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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Visa

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