International student applicants

If you want to study at the University of Hildesheim, you need a university entrance qualification (HZB). This is a school or university degree that qualifies you for a degree program.

You can find out whether your school or university degree is recognized in the Anabin or uni assist database.

Further information on this topic can be found on the DAAD website. Is

your school or university degree not recognized? Find out more about the Studienkolleg in the next section. You can also learn more about alternative ways of gaining admission to the University of Hildesheim.

Not all foreign university entrance qualifications are recognized as equivalent to the German qualification. You can find out whether your university entrance qualification is equivalent to the German qualification on the DAAD website and at Anabin.

If your university entrance qualification is recognized as equivalent to the German qualification, you can be admitted directly to the degree program, provided there are enough places available.

If your university entrance qualification is not equivalent to the German one, you must take an assessment test to determine your suitability for the intended degree program.

If you have already started studying abroad, uni-assist can only determine whether you meet the requirements for studying in Germany by examining your individual case (however, if you have completed a university degree abroad, you definitely have a university entrance qualification).

Important: If you have already been enrolled at a German university, you must also submit a certificate of good standing. This serves to determine whether you are still eligible to take exams in your desired degree program. The certificate of good standing is issued by the German university where you were previously enrolled.

Do I need to submit additional documents?

For some bachelor's degree programs, you must take an aptitude test: 

Artistic programs:

• Bachelor's in Creative Writing and Journalism,
• Bachelor's in Cultural Studies and Aesthetic Practice
• Bachelor's in Scenic Arts

2-subject Bachelor's degree with the subjects:

• Art
• Music
• Sports

The application deadline for the aptitude tests is usually mid-April. Depending on the aptitude test, there are different deadlines. Please check our degree program pages for the current deadlines. Information days, online seminars, and presentations will help you prepare for the aptitude test.

You can register for the aptitude test on the application portal. In addition, you must apply for a place at the University of Hildesheim via uni assist.

What documents do I need for my master's application?

If you are applying for a master's program, you must already have a degree in an undergraduate program. The undergraduate program must be relevant to the chosen master's program.

For some master's programs, you will also need:

• advanced German language skills, e.g., TestDaF 5x5
• additional foreign language skills, e.g., English, Spanish, or French
• a letter of motivation
• a tabular resume
• a description of your research project
• ...

You can find more detailed information on the other requirements in the descriptions of the individual degree programs and in the respective selection regulations. We would be happy to advise you on this. 

You did not obtain your professional qualification in Germany, but would like to work in your profession in Germany?

Have your foreign qualification recognized. In the recognition procedure, the competent authority in Germany checks whether your foreign professional qualification corresponds to the German reference profession, i.e., whether there are any significant differences. This check is called an equivalence assessment.
Multilingual information on the recognition procedure can be found here.

Did you complete your teacher training abroad? Would you now like to work as a teacher in Lower Saxony?
You must submit an application to the Lower Saxony Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs for recognition of the equivalence of your training completed abroad.

Once the Lower Saxony Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs has decided on your application, you will receive the result in a so-called recognition notice. Often, only part of the professional qualification is recognized. You can then take an aptitude test or complete an adaptation course to compensate for the significant differences. You can complete the adaptation course at the University of Hildesheim.

How do I apply for an adaptation course for teaching at the University of Hildesheim?
To take an adaptation course at the University of Hildesheim, you must apply by January 15 or July 15 of each year. You must submit the following documents to the Enrollment Office:

• Informal application
• tabular curriculum vitae
• Passport photo (4 cm high x 3 cm wide with first and last name on the back)
• Officially certified copy of the recognition notice from the Lower Saxony Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs
• Simple copies of your foreign degree certificate in the original language and in German translation
• Officially certified copy of your German language certificate

What level of German do I need?
You need a C1 level according to the CEFR for all subjects except German. For German, you need a C2 level according to the CEFR. The following certificates are accepted:

• TestDaF (4x4 or 5x5)
• German Language Test for University Admission (DSH 2 or 3)
• telc C1 Hochschule
• German Language Diploma (DSD II)

Where can I get advice? We at the
University of Hildesheim will be happy to advise you on the adaptation course for teachers. Please contact us.
We recommend that you seek advice on the recognition procedure from the nationwide IQ Network. In Hildesheim, the IHK Hannover is responsible for recognition advice.

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

Have you already completed courses at another university and would like to have them credited in Hildesheim?
There is an application form for the crediting of previous coursework and examinations. You will need this if

• you have already completed courses at another university and would like to have them credited towards your studies in Hildesheim
• you would like to apply for a higher semester
• you are changing your degree program and would like to have credits from your previous studies transferred

In each case, the decision will be made individually by the relevant examination boards.

The application form and further information on applying for credit for previous academic achievements and examinations can be found here.

For a bachelor's degree: You need sufficient German
language skills for all bachelor's degree programs and most master's degree programs at the University of Hildesheim. The following certificates are accepted when applying for a bachelor's degree program:

• TestDaF (level 4 in all parts of the exam)
• telc C1 Hochschule
• German Language Test for University Admission (DSH-2)
• German Language Diploma (DSD II)
• Assessment test with German section
• Goethe Certificate C2
• or higher

For a master's degree: The requirements
for admission to a master's degree program are the same as for a bachelor's degree (see above).
Please note: In some cases, higher language requirements apply. Information on this can be found in the respective selection regulations. The selection regulations can be found on the corresponding degree program page. We would be happy to advise you on this.

Learning German: We
generally recommend that you acquire the necessary German language skills in your home country.

