documents

Provide all important documents required for your application. You will have to verify the qualifications given in your application form.

School and University Certificates

For you to gain eligibility to study bachelor programmes in Germany, you usually need a secondary school leaving certificate. Depending on your country of origin you may also need a certificate proving that you have passed the university entrance examination relevant to you as well as documentation on periods of study.
In general, all transcripts of records must be submitted as a translation as well as in the original language. If the original language version is in English, a translation (for most universities) does not have to be handed in. Cautions with countries whose official language is not English: A translation of your certificates into English made by your school or university does not replace the original language copy of your certificates!
At the bottom, you will find more information about authentications and translations
Please go to our Certificate Database (currently for seventeen countries) or www.anabin.de to find out which certificates enable foreign student applicants to first cycle study courses in Germany.
Our country pages provide specific information as regards the application documents for applicants from certain countries of origin.

For information on required and recognised language certificates, please refer to the universities that you intend to apply to. Language certificates must usually be handed in as officially authenticated copies.
Foreign applicants generally require sufficient German language competence in order to gain access to a study course in Germany.
For certain courses of study, universities may also require additional foreign language competencies.
An overview of international courses, for which you require only limited German, if any, is available from the DAAD. Attention: Even for international courses, institutions frequently require students to demonstrate a certain level of proficiency in German when admitted or after a certain period of study.

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is a standardised test assessing the command of the English language in non-native speakers. If your chosen university asks you to submit a TOEFL certificate, you can be assured that TOEFL will send the certificate directly to uni-assist. For this please quote the uni-assist TOEFL institution code 2727 at the following address: www.ets.org/toefl

You can also have your IELTS result sent directly to uni-assist. uni-assist is an IELTS recognising institution. If you send us your Test Report Form number, we can verify your results online and you do not have to hand in an authenticated copy of your IELTS Certificate.

Please obtain information in plenty of time from your chosen university. The requirements for different universities or for different courses at the same university can be quite different.
For certain courses of study, proof of professional experience or of completed work placements relevant to your course may be required.
You may also have to submit a CV, cover letter stating your motivation, letter of recommendation or similar documentation.
Please prepare a copy of your passport (page showing name and photograph).

The universities request authenticated copies of the original certificates (in their original language) and authenticated copies of the translation of these certificates. Never send any of your original certificates or documents, only ever authenticated copies.
Please note: All copies, including copies of translated documents, must be authenticated!

Universities usually request officially authenticated copies of all types of certificates (including language certificates).
The term "official" means that a public authority or the institution, that originally issued the certificate in question, confirms that the copy of the certificate corresponds to the original by marking it with a round stamp (their official seal).
In the case of foreign authentications from non-EU-countries, many universities request an additional stamp by the German Embassy or a German consulate.
For countries in which the German embassy does not offer authentications: Most universities accept authentications made by the school or university issuing the certificate.
A few universities accept authentications made by a sworn translator, in general only for documents which were directly translated by the translator. However, this is rather an exception. In case of doubt, please contact the university of your choice.
Click here for information on authentication and apostille...

All translations must be done by registered, sworn translators. Translations made by translation agencies or bureaus are not accepted by most universities.
For translations issued outside of the EU some universities require a legalisation from the German embassy. In countries which entered the Hague Apostille Convention the legalisation can be replaced by an apostille from a ministry of said country.
You can find more information about the apostille authorities in each country at the homepage of the Hague Conference (the homepage is available in English and French).
Most universities accept copies of certificates or translations in English. A small number of universities accept also the French and Spanish languages. In such cases, a translation into German is not necessary.