FAQ

Due to the high number of inquiries we are not able to review your application documents (school-leaving certificate) in advance. Neither are we able to examine whether your certificates issued abroad (bachelor’s degree certificate) fulfil the requirements of the master’s degree studies you would like to take up.

You can only hand in your German certificate later if you apply for an open-admission study programme. If you can prove that your German skills are at B2 level and that you will take a recognised language exam in the near future (in addition to fulfilling all other admission requirements), we can offer you admission under the condition that you hand in the language certificate later. Please upload your registration for the language exam in this case. However, you must hand in your certificate at the latest by: 30 November (if your studies start in the winter semester) / 31 May (if your studies start in the summer semester). If you have not handed in the language certificate by this deadline, you will be deregistered.

• There is an unlimited number of places in open-admission study programmes. If you fulfil the admission requirements, you can usually be sure that you will get a study place.
• In study programmes with restricted admission, there is a limited number of places. As these programmes receive more applications than there are places, we have to conduct a selection procedure. The allocation of study places in the selection procedure is regulated by statutory quotas and is based on the overall grade of the university entrance qualification.

• 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),
• VPD (preliminary review documentation) certificate from uni-assist
  (Please note: You do not need a VPD certificate if you are treated as a German national),
• 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.

HSBI does not offer conditional admission. You can either apply for preparatory German courses at HSBI (starting at B2 level) or at the bibis language school.

It is not possible to apply for a higher semester of study. You can, however, apply for the first semester and after enrolment request your prior achievements to be credited. Please find information on the recognition of academic achievements here.

The application process is fully online; you do not have to submit any documents by post. In some individual cases, we may have to ask you to present original documents or their certified copies in physical form.

Please find more information on applications and step-by-step instructions here.

You must have requested registration online through the CAT portal by the end of your personal registration deadline. You must transfer the semester contribution and arrange for the health insurance confirmation afterwards. You have another 14 days to do this. If you do not manage to do this within the 14 days, please send us a quick e-mail at admission@hsbi.de.

If you do not manage to arrive at your study location in time for the start of your studies and you have to start your studies later – e.g., due to delays in the visa process – HSBI will not issue a “Late Arrival Letter” or a similar document. In most cases, a delayed start of studies will not cause any problems. Please make sure to speak with your faculty/programme director if you arrive late.

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.

VPD certificates are not issued for specific study programmes. You can use a VPD certificate issued for HSBI to apply for any study programme offered in the respective semester.

No, please request the VPD certificate before HSBI’s application portal opens. Please note that it usually takes 4–6 weeks to process your VPD request. You cannot apply through HSBI’s application portal until you have your VPD certificate. You thus need your VPD certificate before the end of the application deadline.

You can only hand in your VPD certificate later if you apply for an open-admission study programme. You must submit the VPD certificate 6 weeks after the end of the application deadline at the latest. We cannot enrol you until we have your VPD certificate.

At HSBI, your VPD certificate will be valid for two years from the issuance date.

HSBI offers six English-taught programmes:

• B.Eng. Industrial Engineering (Gütersloh)
• B.Eng. Industrial Engineering (work-integrated) (Gütersloh)
• B.Eng. Mechatronics and Automation (Gütersloh)
• B.Eng. Mechatronics and Automation (work-integrated) (Gütersloh)
• M.Sc. Data Science (Research Master) (Gütersloh)
• M.A. International Business Management – Please note that applicants with certificates issued abroad must provide proof of their German as well as their English skills! Please find more information on this on the study programme page.

Yes! We cannot register you as a student at our university without your health insurance confirmation. It is irrelevant in this matter where you are at the time of enrolment or the start of your studies.

No, your health insurance provider must confirm your insurance coverage digitally. Please ask your health insurance provider to send us a digital (insurance) confirmation (M10) electronically. No type of document will be accepted as proof.

If your private health insurance’s coverage is equivalent to that of a German statutory health insurance, it will be accepted as student insurance. Since it can be difficult to compare the terms and conditions of private and statutory insurance, the statutory health insurance providers in Germany are obliged to check whether your private insurance is sufficient for study purposes. You must thus send the English- or German-language general terms and conditions of your private insurance to a statutory health insurance provider of your choice. In addition, you usually have to complete an application form. For example, Techniker Krankenkasse has an online form.

No, because you are usually already insured in your home country. For your registration at HSBI, you still need an electronic confirmation from a German statutory health insurance provider. You must thus also contact a German statutory health insurance provider in this case to arrange for the digital confirmation. Techniker Krankenkasse also has an online form on this website.

If you decide to take up employment in Germany alongside your studies, you will have to take out health insurance in Germany.

No. If you have been issued an exemption as part of your enrolment, you will not be able to switch to statutory health insurance throughout your studies.

Private insurance providers often offer seemingly attractive rates for international students. However, they often do not cover all services. This means that you may face higher costs than expected if you fall sick or suffer an accident. We recommend you take out statutory health insurance for the best possible coverage during your studies. Statutory health insurance providers include: AOK, BARMER, DAK, Techniker Krankenkasse, IKK. Their rates are at approx. €125.– per month. This amount is almost the same for all providers. You can easily take out health insurance online with any of the providers.

No, we do not offer such scholarships. However, the International Office regularly offers 1-semester scholarships for international students. Please find more information here. In addition, we recommend that you check the DAAD’s scholarship database.

BAföG is a state financial assistance in accordance with the Federal Training Assistance Act. Under certain conditions, people without German nationality, especially refugees, are also eligible for funding. Please contact Studierendenwerk Bielefeld for advice and application.

Studierendenwerk Bielefeld is responsible for allocating rooms in student residences. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that you get a room in a student residence, as there is usually a long waiting list. Please find further resources that may be helpful when you look for accommodation on your own in the Guide for International Students, which you can download here. The International Office will be happy to assist you, but you are responsible for finding accommodation.