However, Telc C1 Hochschule and TestDaF preparation courses are also offered in Hildesheim. If you are interested, please contact the Volkshochschule Hildesheim or the HAWK Language Center. The university itself does not offer preparatory German courses.

A general overview of language and subject-specific courses and other opportunities to learn German can be found on the DAAD website.

Do I need an APS check?

Applicants from China, India, Mongolia, or Vietnam must have their certificates checked by an Academic Evaluation Center (APS). Further information can be found on the APS website: 

• China
• India
• Mongolia
• Vietnam

I would like to study psychology. What do I need to consider?
Please note that the University of Hildesheim participates in the dialogue-oriented service procedure (DoSV) for the Bachelor of Science in Psychology program. Therefore, please register at hochschulstart.de to obtain a BID and BAN. You will then enter your BID and BAN when applying on the uni assist portal.

What do I need to consider if I have already studied at a German university?
Important: If you have already been enrolled at a German university, you must submit a certificate of good standing with your application. This is used to determine whether you are still eligible to take exams in your desired degree program. The certificate of good standing is issued by the German university where you were previously enrolled.

Can I apply for a higher semester?
If you would like to apply for a higher semester, please apply via uni assist and indicate the desired semester there.

In addition, you must submit an application for recognition of previous academic achievements and examinations. A decision on whether you can be placed in a higher semester will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Alternatively, you can also have credits already earned recognized after admission and enrollment at the University of Hildesheim. To do so, you must submit the same application.

Before applying, please check whether your desired degree program is offered in Hildesheim.

You can find a current overview of the degree programs offered in Hildesheim here.
Please also note which degree you will obtain with which degree program and whether this meets your requirements.

At the University of Hildesheim, first-year students can generally only begin their studies in the winter semester (in October). However, for some degree programs, it is possible to apply for the summer semester (April).

• Overview of the academic year

Did you obtain your university entrance qualification (HZB) abroad? Please apply via uni assist.

Uni-assist will check your application documents for completeness, evaluate your educational qualifications, and convert your grades. Please upload your application documents directly to the uni-assist online portal. Applications that meet the requirements will be forwarded by uni-assist to the University of Hildesheim.

Create your application in the uni-assist applicant portal.

Checklists, online seminars, and country information will help you with your application.

Tip: Apply to uni-assist early. It takes 4-6 weeks to review your documents. You cannot submit any additional documents after the application deadline.

After uni-assist has forwarded your application to the University of Hildesheim, you will receive your login details for the University of Hildesheim application portal by email.
The application portal provides you with important information about the status of your application and whether you have been accepted or rejected.

Please note: You do not need to reapply via the University of Hildesheim application portal. You can find out what to do next in the section "Enrollment."

Are you interested in the IT master's programs?

• M.Sc. Data Analytics (in English, International Master),
• M.Sc. Software Engineering (in English, International Master),
• M.Sc. Applied Computer Science (in German), 
• M.Sc. Information Management & Information Technology variant of Applied Computer Science (in German)
• M.Sc. Environmental Informatics (variant of Applied Computer Science (in German))
• M.Sc. Business Informatics (in German)

Then please apply via the IT Master's degree program portal.

Here you will find more detailed information about these degree programs.

Did you obtain your university entrance qualification from a German school in Germany or abroad? Did you take the assessment test at the Studienkolleg?

Then please apply directly via the University of Hildesheim application portal.

You must upload the following documents to uni-assist online:

1. Original school leaving certificate with grades and subject overview
2. Proof of university entrance examination, if applicable
3. Proof of previous studies with an overview of grades and subjects (transcript of records)
4. Proof of language proficiency (original language certificate)
5. For bachelor's degrees: aptitude test for the subjects of sports, art, music, and artistic subjects
6. For master's degrees: Bachelor's degree certificate, overview of grades and subjects, and diploma supplement
7. Depending on the Master's program: Curriculum vitae, letter of motivation, language certificate, description of the research project
8. If possible: information on the grading system if not indicated on the certificates

More information about certificates and proof

Do I need to have my certificates translated?
Are your certificates officially issued in German or English in your country of origin? If so, we do not require a translation.

Otherwise, we require an officially certified translation of your transcripts. Learn more about certified translations.

When do I have to submit my documents?
You must upload your documents to uni-assist by the end of the application deadline. You can submit additional documents within the application period.

When do I have to pay the processing fees?
Before you can submit your application to uni-assist, you must pay the processing fees. Please pay the fees before the application deadline. 

• Costs for the first study choice: EUR 75.00
• For each additional study choice: EUR 30.00

Important:

If you have already been enrolled at a German university, you must also submit a certificate of good standing. This is used to determine whether you are still eligible to take exams in your desired degree program. The certificate of good standing is issued by the German university where you were previously enrolled.

Tips and advice:

• Please ensure that your application and all supporting documents are received by uni assist by the deadline.

• Sometimes the application deadline is extended. Please check below.

• For some degree programs, you will be enrolled directly. The enrollment deadlines for "degree programs without admission restrictions" can be found below.

• For the adaptation course for teachers, please apply between June 1 and July 15 or between December 1 and January 15.

For undergraduate programs, the application deadline is usually July 15 of each year. If you want to apply for a higher semester, you can also apply for the summer semester. In this case, the application deadline is January 15 of each year.

For master's degree programs, different application deadlines apply in some cases, which you can find in the information on the individual degree programs.

HERE you will find the University of Hildesheim's application portal for degree programs.