StudiesBefore Your StudiesApplication & AdmissionHow to apply at Leibniz University Hannover
Bachelor application - for prospective students from outside the EU

Bachelor application - for international applicants (from outside the EU)

Außenansicht des Hauptgebäudes der LUH (Welfenschloss) mit Niedersachsenross im Vordergrund Außenansicht des Hauptgebäudes der LUH (Welfenschloss) mit Niedersachsenross im Vordergrund Außenansicht des Hauptgebäudes der LUH (Welfenschloss) mit Niedersachsenross im Vordergrund © Zentrale Studienberatung / LUH

On this page you will find all important information about applying for a bachelor‘s degree programme for prospective students from Non-EU countries:
You count as a non-EU applicant if you completed your school-leaving certificate in a non-EU (or non-EEA) country AND your nationality is a country outside the EU (or EEA).

 

Video: Before you apply


What are the requirements for studying at Leibniz Universität Hannover?

Qualification for admission to higher education − the right school-leaving certificate

To be able to study in Germany, you will need a school-leaving certificate that is recognised here as a “qualification for admission to higher education”. This means that your school-leaving certificate should be equivalent to the German Abitur. An overview of how international school-leaving certificates are assessed can be found on the information portal “Anabin”:

Knowledge of German

All bachelor's degree programmes at Leibniz Universität Hannover require proof of German language skills.

  • At the time of applying, you must already have acquired at least language level B1.
  • Proof of language level C1 must be provided at the time of enrolment (which tests are accepted)
  • Comprehensive information about the necessary language certificates

The test for proving level B1 German language skills can be taken at any recognised language school in Germany, or at a Goethe-Institut or university abroad; the test for level C1 German certificates must be taken at a certified language school.

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

Degree programmes with special admission requirements

Several degree programmes are subject to additional requirements, such as a pre-study placement, a special language certificate or an aptitude test. You can find out which degree programmes at Leibniz Universität Hannover are subject to additional requirements.


When can I apply?

Applications for the winter semester (starting on 1 October): applications for all bachelor's degree programmes and the preparatory foundation course (Studienkolleg) can be submitted between 15 April and 31 May.

Applications for the summer semester (starting on 1 April): students can only apply for the bachelor's degree programmes in Electrical engineering and information technology B. Sc., Mechanical engineering B. Sc., Sustainable Engineering B. Sc. and Production and Logistics B. Sc. and the technical preparatory foundation course (Studienkolleg T-Kurs) between the 1st of December and the 15th of January.


How can I apply for a place at Leibniz Universität Hannover?

You cannot apply directly for a place on a bachelor's degree programme at Leibniz Universität Hannover. All applications are made via uni-assist. Uni-assist assesses whether your school-leaving certificate entitles you to start studying straight away or whether you must first take an additional test (“assessment test” following a preparatory foundation course). Uni-assist then forwards your application to Leibniz Universität Hannover. Applications for the preparatory foundation course are also made via uni-assist.


What is the procedure for applying via uni-assist? (Corona update)

  • Step 1: Register with uni-assist

    Applications for the winter semester 2021/22 are submitted exclusively online.

    First of all, you need to register with uni-assist.

    To do this, you have to answer some basic questions e.g. about name, address, date of birth, etc. Please register on the website https://my.uni-assist.de and fill out the online application.

  • Step 2: Search for degree programmes and create an application

    You can now use the online portal to search for your ideal degree programme and create an application. At the University of Hanover you can currently apply for all undergraduate study programmes (Bachelor or State Examination) and for selected postgraduate study programmes (Master) via uni-assist.

    The following applies to undergraduate programmes:
    You can only apply for one Bachelor's degree programme or for law studies (state examination) at University of Hannover. However, you may apply to several universities simultaneously via uni-assist.

    The following applies to postgraduate programmes:
    You can apply for several Master’s programmes at the University of Hannover. You can also apply to several universities simultaneously via uni-assist.

  • Step 3: Upload the necessary documents

    After creating your application, you must upload the necessary documents electronically onto the uni-assist-portal. Such documents include certificates, German language certificate, your curriculum vitae and passport.

