Requirements for Studying in Germany

In order to be admitted to a German university, you have to prove a sufficient knowledge of the language and you must present a high school diploma that is acknowledged in Germany. In other words, you will have to prove that you received the kind of diploma that would entitle you to take up university studies in your home country. Usually, you will be admitted directly if you received your high school diploma in a country within the European Union. Students coming from countries other than the EU either have to take an assessment exam at the so-called Studienkolleg, a university-affiliated preparation school or they must prove having successfully accomplished several semesters at a university in their home country.

Next to a high school diploma (equivalent to the German Abitur) that will be acknowledged in Germany, the Documentation of a Sufficient Knowledge of German Language is the second necessary requirement for being admitted for regular studies at a German university. The two most important German language exams are the German Language Exam for University Admission – (short: DSH) and the Test German as a Foreign Language – TestDaF. Both tests will prove that you have enough knowledge of German for successfully studying at a German university. While you have to take the DSH exam at a university, you can take the TestDaF in a familiar atmosphere: for instance directly at did deutsch-institut.