International Students

If you have a school leaving certificate or bachelor's degree from a foreign institution, please apply during the regular application periods and deadlines via the University of Education's online application system. You should also apply via Uni-Assist to verify your eligibility to study (this can be done at any time throughout the year).

• Information on general academic requirements
• Information on language requirements

Admission requirements always include proof of a teacher orientation test (for teacher training programmes) or a study orientation test (for bachelor's programmes).

First, please find out about the courses offered at our university and the specific admission requirements for each one. Then select a course that suits you with the appropriate combination of subjects.

Points of contact:

• Questions about the content of teacher training programmes: Central Student Advisory Service
• Questions about non-teaching-related Bachelor's and Master's programmes and specific questions about individual subjects: Subject-specific academic advisors
• Recognition of credits already earned and possible placement in a higher semester: Academic Advising

Before you can study at the University of Education Freiburg, your certificates will be checked to see if they are equivalent to German A-levels. You can find initial information on the evaluation of your previous secondary school qualifications, as well as any international study achievements and degrees you have already obtained, in the Anabin database. This database is maintained by the Central Office for Foreign Education of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the German Federal States (KMK), whose recommendations are followed by most German universities. On this website, you can find out how your qualifications will be assessed by selecting your home country and the type of certificate. As part of your application to the University of Education Freiburg, your university entrance qualification will be recognised via Uni-Assist.

Direct admission to higher education

Certificates that qualify you for study in your home country and are equivalent to German A-levels give you direct access to higher education. This may entitle you to study any subject (general higher education entrance qualification) or only a specific range of subjects (subject-specific higher education entrance qualification). Foreign grades are converted into the German grading system using the so-called ‘Bavarian formula’.

Direct admission according to the field of study

If you can prove that you have successfully completed a minimum period of study at a state university in your home country, you may be granted direct admission to a German university for your chosen subject and related subjects (subject-specific university entrance qualification). To do this, you must prove which subject you studied in your home country. If the degree programme you wish to study at the University of Education Freiburg is related to your previous studies, you may be granted direct admission.

Admission via assessment test

If you have foreign qualifications that allow you to study outside Germany but are not equivalent to German A-levels, you will need to pass the Feststellungsprüfung (assessment test) for universities. This 'test to determine the suitability of foreign applicants for admission to higher education' is not conducted at the University of Education Freiburg. Instead, it takes place at a preparatory college. The University of Education Freiburg registers applicants who wish to take the assessment test with the relevant preparatory college (usually the Studienkolleg of the University of Heidelberg). To register, you must submit a written application to the University of Education Freiburg.

The preparatory course lasts for two semesters. In justified cases, it can be shortened to one semester or extended by up to two semesters. Once you have passed the assessment test, you can begin your studies at the University of Education Freiburg.

Further information on the assessment test can be found on the website of the Studienkolleg.

All applicants who did not obtain their university entrance qualification (A-levels or equivalent) at a German or German-speaking school must prove their German language skills as part of their application before they can commence their studies, for example:

   • through the German Language Test for University Admission (DSH). A minimum DSH-2 result is required to study at the University of Education Freiburg.
   • or through the Test of German as a Foreign Language (TestDaF). To study at the University of Education Freiburg, you must have at least TestDaF level 4 in all sections (4x4).

You can take the language tests at the University of Education Freiburg, as well as the TestAS study aptitude test. Information on the language courses and language tests currently offered at the University of Education Freiburg can be found here. You can also learn German at adult education centres, private language schools, Goethe Institutes or universities in your home country.

The German language test is waived for persons who

   • have obtained the ‘German Language Diploma of the Conference of Ministers of Education – Second Level’ (DSD II) or
   • a certificate from the ‘Central Upper Secondary Examination’ (ZOP), the ‘Large or Small German Language Diploma’ (GDS or KDS) from the Goethe Institute or
   • the ‘German Language Examination II’ of the Language and Interpreting Institute in Munich or
   • the German language examination under the organisational and content-related responsibility of a preparatory college or a department of German as a foreign language at a German university at a foreign university or
   • the certificate of passing the ‘telc German C1 University’ examination or
   • have completed the ‘Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache’ (TestDaF) with a sufficient result (usually at least a test result of 4 in all sections).

