Applying with Certificates Issued Abroad

Please use the DAAD’s admission database to check whether you are entitled to studying the subject of your choice at a German university with your foreign qualifications. The anabin online database also provides you with more detailed information on the assessment of foreign degrees and the conversion of grades.

Please find an overview of all study programmes on our website. Click on the desired study programme to find out whether the programme starts in the summer or the winter semester. If there are further specific requirements for the study programme you wish to apply for, such as a completed internship, passing an entrance examination, professional experience or knowledge of the English language, you will find them under “Zugangsvoraussetzungen” or in the study programme’s examination regulations in the download box.

You are an applicant who is treated as a German national if at least one of the following statements applies to you:

1. You are a citizen of an EU or EEA country (all member states of the European Union plus Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway).
2. You live in Germany, at least one of your parents is a citizen of an EU or EEA country and works in Germany or has worked in Germany.
3. You live in Germany, your spouse or registered partner is a citizen of an EU or EEA country and currently works in Germany.
4. You have already completed a degree in Germany.
5. You have attended a German school abroad and have obtained a German university entrance qualification there.

If you are treated as a German national, you do not need a VPD certificate when applying through the university’s application portal.

Applicants with certificates issued abroad who are not treated as German nationals must request a VPD certificate from uni-assist before they apply to HSBI. A request for the VPD certificate can be made throughout the year through the uni-assist website. Processing of the VPD request usually takes 4 to 6 weeks after receipt of your request and payment. Please find more information on VPD here and in our FAQ.

Please make sure to check the application deadlines, which you can find on the study programme pages.

As a rule, you need the following documents to apply:

• Proof of university entrance qualification (originals and certified translations into German or English produced by sworn translators),
• If available, bachelor’s degree certificate and transcript of records (originals and certified translations into German or English produced by sworn translators),
• Preliminary review documentation (VPD) from uni-assist,
• Recognised proof of German and/or English skills,
• If applicable, further proof necessary for your study programme (e.g. proof of passed entrance examination, proof of internship, employer’s certificate, completed vocational training, etc.),
• Passport copy,
• CV,
• In addition, for applicants with Chinese, Vietnamese or Indian certificates: APS certificate.

• In addition, for applications for work-integrated study programmes: cooperation agreement signed by the cooperating company and you. Please find further information on how to apply for work-integrated studies with certificates issued abroad on this website.

As a next step, we will review your application documents and send you the respective notice.

If you are admitted, you will be able to download your admissions letter from the HSBI portal. Afterwards, please submit your request for registration with the university through the portal – please make sure to do so before your personal registration deadline. If necessary, you will be asked to submit additional documents such as a passport copy, a CV, a certificate of deregistration and a proof of eligibility for taking exams. In order to ensure a smooth start to your studies, we kindly ask you, also in your own interest, to submit the requested documents in good time.

After successfully submitting your request for registration, you must:

1. Transfer the semester contribution to the university’s bank account within two weeks (Please note: The reference number for the bank transfer must be used exactly as specified in the request for registration.)
2. Ask your health insurance provider to send a digital proof of your health insurance to HSBI.

Students in Germany must have health insurance during their studies. Without proof of valid health insurance, you cannot enrol at HSBI. Please find more information on health insurance in our FAQ.

You will not be fully registered until the contribution has been booked in HSBI’s system and we have received all the required documents (including the digital notification of your health insurance).

After we have fully registered you, you will receive a letter with the credentials for our online campus. It may take a few days for you to receive the letter. Students who were already registered at HSBI in the past or still are keep their student ID no. and thus their credentials for HSBI’s online services.

On our website you will also find information on starting your studies.