PROSPECTIVE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS  Requirements for Enrolment

A university entrance qualification is the basic requirement for enrolment in an academic programme at a university. Recognition of foreign university entrance qualifications takes place during the admission procedure after the university has received your application for a degree programme (prior to expiry of the application deadline and including all required documents). 

When assessing non-German qualifications, Heidelberg University applies the evaluation framework provided by the Central Office for Foreign Education (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen, ZAB). 

If in the recognition process, a foreign academic qualification is considered to be only partially comparable to the German university entrance requirements (usually Abitur), it is possible to apply for participation in an assessment test  (Feststellungsprüfung) in a preparatory course (Studienkolleg) in accordance with the the evaluation framework of the Central Office for Foreign Education (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen, ZAB). 

Applicants for a Master's degree programme must have successfully completed a first university degree programme at a German or international university that qualifies them to enrol in the desired Master's programme. The access restrictions for each Master’s degree programme are stipulated in the respective admission regulations and may include such prerequisites as above-average examination grades in the undergraduate degree programme or specific professional experience.  

Applicants for all degree programmes (Bachelor’s degree or state examination) at Heidelberg University as well as for all German-language Master’s degree programmes must have very good German language skills. Proof of the required German language skills must be submitted prior to enrolling in an academic programme. 

In addition, some degree programmes include language skills in modern and/or old languages as a requirement in their course requirements. These can partially be made up for during the course of studies if applicants do not meet the language requirements or do not have the required level at the time of enrolment. 
Information on these requirements can be found in the respective selection regulations/admission regulations or in the examination and degree programme rules and regulations.

Individual subjects, e.g. admission-restricted subjects or subjects with entrance examinations, may also require applicants to have additional qualifications. These qualifications are defined in the respective selection regulations/admission regulations. 

Please note: International applicants from non-EU/EEA countries with a foreign university entrance qualification who wish to enrol in admission-restricted degree programmes (university-internal selection procedure, dialogue-oriented service procedure and procedures for Germany-wide admission-restricted subjects) are subject to the prevailing selection criteria outlined in the applicable Higher Education Admission Ordinance on the basis of the applicable Higher Education Admission Act, or, rather, the applicable Grant Ordinance Foundation (VV Stiftung).” The subject-specific selection regulations/admission regulations provide information on submission of additional qualifications as well as on further requirements for BA/state examination degree programmes with entrance examinations, BA/state examination degree programmes without admission restrictions and Master’s degree programmes. 

Depending on the nationality of international students, they may require an entry visa and a residence permit in order to study at Heidelberg University.