University admission in Germany

Official entry requirements

As classified by the country with UNESCO (ISCED 2011), reference year 2020. Universities may set higher requirements.

School-leaving qualification (upper secondary)

• Upper secondary schools (general) (aggregation of programmes 3.2 to 3.5)3 years

  Minimum entry: Completed lower secondary (ISCED 244)

  Awards: University entrance qualification

• Grammar schools (grades 11-13 or 10-12)3 years, from age 15

  Minimum entry: Completed lower secondary (ISCED 244)

  Awards: University entrance qualification

• Comprehensive schools (grades 11-13)3 years, from age 16

  Minimum entry: Completed lower secondary (ISCED 244)

  Awards: University entrance qualification

• Free Waldorf schools (grades 11-13)3 years, from age 16

  Minimum entry: Completed lower secondary (ISCED 244)

  Awards: University entrance qualification

• Schools for students with special needs (grades 11-13)3 years, from age 16

  Minimum entry: Completed lower secondary (ISCED 244)

  Awards: University entrance qualification

• Upper secondary general programmes at vocational schools (aggregation of programmes 3.7 to 3.9)from age 16

  Minimum entry: Completed lower secondary (ISCED 244)

  Awards: diverse/ several

• Specialised vocational high schools, 2 years2 years, from age 16

  Minimum entry: Completed lower secondary (ISCED 244)

  Awards: Fachhochschule entrance qualification

• Fachgymnasien, objective: University entrance qualification3 years, from age 16

  Minimum entry: Completed lower secondary (ISCED 244)

  Awards: University entrance qualification

• Specialised vocational schools: objective: university entrance qualification2 years, from age 16

  Minimum entry: Completed lower secondary (ISCED 244)

  Awards: Fachhochschule entrance qualification, University entrance qualification

Bachelor's or equivalent (first degree)

• Master Craftsmen (long)3 years, from age 21

  Minimum entry: Completed upper secondary (ISCED 354)

  Awards: Master Craftsmen programmes (long) at Chambers

• Business economist, Financial expert, qualifications in economics, IT, domestic science3 years, from age 21

  Minimum entry: Completed upper secondary (ISCED 354)

  Awards: Business economist, Financial expert, qualifications in economics, IT, domestic science

• Vocational academies (Diploma)3 years, from age 19

  Minimum entry: Completed upper secondary (ISCED 344)

  Awards: Diploma (vocational academy)

• Vocational academies (Bachelor)3 years, from age 19

  Minimum entry: Completed upper secondary (ISCED 344)

  Awards: Bachelor

• Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University (Bachelor)3 years, from age 19

  Minimum entry: Completed upper secondary (ISCED 344)

  Awards: Bachelor

• Colleges of public administration (Diploma)3 years, from age 19

  Minimum entry: Completed upper secondary (ISCED 344)

  Awards: Diploma (College of Public Administration)

• Colleges of public administration (Bachelor)3 years, from age 19

  Minimum entry: Completed upper secondary (ISCED 344)

  Awards: Bachelor

• Universities of Applied Science (Diploma)4 years, from age 19

  Minimum entry: Completed upper secondary (ISCED 344)

  Awards: Diploma University of applied science

• Universities of Applied Science (Bachelor)3 years, from age 19

  Minimum entry: Completed upper secondary (ISCED 344)

  Awards: Bachelor

• University studies (Bachelor)3 years, from age 19

  Minimum entry: Completed upper secondary (ISCED 344)

  Awards: Bachelor

• Master Craftsmen programmes at trade and technical schools (long)3 years, from age 21

  Minimum entry: Completed upper secondary (ISCED 354)

  Awards: Master Craftsmen's qualification (long)

• Trade and technical schools (technicians and for example economics, IT, domestic science)3 years, from age 21

  Minimum entry: Completed upper secondary (ISCED 354)

  Awards: Technician's qualification, qualification in economics, IT, domestic science

• Kindergarten teacher programme at trade and technical schools.3 years, from age 21

  Minimum entry: Completed upper secondary (ISCED 354)

  Awards: Qualification of Kindergarten teacher training (3 years)

• Programmes predominantly for translaters, opticians and domestic economy management at vocational academies.3 years, from age 19

  Minimum entry: Completed upper secondary (ISCED 354)

  Awards: Qualification of specialised academies (remaining part)

• Kindergarten teacher programme at vocational academies.3 years, from age 19

  Minimum entry: Completed upper secondary (ISCED 354)

  Awards: Qualification of specialised academies

• Remedial teachers programme at vocational academies.3 years, from age 19

  Minimum entry: Completed upper secondary (ISCED 354)

  Awards: Qualification of specialised academies (remedial teacher)

• Kindergarten teacher programme at specialised vocational schools.3 years, from age 19

  Minimum entry: Completed upper secondary (ISCED 354)

  Awards: Qualification of Kindergarten teacher training (3 years)

• Programmes at Fachgymnasien offering both a university entrance qualification and a Kindergarten teacher qualification.3 years, from age 19

  Minimum entry: Completed upper secondary (ISCED 354)

  Awards: University entrance qualification combined with Qualification of Kindergarten teacher training (3 years)

Short-cycle tertiary (diplomas)

• Master Craftsmen programmes at trade and technical schools (short)2 years, from age 21

  Minimum entry: Completed upper secondary (ISCED 354)

  Awards: Master Craftsmen's qualification (short)

• Master Craftsmen (short)2 years, from age 21

  Minimum entry: Completed upper secondary (ISCED 354)

  Awards: Master Craftsmen programmes (short) at Chambers