonging to the European Union can apply for these subjects directly at the ZVS (www.zvs.com) while all others must submit their applications to the Foreign Students' Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt).
Akademisches Auslandsamt
The Akademisches Auslandsamt or the Foreign Students' Office can be found at every university and is an important address not only for all foreign students in Germany; but also for German students who would like to study or do an internship in a foreign country. The Akademisches Auslandsamt also organizes preparatory courses for the German language exam, which all foreign students have to take in order to study at a German university. It is also responsible for admission of foreign students to German universities.
Important: the admission notification alone does not provide entitlement to study. All students who require a visa for study purposes must enclose the admission notification along with the visa application.
From 1 May students from abroad have the opportunity to apply to several universities with only one set of documents through the ‘Application Services for International Students’. Assist will check that all necessary documents have been included and that they meet the necessary formal requirements, and will then forward them on to the respective universities. The ‘Application Services for International Students’ is a joint venture of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Conference of University Rectors (HRK) and fifty universities.
Preparatory Studies for Foreign Students
You've finally finished school, you've got your high-school diploma, your A-levels or the equivalent from your country and you're getting ready to study abroad. But it turns out that your diploma isn't recognized in Germany. There is no international standard for school diplomas.
Applicants whose certificates aren't recognized still have a chance to study in Germany. They can enroll at a College of Preparatory Studies for Foreign Students (Studienkolleg). Enrollment for the preparatory courses is handled by the university. As with every other authority in Germany, one needs to apply in writing. The Foreign Students' Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt) at the various universities will provide you with more details.
The preparatory program lasts for one year at the end of which foreign students have to take a final examination. If they pass the exam they are considered to be up to the academic level they need to study at a German university and can apply for admission. The preparatory courses are conducted in German, so language proficiency is a must. The German language diploma of the Culture Ministers, Level 1 (“Deutsches Sprachdiplom”) as well as the GoetheInstitute’s “Zentrale Mittelstufenprüfung” is considered proof of your language fluency.
Registration in German Universities
A basic principle of German universities is “academic freedom”. Every student is free to choose his institution of higher education and lecturer. Private universities, art and music academies as well as sport academies generally select candidates based on tests or interviews. But for most other subjects however, you can register directly at the university. Before the semester begins, long queues of hopeful students can be seen in front of the Registrar's office. Most of them are usually young people and carry the same papers:
*the registration application (available at the Registrar's office)
*the school leaving certificate (translated in German and if required certified) or the notification of admission from the Foreign Students' Office
*proof of adequate knowledge of German if applicable (or knowledge of English for international study courses)
*a certificate from the university in the home country, if a course was begun or completed in the country of origin
proof of medical insurance
This small document portfolio ensures successful registration. All that remains is to pay the fees each semester and one can immediately call oneself a real student.
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Study in Germany Guide