For Undergraduate Studies:

• Higher Education Entrance Qualification: Known as Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (HZB), it proves you are eligible for university admission. This could be:
  • A recognized high school diploma (e.g., IB, A-levels).
  • A certificate equivalent to German Abitur, as per DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) standards.
  • If your diploma isn’t equivalent, you may need to attend a preparatory course (Studienkolleg) and pass the final exam (Feststellungsprüfung).

For Postgraduate Studies:

• A recognized bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. Most German Master programs are consecutive, meaning you can only do the Master in the same area as your Bachelor degree (for exmaple, with a Bachelor in Philosophy, you cannot do a Master in Economics).
• Some universities might require a minimum GPA.

German-Taught Programs:
Proficiency in German is usually mandatory. Accepted tests include:

• TestDaF: Test of German as a Foreign Language.
• DSH: German Language University Entrance Examination.
• Goethe-Zertifikat or TELC: At least a B2 or C1 level is often required.

• A blocked account (Sperrkonto) with approximately €11,208 (for the academic year 2024) is required to prove you can support yourself financially.
• Alternatively, you can provide a scholarship certificate or a declaration of financial support / commitment.
  Note: A declaration of financial support can be given by someone living permanently in Germany who has a regular income, which can cover the living expenses of a guest. With the declaration of commitment, the person commits himself for a period of five years to cover all costs that may incur due to the stay of the person with a formal obligation in Germany. This includes costs of living (for example, for food, drink, housing, clothing, medical treatment, medication or care), costs incurred if the authorities have to forcibly return the guest to his or her home country or costs of social benefits incurred by the state (such as for housing/care in the event of illness).

• Mandatory for all students in Germany.
• International students under 30 can often enroll in statutory health insurance at affordable rates (~€110/month).