Bachelor application - for prospective students from Germany and EU countries

Information about applying for an undergraduate degree programme (bachelor or state examination) at Leibniz University Hannover for applicants with a German Abitur qualification and applicants from EU Member States:
 
You count as an EU applicant if you completed your school-leaving certificate in Germany or an EU (or EEA) country OR your nationality is a country within the EU (or EEA).

Applications for undergraduate degree programmes at Leibniz University are usually only possible for the winter semester (beginning October 1st). The application period for the winter semester starts at the beginning of June.

The following degree programmes are an exception

• Electrical engineering and information technology B. Sc.
• Mechanical engineering B. Sc.
• Sustainable engineering B. Sc.
• Production and logistics B. Sc.

These bachelor's programmes also start in the summer semester. The application period for the summer semester starts at the beginning of December.

In general different application and selection procedures apply, depending on the choice of degree programme. A differentiation is made between degree programmes where there are no restrictions on the number of students that can be accepted (no selection procedure or restricted admission, NC) and restricted-admission degree programmes (involving a selection procedures and restricted entry, NC).

In the case of restricted-admission degree programmes, the application period generally ends on 15 July. Candidates for degree programmes with unrestricted admissions must have enrolled by 30 September for the winter semester intake.

The Registration Office is the point of contact for candidates wishing to apply for a place. The Registration Office team provides all of the information you need to apply for a place.

1. First use our online application portal to apply any time between 2nd of June and 15th of July.
   At the end of the online application, you will automatically be forwarded to a cover letter (the so-called application for enrollment). Sign this application for enrollment (handwritten or digital) and put it together with the required documents into one PDF document, which you can then upload using the upload link provided. The requred documents include your qualification for admission to higher education and any other supporting documents that you may need, such as practical training certificates or evidence of language proficiency.
   At the end of the online application, all required documents are listed and must be uploaded as a scan of the original documents by July 15, 11:59 p. If the upload is successful, a green check mark appears at the bottom of the screen with the word "uploaded"- no additional confirmation email will be sent!
2. In the case of restricted-entry degree programmes (“with NC” – or numerus clausus), the university carries out a selection procedure. Letters of admission are sent out from mid-August. You must accept the offer of a place in writing within a specified period.
3. If not all places can be allocated, a so-called “succession procedure” takes place among the applicants.
4. If a few places are still vacant shortly before the programme begins, these places are awarded by lottery. Interested candidates who have not yet applied to Leibniz University Hannover may also take part in the lottery.
5. In September, all applicants who have been admitted will receive their enrolment documents, an invitation to the welcome event for new students and information about any preparatory courses that may be offered.
   Please note that some degree programmes offer preparatory courses well before term starts.
6. More information about what to look for after applying is available here.

If there are more applicants than places, there is a system in place stipulating how places are allocated. The Admission Regulations govern how places are allocated.

NC – numerus clausus

With most degree programmes, 80-90% of places are allocated based on the criterion of the candidate’s academic performance/grade. In the process, all applications are sorted by process grades. Process grades are calculated on the basis of the Abitur examination grade and, proportionately, additional subject grades that are of particular relevance for the degree programme. The Admission Regulations (German language only) contain information about the subjects that go towards your process grade. Those candidates with the best process grades are placed at the top of the list of candidates, followed by applicants with lower grades. The NC (numerus clausus) of a degree programme is the average  process grade of the last candidate who gained a place on the programme. The NC for a degree programme is always the result of the selection procedure and therefore CANNOT be predicted. The NC from the previous year can only be used as a guide for the next selection procedure!

Waiting time

With most degree programmes, 10-20% of places are allocated based on the waiting time criterion. Semesters (=half-years) following the Abitur examination that were not spent studying in Germany count as elapsed waiting time. However, only a maximum of 7 waiting semesters can be taken into account. As in the case of NC, a ranking list is drawn up, with the top places being held by the candidates with the longest waiting time. In addition, the average Abitur grade is used as the second sorting criterion. The waiting time for a degree programme is always the result of the selection procedure and therefore CANNOT be predicted! The figure can only be used as a guide for the next selection procedure.

Applicants from Germany and the EU have an equal status in the application procedure! In the event of different grading systems, grades are converted by the admissions team.

1. You can use our online application portal to enrol any time between 1 June and 30 September. To be able to do this, you will need a qualification for admission to higher education.
2. At the end of the online application, you will automatically be forwarded to a cover letter (the so-called application for enrollment). Sign this application for enrollment (handwritten or digital) and put it together with the required documents into one PDF document, which you can then upload using the upload link provided.
   The required documents include your qualification for admission to higher education (e.g. Abitur) and any other supporting documents such as practical training certificates or evidence of language proficiency. We also need proof that you have paid the semester fee.
   Note on health insurance:
   Applicants with a statutory health insurance must contact their health insurance company, that will then send us electronic proof of their health insurance, that we can use for the enrolment. Applicants with a private or European health insurance should contact any German statutory health insurance company. This health insurance company sends us an electronic notification of the insurance status (uninsured) that we can use for your enrolment.  
   At the end of the online application, all required documents are listed and must be uploaded as a scan of the original documents by September 30th, 11:59 p.m.
3. Please do not forget to upload your photo for the LeibnizCard. You can find information on this in the application for enrollment at the end of the online application.
4. In September, you will receive your enrolment documents, an invitation to the welcome event for new students and information about any preparatory courses that may be offered.
   Please note that some degree programmes offer preparatory courses well before term starts.
   

For some subjects, different application periods apply, or additional certificates or achievements must be presented for admission, which may take some time to arrange.

Special selection procedures are in place for the following bachelor's degree programmes at Leibniz Universität:

• Music (Interdisciplinary bachelor's degree programme in cooperation with Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media)
• Performing Arts (Interdisciplinary bachelor's degree programme)
• Sports
• English
• Spanish
• Special Needs Education

Please refer to our course portfolio for detailed information about whether special conditions are required for your chosen degree programme, and if so, what these conditions entail.

Provision is made for a pre-study internship in several engineering and science subjects. This practical training is not always a necessary requirement for enrolment/application – it can be completed by a specific time later on in the course. Before applying, you should check whether a pre-study internship is required for your desired study programme.

• More Information on pre-study internships at Leibniz University Hannover

Applicants from the EU have an equal status to German candidates when it comes to the allocation of places. Applicants must enclose supporting documents on their knowledge of German with their application.

Knowledge of German

Students must provide evidence of their knowledge of German for all bachelor's degree programmes at Leibniz University Hannover.

• At the time of applying, candidates should possess at least language level B1.
• At enrolment, students must provide evidence of having language level C1 (which tests are accepted)

The test for level B1 German skills can be taken at any recognised language school in Germany or at a Goethe-Institut or university abroad; C1 level German certificates may only be issued by certified language schools.

• More information on language certificates
• List of German courses at the Leibniz Language Centre (LLC) of Leibniz University Hannover and in the city of Hannover

If you have no knowledge of German, we regret that you will not be able to apply for a bachelor's degree programme at Leibniz Universität Hannover. Unfortunately, provisional enrolment is not possible either.