Applying for a Bachelor's Degree: Information for International Applicants

General information for international applicants

Thank you very much for your interest in studying at the South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences.

Please note that our Bachelor's study courses only start in the winter semester. Our Master's study courses start in the winter or summer semester. Please inform yourself in advance about the application deadlines for your desired degree program.

What language skills do I need? Language skills

German language skills and DSH exam

If you are a foreigner without a German university entrance qualification and would like to enrol in a Bachelor's or Master's study course at the South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences, you need to take the DSH exam or the TestDaF test. This does not apply to all study courses, please consult the course-specific admission requirements.

Where can I take these German exams?

In the test centres for the
TestDaF
In the testing locations of the
Goethe Institute
The Goethe Institute and its testing locations are available worldwide in many countires as well as in several German cities.
At the
telc GmbH
At German universities (DSH exam)
Please note that DSH exams are not offered at all German universities (unfortunately, South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences does not offer a DSH exam) and that universities often only admit applicants to the DSH exam subject to very specific conditions.

Learning German

There are numerous ways to learn German, both worldwide and in Germany, e.g. at the Goethe Institutes:

Head Office Munich
Goethe Institute
Oskar-von-Miller-Ring 18
80333 München
muenchen@goethe.de

Additionally, the International Office of the South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences offers German courses within the program "NRWege ins Studium". The courses take place several times a year and start from the language level B1. The courses are aimed at degree seeking persons with refugee status and international degree seeking students. Further information can be found under our Additional Programmes.

English-language study courses

The South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences also offers some study courses that are entirely taught in English.

Application procedure

Which application procedure is suitable for me? Application procedure

Depending on your background and your chosen study course, different application procedures apply. Please make sure to pick the right one!

A) Are you German or equal to German citizens? Then use the online procedure of the South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences

Applicants from EU countries and applicants with equal status to German citizens can apply for admission at the South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences via the online application procedure.

Overview: What does "equal to German citizens" mean?

You are considered equal to German citizens if you meet one of the following requirements.

European HZB = European higher education entrance qualification, European Bachelor's degree (not: Master's degree!)
Applicants from EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway
The applicant lives in Germany and has family members with EU citizenship. This family member must work or have worked in Germany.

Family members in this sense are:

Parents
Spouse
Registered partners
Parents of the spouse/registered partner, if they provide financial support for the applicant
Children, if they are financially supporting the applicant
Children of the spouse/registered partner, if they are financially supporting the applicant

In more detail: The following foreign nationals and stateless persons are treated equally to German applicants in the admission procedure

Foreign nationals or stateless persons who have acquired a German higher education entrance qualification (Abitur or Fachhochschulreife), even if it is a German school abroad, provided the higher education entrance qualification was acquired in accordance with German law.
Citizens of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway.
Applicants resident in the Federal Republic of Germany whose parents are citizens of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway and who work or have worked in Germany.
Persons resident in the Federal Republic of Germany whose spouse or registered partner is a national of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway and works or has worked in Germany.
Persons resident in the Federal Republic of Germany, provided that the parents of the spouse or registered partner are nationals of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway and work or have worked in Germany and are financially supported by them.
Persons resident in the Federal Republic of Germany whose children are nationals of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway and work or have worked in Germany and who are dependent on them.
Persons resident in the Federal Republic of Germany, provided that the children of the spouse or registered partner are nationals of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway and are working or have worked in Germany and are supported by them.

Entrance Qualification

If you would like to do your own check regarding the university entrance qualification in advance, you can use the qualification database of DAAD.

The information provided there serves as an orientation for international students, but it is not binding for the certification authorities. It does not constitute a claim to the allocation of a place at our university of applied sciences.

Information sytem to recognise foreign qualifications in german: anabin

Exchange students

Are you a student from one of our partner universities and take part in an exchange programme?

You will then find specific information here.

Language of instruction

The language of instruction at the South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences is German, with the exception of our international study courses which are taught entirely in English.

Detailed information on our support for refugees

B) Are you not equal to German citizens? Then please apply via uni-assist

On the uni-assist homepage you will find instructions on how to apply in 6 steps. Short video tutorials are a good source of help here.

Which application documents are required?Which application documents are required?

Please upload your application documents. It is important that you upload copies from your original certificates or certified copies from your certificates. It is not sufficent to upload a picture of simple copies. We reserve the right to request copies from your original certificates or certified copies from your certificates by post.

List of required documents

Secondary school leaving certificate / higher education entrance qualification (Abitur, Baccalaureat, GCE….). As a rule you need to document your educational background from your secondary school leaving certificate up until your present educational level.
Please submit all certificates in full: you must always submit both your certificate and the corresponding subject and grade summary in full, any appendices to your certificate (e.g. a Diplom attachement) or individual pages have to be included. If your subject and grade summary does not include the applied grading system, please include information on the grading system used by your school or university as well.
For application to admissions restricted degree courses your higher education entrance qualification has to be amended by your declared overall average grade.
When indicated, transcript of records of previous university studies with declared overall average grade.
When indicated, proof of (Studienkolleg-Abschluss) / (Feststellungsprüfung).
Proof of language proficiency, alternatively proof that the language certificate can be submitted likely until beginning of lecture. For the English-taught degree courses, proof of German language proficiency is not required.
When indicated: additional certificates ( see list at uni-assist).

Please note:
The following documents must only be submitted after admission to enrolment:

Specific supporting documents for your individual study course, such as proof of practical training or aptitude test.
Your ID card (ID: plain copy is sufficient).
Furthermore, please request a special insurance certificate for enrolment from your health insurance agency, which will be sent to us electronically. You can find information on the electronic health insurance procedure here (content also in english: index tab "Krankenversicherung").