How to study your Bachelor's degree in Germany
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Last updated: Jan 2023
TL;DR: To study your Bachelor’s degree in Germany, you will need to have one of the following pre-U qualifications: A Level, Australian Year 12 (SAM/WACE), Canadian International Matriculation Programme (CIMP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), together with the right subject combination and good results. Apart from academic qualification, you will also need to show proof of your language proficiency, either German or English depending on your chosen course and university. Certain courses may also request for additional requirements, such as pre-internship or audition.
There are many students who are interested to study their bachelor’s degree in Germany. This is especially true for students who aspire to be engineers or seek to study overseas in an international environment. But what are the requirements to study your Bachelor’s degree in Germany?
University Entrance Qualification
The following are the University Entrance Qualification or Hochschulzugangsberechtigung recognised by German universities
- A level
- Australian Year 12 (AUSMAT/SAM)
- Canadian International Matriculation Programme (CIMP)
- International Baccalaureate (IB)
- Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM)
Students studying O level, Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) or equivalent will have to further their studies to one of the recognised pre-U qualifications. After completing their pre-U, students can then apply for direct general admission to the universities.
Students with a Diploma qualification from Malaysian public universities (for example, University Technology MARA (UiTM)) will have to apply to a preparatory course called a Studienkolleg.
In addition to selecting one of the recognised pre-university qualifications, students will have to have the right subjects combination and good results. In general, students will need to select subjects which are relevant to what they would like to study at the Bachelor’s degree.
What to avoid
- Diploma programmes from private colleges
- Matriculation
- Foundation programmes
- Monash University Foundation Year (MUFY)
- Unified Examination Certificate (UEC)
Subjects combination for the pre-U has to be relevant to the Bachelor’s degree. For example, a student who wants to study engineering in Germany is recommended to take the following subjects combination – Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.
You can check if your university entrance qualification is recognised by German universities with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in Kuala Lumpur or via the portal by the Central Office for Foreign Education (Anabin).
Language Requirement
The language requirement depends on the language the course is taught in, as well as the university itself. As a guideline, if the course is in German, you will need to show proof that you are proficient in German. Likewise, if the course is in English, you will need to show proof that you are proficient in English.
German Proficiency
The following are recognised certificates to show proof of German proficiency:
- DSH (at least DSH2)
- TestDaF (at least TDN 4)
- Goethe Zertifikat C1 or C2, depending on the universities
- The DSD German language diploma (“Deutsches Sprachdiplom der Kultusministerkonferenz”)
The level of German required will vary depending on the universities and courses. Many universities will require students to have a C1 level of German. Do check with the university you are planning to apply to check the exact requirement.
English Proficiency
- IELTS
- TOEFL
- Other certificates
Likewise, with the German language, the level of English required will vary depending on the universities and courses. Do check with the university you are planning to apply to check the exact requirement.
Other Requirements to Study the Bachelor’s Degree in Germany
Some universities have other requirements or additional application process for applicants, such as
- Pre-industrial training
- Aptitude test
Courses such as Mechanical Engineering will require students to take two months of pre-industrial training at a company before starting their programme.
Apart from engineering courses, students interested in applying to courses in the art field like design or fashion will often have to sit for an aptitude test and submit their design portfolio during their application. Likewise, applicants of music degrees in Germany will often need to audition in Germany.
Completed your pre-u but have yet to start with learning German? German Educare’s University Preparation Programme is made for you.