    The LUH allows a online-only application for the preliminary examination via uni-assist.
    You simply submit your documents as an upload; there is no need to send your documents by post to uni-assist. In some cases, you may later submit copies of your documents to the university upon request.  

    Your digital application will be checked by uni-assist and forwarded to the university if complete. Certified hard copies of certificates and other documents do not need to be submitted by post. However, please make sure to submit scans of your original documents and translations.

    Leibniz University Hannover reserves the right to demand certified hard copies be submitted later on for the enrolment. Therefore, please have certified copies of your documents ready.

  • Step 4: Check application and send it electronically

    Carefully check the details you have provided. If all details are correct, you then send your online application electronically.

    An additional application directly at LUH is therefore not necessary, as uni-assist forwards the application to us.

All information for applications via uni-assist
Costs for the application via uni-assist:

The costs for processing your application are € 75 for the first application and € 30 for each additional application in the same semester. A new application in the following semester costs € 75, each additional application in the same semester costs € 30.


You can pay by bank transfer or credit card. You can find detailed information on payment at https://www.uni-assist.de/en/how-to-apply/pay-all-fees/


Please note: the full contribution must be received by uni-assist before you can submit your application! You may have to pay additional transfer fees from your bank.


Any questions?


If you have any questions about your application please email us at: studienberatung@uni-hannover.de


Applications from Ukraine

Attention

Applicants with Ukrainian citizenship apply directly to the university for the summer semester 2023 and the winter semester 2023/24 and not via uni-assist!


For ukrainian prospective students, the information and application deadlines for prospective students from Germany and the EU countries apply.


Applications from China, India and Vietnam

It is essential for Chinese (except Macao and Hong Kong), Indian and Vietnamese applicants who completed their bachelor's degree in their home country to submit a scan of an original individual APS certificate with their application. Only during the admissions process for summer semester 2023, applicants from India may submit their APS certificate until enrolment.

APS checks the applicant's qualification for admission to higher education and the academic credits of applicants wishing to study in Germany. A group APS will not be accepted.

The obligation to present an APS certificate does not apply to:
• Students changing majors (within the LUH)
• Preparatory college students with a suitable assessment test
Re-enrollers
• Students changing universities within Germany


What happens after applying?

Use your online account at uni-assist to view the status of your application and to check whether your fee was transferred successfully. Uni-assist will confirm receipt of your application documents by email. You will also receive an email and a letter stating that your documents are being assessed.

After checking the documents, uni-assist sends your application to the desired university.

If you are then offered a place at Leibniz University Hannover, the university will send you a letter of acceptance by post. You must accept this place within the specified period. If you miss this deadline, your place will be offered to another applicant.

If your previous education entitles you to attend the preparatory foundation courses (Studienkolleg), but not to start your studies directly, you will also receive a corresponding notification from the university.

After accepting the place, you will receive all of the documents relating to your degree programme in good time before term starts, for example your LeibnizCard.

Video: After applying


What are preparatory foundation courses (Studienkolleg)?

If the assessment of your school-leaving certificate determines that it is not equivalent to the German Abitur, you must first take a test in Germany before you can study here. This test is called an “assessment test” (Feststellungsprüfung). You will take a preparatory foundation course for two semesters to prepare you for this assessment test. Each semester may be repeated once.

You may only attend one of the following preparatory foundation courses:

  • T courses for technical and engineering programmes such as Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning, Mathematics and Natural Science majors (subjects taught: German, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Computer Science)
  • M courses for majors in Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Medicine, Pharmacy and similar subjects (subjects taught: German, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
  • W courses for all economics, social science and law
    (subjects taught: German, Mathematics, Business and Economics, History, Politics, English)
  • G courses for German, History, Philosophy, Law, social sciences and humanities majors
    (subjects taught: German Language and Literature, History, Social Studies)

The maximum number of participants for each course is 20.


Entrance test for a preparatory foundation course (Studienkolleg)

In order to be able to attend the preparatory foundation courses (Studienkolleg), an entrance test must be completed.

