Access to higher education for applicants with qualifications in vocational education

Master craftsmen and women and those with comparable qualifications have free access to higher education. They can read any degree, provided that they meet the degree programme-specific requirements (e.g. work placement as well as an aptitude test in some study programmes).

The following qualifications entitle the holder to access to higher education:

1. Master craftsman's diploma in a trade in accordance with §§ 45 or 51a Handwerksordnung (Handicrafts Regulation Act),
2. Completion of continuing education with examination regulations in accordance with §§ 53 or 54 Berufsbildungsgesetz (Vocational Training Act) or in accordance with §§ 42 or 42a Handwerksordnung, provided that the courses comprise a minimum of 400 lessons,
3. A comparable qualification on the basis of § 142 Seemannsgesetz (Seafarers Act),
4. Completion of technical college education according to the framework agreement on technical colleges of the Conference of German Cultural Ministers,
5. Completion of continuing education for vocations in health care and in the area of social care and social education regulated by state law, comparable with Number 2,
6. Completion of other comparable continuing education regulated by state law.

Applicants with experience in the intended field may pursue a degree programme that is relevant to any vocational training or work experience they may have, provided that the degree programme-specific requirements (e.g. work placement as well as an aptitude test in some study programmes) are met.

The general requirements in this case are successful completion of a recognised apprenticeship of at least two years and a minimum of three years' experience working in that vocational field; two years are sufficient for holders of a Continuing Education Grant from the German government.

For an overview of relevant apprenticeships, click on the link below.

Applicants with no experience in the intended field may take up a degree programme that does not relate to their vocational training or work experience if they pass an admissions test or a trial study period.

In this case, the degree programme-specific requirements (e.g. work placement as well as an aptitude test in some study programmes) must still be met. The general requirements in this case are successful completion of a recognised apprenticeship of at least two years and a minimum of three years' experience working in a vocational field that may differ from the job learnt; two years are sufficient for holders of a Continuing Education Grant from the German government.

The full-time, independent management of a household with at least one minor child or a family member requiring care also constitutes work experience. The full particulars are laid down in the regulation. In the event of part-time employment (at least half-time), the work experience is taken into account proportionately. This is also the case for managing a household with at least one minor child or a family member requiring care.

In degree programmes subject to admissions restrictions, applicants with no experience in the intended field must sit an admissions test; in degree programmes with open admissions, they can choose between an admissions test and a trial study period of two semesters. Applicants are finally enrolled after passing the trial study period.

A trial study period is considered to have been successful if the candidate can prove he has achieved a minimum of 20 credit points per trial semester on a Bachelor programme.

We can offer you a consultation session to determine whether you are lacking any general, specialised or methodological knowledge. Information will also be given about the possibility to compensate for any lack of prior knowledge, assessing the candidate's potential study success rate. The examination procedures related to the admissions test are explained, where applicable.

Please contact the responsible Academic Advisor in the relevant department or institute to arrange an appointment for an individual consultation:

The closing date for applying to sit the admissions test for the winter semester is 1 April and 1 October for the summer semester. The usual closing dates apply to applications to degree programmes without an admissions test.

Applications must be sent in writing to the higher education institution, stating the intended degree programme. Please enclose the necessary supporting documents and descriptions of the main contents of your apprenticeship and work experience with your application.

With degree programmes that are not subject to admissions restrictions, all applicants who meet the admissions requirements will be offered a place.

The following rule applies to degree programmes subject to admissions restrictions (local NC):

• Places for master craftsmen and women and those with comparable qualifications, as well as for applicants with experience in the intended field are awarded on the basis of a set quota. Of those places available, 4% are reserved for this group of applicants per degree programme. If there are more applicants than places, a position table is drawn up and the best applicants are taken into consideration.
• Applicants who have taken an admissions test are taken into consideration in the normal award procedure, based on the grade achieved in the admissions test. In this case, places are awarded as follows: 20% on the basis of the average grade, 20% based on waiting times and 60% in accordance with the university's selection procedure (generally also based on the average grade).