University Applications

This list is designed to provide you with a guideline on how to apply for your desired degree program in Germany. It outlines the key steps and requirements to help you navigate the application process with confidence.

However, it’s important to remember that every application journey is unique, and you may encounter challenges specific to your situation.

Anabin and the recognition of the NSC-Certificate.

What is Anabin?

Anabin is a database used in Germany to evaluate foreign educational qualifications. It is maintained by the Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen (ZAB) (Central Office for Foreign Education) and helps individuals, universities, and employers determine how foreign degrees and diplomas compare to the German education system.

One of the key features of Anabin is “Degree Recognition”. It shows whether a foreign university degree and school leaving certificates are recognised in Germany.

Recognition of the NSC-Certificate.

According to Anabin (find the document here), if you want to study at a German university, your NSC-Certificate needs to meet the following requirements:

  • Have a minimum of 7 subjects.

    • All with an Achievement level 4.

  • Subjects that MUST be present on your certificate:

    • Core Maths.

    • At least ONE Natural Science Subject (Biology, Physical sciences, etc.).

Typically, if your NSC-Certificate meets these requirements, you should have direct admission to universities in Germany.

NOTE:

This is only applicable for degree programs in English.

If you wish to study a German program, then the adequate German level must be provided:

  • Recommended German level (B2-C1)

Niche subjects in South Africa.

Some subjects such as (but not limited to) Accounting, Business Studies and Economics could negatively affect your applications in Germany, but it is still possible to study in Germany with them. You just need to steer away from bigger/more popular universities, as these are the ones that are most likely to reject your application.

Remember, while you may have met the above criteria, the university has the final say on whether you can be admitted or not. In saying this, while Anabin might recognise niche subjects in South Africa, that does not mean the University will - which may result in your application being rejected and attend a Studienkolleg (bridging course) if you still wish to study at that particular university.

Christopher Kock’s input on niche subjects in South Africa.

While what mentioned above holds true, I myself had business studies as a subject in Matric.

Even though I had business as a subject, I still managed to get to Germany and secure a job. Subjects like business studies open your mind to think outside the box, and from my experience, business studies is proving useful in my degree program (Bachelor in Mechatronics). There has been a surprising amount of business content in my degree thus far, such as cost to benefit of electrical components.

So don’t be discouraged if you are planning to or have any of these as a subject.

There are ways to get around it!

Applying at the University.

Uni-Assist

Uni-assist is an organisation in Germany that processes applications from international students who wish to apply to German universities.

It's essentially a service provider that acts as an intermediary between applicants and the universities, ensuring that applications meet the specific requirements of the institutions before forwarding them for further consideration.

There are handling fees involved with Uni-assist, and if your university requires a Uni-assist evaluation, there is no getting around it, you must pay the fee!

The structure of the fees are as follows:

  • For your first application to any university, it will cost 75 €.

  • Thereafter, every other application to any university will cost 30 €.

Applying through Uni-assist:

  1. Create a Profile on Uni-assist.

  2. Upload all necessary documents, necessary for your application onto your profile.

  3. Pick a university / degree program and apply. Your applications can go one of two ways:

    • You can apply for your study course directly through Uni-assist’s portal. Meaning you only have to upload / apply once.

    • After the processing of of your documents, Uni-assist will provide you with a document called a Vorprüfungsdokument (VPD), which you will use to apply directly to your univesity.

  4. Pay the fees.

  5. Wait for your application to be processed.

FAQ’s

  • The Vorprüfungsdokument (VPD), or in English “preliminary review documentation”, assesses whether your qualifications meet the admission requirements for a particular university program in Germany.

    This is done by evaluating your academic transcripts (e.g. Matric certificate, German diploma, etc.) and determining their equivalence to the German standard / grading system.

  • Many German universities use the VPD to simplify their admissions process for international students. Instead of evaluating foreign qualifications themselves, they rely on uni-assist's assessment to determine eligibility.

    Therefore it is not possible to apply to multiple universities with one VPD., as every university has their own set of entry requirements.

  • Processing time for your application to be lodged with the university (or for the retrieval of your VPD) is estimated at 4 weeks.

    That being said, it is quite common for uni-assist applications to take far longer than the standard 4 weeks.

    Therefore it is HIGHLY recommended to apply through Uni-assist as soon as you have your Matric Certificate, or when the application window for your degree program opens.

  • The DoSV (Dialogorientiertes Serviceverfahren) is a coordinated admission process used in Germany to manage university applications for programs with NC admission restrictions.

    Example of the Process of DoSV and preference System.

    1. Application Submission:
      Lisa applies to three programs:

      • Program A (her top choice)

      • Program B (second choice)

      • Program C (third choice)

    2. University Offers:

      • Program A places Lisa on a waiting list.

      • Program B offers her admission.

      • Program C offers her admission.

    3. Coordination:

      • Lisa can see the offers from B and C. Since B is ranked higher than C, her active offer is from B, and C is automatically declined.

      • If Lisa receives an offer from A later, it will replace B as the active offer because A is her top choice.

    4. Acceptance:

      • Lisa accepts the offer from A, and her application process is finalised.

Hochschulstart

Hochschulstart is the operational platform for the DoSV. It coordinates applications to multiple universities and ensures a smooth admission process for degree programs with NC admission restrictions.

It is a dynamic platform where you as the applicant have a much larger role to play, by clearly indicating your preferred degree programs.

The ranking on Hochschulstart refers to the order in which you prioritise the study programs you’ve applied for. It reflects your preferences, indicating which program you would most like to attend if multiple offers are available.

  • Higher Rank = Higher Preference:
    For example, if you rank Program A as 1st and Program B as 2nd, the system understands that you prefer Program A over Program B.

  • Binding Nature:
    Once the coordination phase begins, your rankings are fixed. You cannot change them, so careful consideration is essential when setting your preferences.

(Refer to the example in the FAQ’s tab on DoSV.)

Applying through Hochschulstart:

  1. Register and receive the following:

    • BID - Applicant ID

    • BAN - Applicant authentication number

      • The BAN will be used for authentication

  2. Fill out and submit applications for the degree programs. Keeping in mind that:

    • Each program has its own specific deadlines and admission criteria.

    • A maximum of 12 degree programs can be applied for (excluding private universities).

  3. The Universities review all applications and rank applicants based on their selection criteria (e.g., grades, waiting time, interviews).

  4. Coordination phase: Hochschulstart will match the offers made by universities with your specific ranking preference. NOTE:

    • You may only hold one active offer at a time.

    • Higher-priority offers replace lower-priority ones automatically.

    • (Therefore it is important to constantly monitor your preference list and make sure that it truly reflects your wishes).

  5. Time to accept an offer. Once an offer is accepted, Hochschulstart will finalise the admission and all other applications will be withdrawn, freeing space for other applicants.

Note on NC program applications

NC programs don’t strictly use Hochschulstart as their application portal.

It is possible to apply for a NC program directly through Uni-assist or using a VPD provided by Uni-assist and uploading that on Hochschulstart.

Therefore it is important to research what the application procedure for each degree program is like.