A separate selection process of the preparatory foundation courses (Studienkolleg) precedes the entrance test. You will receive separate information about this directly from the Studienkolleg after the university has notified you.

Among other things, you must submit at least a B1 level German certificate to the preparatory foundation courses for the selection process, but level B2 is recommended. If you have been selected, you will receive the invitation to the entrance test directly from the Studienkolleg.


Asessment test and external assessment test ("Feststellungsprüfung & externe Feststellungsprüfung")

Assessment test

If you are accepted onto a preparatory course, you will attend this course for two semesters. Each semester may be repeated once. At the end of this course, you will take a final test, called the assessment test (Feststellungsprüfung).

The assessment test consists of a written part and an oral part. The type of test you take influences the subjects you will be permitted to study at university. Once you have passed the assessment test, you have to apply once again for a place at a university (taking into account the subjects you are permitted to pursue).

Universities use a selection procedure to award places on programmes with restricted admission. The grades achieved at home in your school-leaving certificate and in the assessment test (Feststellungsprüfung) play a decisive role in such selection procedures. There are also admission-free degree programmes, which require no specific grade for the application.

External assessment test

If you believe your level of knowledge is high enough not to have to attend a preparatory foundation course, you can sit the assessment test externally. You will take the same test as students who have spent one year on the preparatory foundation course.

Take great care not to overestimate your level of knowledge. The failure rate among those taking the test externally is very high. The test can only be repeated once. Assessment tests following a preparatory foundation course offered by universities of applied sciences do not qualify for entry to a university.

Assessment tests following a preparatory foundation course offered by universities entitle the candidate to study (any of the subjects permitted) at many universities or universities of applied sciences in Germany.

External assessment tests are no longer offered at Leibniz University Hannover.


When can I apply for a preparatory foundation course?

Applications for the preparatory foundation course are also made via uni-assist. It is not possible to apply directly to the course.

Applications for the winter semester (starting on 1 October): the application period for all preparatory foundation courses is from 15 April to 31 May.

Applications for the summer semester (starting on April 1st): students can only apply for the technical preparatory foundation course (Studienkolleg T-Kurs) from December 1st to January 15th.

Please Note:

If you wish to apply for a different foundation preparatory course starting from the summer semester, you must apply via another higher education institution in Lower Saxony. For more information about the higher education institutes in Lower Saxony, visit www.studieren-in-niedersachsen.de.


Application after completing the preparatory foundation course (with "Feststellungsprüfung")

If you have already completed the Studienkolleg, you directly apply at Leibniz University - you no longer need to apply via Uni-Assist.

  • You apply regularly via our online portal. We then need proof that you successfully completed the Studienkolleg and proof of your certificates from your home country, including the certificates of completed courses and examination.
  • If you have already applied to Leibniz University via Uni Assist, we only need proof of completion of the Studienkolleg.
  • Now the same application deadlines apply to you as to applicants from Germany.

You will only find the link to the online portal during the application period on the application page for prospective students from Germany and the EU countries.


Important information on visa

Visa

Many international students need a visa to study in Germany. Please contact the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs for information about visa requirements.

  • a) Visa for purpose of university application

    Those who have not yet received admission to a university and who must first meet the requirements for entry to higher education, e.g. by attending a German course, may apply for a visa for the purpose of university application.

  • b) Student visa

    Those who have already been admitted to a university or a preparatory foundation course usually require a student visa. Any international applicants and students requiring further information or support should contact the International Office.


After applying

Once the selection procedure has been completed, you will receive a written notification of acceptance or rejection. If you are offered a place, you must accept the place within a specified period and subsequently submit any documents that may be missing. Only then will you be enrolled on the master's degree programme.

© Zentrale Studienberatung / LUH
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Our service hotline will be pleased to assist you! Contact us via phone, e-mail or in person!
Address
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© Zentrale Studienberatung / LUH
Service Hotline
Our service hotline will be pleased to assist you! Contact us via phone, e-mail or in person!
Address
ServiceCenter
Welfengarten 1
30167 Hannover
Building