Language Requirements

German skills

In most cases, for successful studies at HSBI, German skills are a must. The courses (lectures, exercises and seminars) are usually taught in German. For most of our study programmes, you need a German level of C1 according to the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). Please see below which proof you will need to provide.

The following language certificates are recognised:

• “TestDaF” examination with at least 16 credit points (i.e. four points per partial examination),
• “Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang” (DSH) with a minimum level of 2,
• “telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule,”
• Passed German examination within the admission examination for a preparatory course (Studienkolleg),
• C2 examination of the Goethe Institute,
• Proof of completed German studies degree at a university abroad,
• Proof of completed German-taught studies at a university in Germany,
• “Deutsches Sprachdiplom” (DSD) of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany level 2,
• Proof of completion of a three-year vocational training/apprenticeship in Germany or
• At least 10 years of attending school in a German-speaking country.

Proof of additional language skills (e.g. Spanish, French, (technical) English) may have to be provided when you apply for certain study programmes. Please make sure to check the specific admission requirements of your desired study programme on the study programme pages.

Please note/exception rule:

You can only apply for restricted-admission programmes with a recognised C1 certificate. However, for open-admission programmes, you can also apply with a B2 certificate and a proof of registration for the C1 examination. If you are admitted to studies, you can submit your language certificate by 30 November (if your studies start in the winter semester) or by 31 May (if your studies start in the summer semester). If you do not submit your certificate, we will deregister you.

Preparatory German courses

If you do not have the German skills required for studies yet, you can be enrolled as a language course student at HSBI.

Preparatory language courses are held by the Bielefeld-based language institute bibis; fees are charged for these courses. You can apply for the language course through HSBI’s application portal. In doing so, you apply for the specialist studies of your choice. This means that you have to submit all application documents that you need for an application for specialist studies. Please find more information on this page. In addition, please inform us by e-mail (to admission@hsbi.de) that you would like to register for a preparatory German course at bibis.

After the review of your application documents, you will be able to download a letter from the application portal that you will need in order to register for a language course.

This type of enrolment is possible for a maximum of two semesters. You will have to pay for the language course yourself.

Please find further information on the language course on the bibis website.

HSBI’s Language Center offers additional preparatory German courses starting at B2 level; however, places in these courses are limited. Please find information on the application process and application deadlines on the Language Center’s website.

English skills

HSBI offers six English-taught programmes:

• B.Eng. Industrial Engineering
• B.Eng. Industrial Engineering (work-integrated)
• B.Eng. Mechatronics and Automation
• B.Eng. Mechatronics and Automation (work-integrated)
• M.A. International Business Management
• M.Sc. Data Science (Research Master)

When applying for one of these programmes, you must provide proof of your English skills.

B.Eng. Industrial Engineering and B.Eng. Industrial Engineering (work-integrated)

The following language certificates are recognised:

• IELTS: score of at least 5.5,
• TOEFL (IBT): score of at least 72,
• TOEFL (PBT): score of at least 543,
• TOEFL (ITP): score of at least 543,
• Telc B2 certificate,
• UNIcert II,
• Cambridge FCE First Certificate in English,
• Cambridge English Qualification: score of at least 160.

English natives and applicants with a high-school degree or an equivalent university entrance qualification obtained in an English-speaking country can provide proof of their English language skills with a document provided by their school or university stating that the language of instruction was English.

Language certificates not listed above are subject to individual examination.

 B.Eng. Mechatronics and Automation and B.Eng. Mechatronics and Automation (work-integrated)

Abitur, Fachhochschulreife or an equivalent school leaving certificate or educational background that qualifies you for higher education plus English skills at B2 level. The following language certificates are recognised:

• IELTS: score of at least 6.0,
• TOEFL (IBT): score of at least 80,
• TOEFL (PBT): score of at least 550,
• TOEFL (ITP): score of at least 550,
• Telc B2 certificate,
•  UNIcert II,
• Cambridge FCE First Certificate in English,
• Cambridge CAE Certificate in Advanced English.

Applicants with a German school-leaving certificate can provide proof of their English skills with their certificate, provided that their grade in the foreign language is at least “ausreichend.”

English natives and applicants with a high-school degree or an equivalent university entrance qualification obtained in an English-speaking country can provide proof of their English language skills with a document provided by their school or university stating that the language of instruction was English.

Language certificates not listed above are subject to individual examination.

M.A. International Business Management

Proof of the English skills required for this programme can be provided by:

• Proof of at least 30 ECTS from English-language bachelor’s module examinations relating to international business administration (without practical modules and bachelor thesis),
• Or a bachelor thesis on a relevant international issue from business administration written in English.