International Bachelor and Master Students

You have not achieved your professional qualification in Germany, but want to work in your profession in Germany?
Get your foreign professional qualification recognised in Germany. In the recognition procedure, the competent authority in Germany checks whether your foreign professional qualification corresponds to the German reference occupation, i.e. whether there are any significant differences. This check is called the equivalence assessment procedure (Gleichwertigkeitsprüfung).
Multilingual information on the recognition procedure can be found at https://www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de.

Have you completed your teacher training abroad? Would you now like to work as a teacher in Lower Saxony?
You must submit an application to the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs of Lower Saxony for an equivalence assessment procedure of the training completed abroad.
Once the Lower Saxony Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs has decided on your application, you will receive the result in the so-called recognition notice (Anerkennungsbescheid). Often only part of the professional qualification is recognised. You can then take an aptitude test or complete an adaptation period and compensate for the main differences. You can complete the adaptation period at the University of Hildesheim.

How do I apply for an adaptation period in teaching at the University of Hildesheim?
In order to carry out an adaptation period at the University of Hildesheim, please apply by the deadline of 15.01. or 15.07. You must submit the following documents to the Admissions Office (Immatrikulationsamt):

• informal application
• curriculum vitae in table form
• passport photo (4cm h x 3cm w with first and last names on the back)
• officially certified copy of the recognition notice of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs
• copies of your foreign diploma in the original language and in German translation
• officially certified copy of the German certificate

What German language skills do I need?
You need a C1 level according to CEFR for all subjects except German. For the subject German you need a C2 level according to CEFR. The following certificates are recognised:

• TestDaF (4x4 or 5x5)
• German language examination for university entrance qualification (DSH 2 or 3)
• telc C1 University
• German Language Diploma (DSD II)

Where can I get advice?
We would be happy to advise you at the University of Hildesheim on the adaptation period in teaching. Please get in touch with us.
We recommend that you seek advice on the recognition procedure from the nationwide IQ Network. In Hildesheim, the IHK Hanover is responsible for recognition counselling.

Tip: The recognition process can take several months. We therefore advise you to start the process early and learn German at the same time.