Want to earn your bachelor’s degree in Germany? If so, you need to present academic requirements to apply.
A part of these requirements is academic qualification. However, these qualifications must be comparable to the German education system.
Here’s a guide to help you understand the academic requirements for a bachelor’s degree to study in Germany:
Overview of Equivalent Academic Qualifications in Germany
As an international student, your academic qualifications have different merits abroad.
You need to provide academic qualifications that German universities recognize. These qualifications must match the German higher education system.
German nationals will only present a Hochschulzugangsberechtigung or HZB to apply. In your case, you can’t apply with an HZB, so you need to have your education certificate approved.
After the approval of your education certificate, you’ll get a Statement of Comparability for Foreign Higher Education Qualifications. This proves that your academic qualification is comparable in Germany.
Who Compares Academic Qualifications Among Foreign Students?
The Central Office for Foreign Education or ZAB compares academic qualifications. The process of comparison is a federal mandate to foreign students.
What ZAB does is compare your qualifications to the closest German equivalent. They also have a database called Anabin.
Anabin is available to the public and it’s what most German universities use. You can go through Anabin and determine if your qualifications are recognized in Germany. Keep in mind that Anabin is in German, so it can be difficult to navigate.
European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) in Germany
Members of the European Union use a credit system to evaluate academic qualifications. This system enables foreign students to transfer their credits to Germany’s system. The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is used for this matter.
Here are some ECTS requirements in Germany:
- 180 or 240 ECTS credits for a bachelor’s level program
- 90 to 120 ECTS credits for a master’s level program
- 60 ECTS credits for a full year of work or study
Grading System in Germany
Every country in the world follows its own grading system. This may make it challenging for foreign students who will study abroad.
Each university also applies its own grading system. In German, the common grading system is from 1 to 5. A 1 mark is the highest grade a student can get.
Here’s a summary of the German grading system:
| Grade | Definition | In German |
| 1 | Very good | Sehr gut |
| 2 | Good | Gut |
| 3 | Average | Befriedigend |
| 4 | Sufficient | Genügend |
| 5 | Insufficient | Ungenügend |
High School Qualifications
If you’re applying for a bachelor’s program, you need to present high school qualifications. In general, you must have completed classes 9 through 12 without gap years.
You must also have 16 units composed of the following:
| Social Studies | 3 units |
| Math and Science | 5 units (total) |
| Second Language | 2 units |
| English (with at least grade C) | 4 units |
| Chemistry / Biology / Physics (with at least grade C) | 2 or 3 units |
| Trigonometry / Precalculus / Algebra II (with at least grade C) | 2 or 3 units |
| Any subject you choose | 2 units |
To study in Germany, you need to provide requirements that German universities recognize. Find out more about these qualifications here at MSM Unify.
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