Further information on German language skills can be found on the website of the German University Rectors' Conference (HRK), particularly under section 8.

The University of Education Freiburg has set up a preliminary review process for international applicants with Uni-Assist, which undertakes the recognition of applicants' university entrance qualifications and German language skills. This preliminary review incurs a fee. Uni-Assist informs applicants of the review results in advance and forwards them to the University of Education Freiburg. The University of Education Freiburg will still make the decision on admission and enrolment, so you will receive the letter of admission separately from the university.

What this means for you as an applicant:

• You send your application documents to Uni-Assist at the same time as you submit your online application to the University of Education.
• Applying through Uni-Assist costs €75.
• You can also apply to other universities via Uni-Assist at the same time. The fee is reduced for multiple applications.
• Even if you are applying to multiple universities via Uni-Assist, you only need to provide one set of officially certified copies.

You can find all further information directly on the Uni-Assist homepage.

Citizens of a member state of the European Union who do not have German A-levels are treated equally to German applicants in terms of admission. They take part in the selection process, whereby the foreign A-level average is converted into German grades and then further converted into selection points. To improve your chances of admission, please enclose proof of your practical experience with your application, if applicable.

Applicants from non-EU countries who have completed secondary education outside the EU are not eligible to participate in the selection process. However, the University of Education Freiburg reserves 8% of its study places for this group of applicants.

German applicants with university entrance qualifications from other countries should not apply via Uni-Assist. Instead, you will need to obtain a certificate of equivalence from the Zeugnisanerkennungsstelle (certificate recognition office) at the Stuttgart Regional Council (Postfach 103642, 70031 Stuttgart). If you do not reside in the Federal Republic of Germany, please send your application to the Düsseldorf District Government at Georg-Glock-Str. 4, 40474 Düsseldorf. Please be sure to include your average grade!

Applicants with teaching qualifications from other countries must apply for recognition or partial recognition of their teaching qualifications from the Regional Council in Tübingen, Department 7, School and Education, Postfach 2666, 72016 Tübingen.

STIBET Scholarship:

The STIBET scholarship supports international students at the University of Education who demonstrate a strong commitment to the university, are experiencing financial hardship through no fault of their own, or wish to join us from a partner university. Please submit a letter of application, including a cover letter, CV and LSF transcript, to Selina Lederer at the International Office (IO).

The DAAD Prize, worth €1,000, is intended to recognise an outstanding international student or doctoral candidate who has distinguished themselves through exceptional academic achievements and remarkable social or intercultural commitment.

The DAAD Prize is only open to overseas students who are enrolled at a German university (i.e. not exchange students). Students should be at an advanced stage of their bachelor's degree (at least in their second year of study) or master's degree (at least in their second semester). Recent graduates and doctoral candidates may also be nominated.

The prize is awarded annually at the start of the academic year.

Nominations should be sent to Ms Selina Lederer.

Nominations can be submitted to Ms Selina Lederer.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact the Registrars Office.

If you have any questions regarding the content of teacher training programmes, please contact theCentral Student Advisory Service.

If you have any questions about non-teaching-related Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes or specific questions about individual subjects, our academic advisors will be happy to help.

The IntegreatApp website provides information about life in Freiburg, as well as helpful tips on topics such as student financial aid, working in Germany and learning German.

The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) is an international, non-profit student organisation that supports and represents international students, particularly those participating in the Erasmus programme. The ESN's mission is to foster cultural understanding and self-development, and to provide opportunities for students to thrive in their host countries through:

• Providing an international exchange and sharing platform for local and regional social services
• Striving for a Europe in which local and regional social services are genuine partners of the EU
• Empowering professionals and people using social services by promoting quality in service management

You can find information about Social Inclusion here.

You can also find more information about the Erasmus Student Network in Freiburg here.