FAQ - undergraduate degrees
for international degree-seeking applicants from either a non-EU/EEA country or stateless individuals

Please use the online application portal of the University of Göttingen. Applications sent by post will not be considered.

In order to apply online, please register with your current email address and complete the online application. You will be requested to upload your application documents in the upload portal. Please note that you can apply for up to three limited admission programmes per semester.

Once you have successfully registered, you will be notified regarding the status of your application via email. Please make sure to check your email account regularly and to also check your spam folder.

The entire application process is shown here in illustrative application videos.

No. All mandatory documents need to be uploaded in the upload portal. Documents sent via postal service will not be considered.

Your application must be submitted in full by the given deadline. Please note that the application deadlines for non-EU applicants may differ from the application deadlines for EU/EEA applicants (incl. Germany) and for those who have received their previous qualifications in Germany. Please click here to see which application deadlines apply to you.

The University of Göttingen charges once per each semester of application a fee of 65 euros for the evaluation of foreign higher education entrance qualifications. Your application will be processed only after the evaluation fee has been paid. Please make sure the fee has been received by us by the application deadline, unless you are exempt from paying the fee.

Information regarding evaluation fee and the exemptions can be found here.

In the event of either admission or an unsuccessful application, you will be informed via a notice in the download portal and you will receive an email. Please check your inbox and your spam folder regularly.

The most common issues are related with the browser. The upload typically works very well when using Mozilla Firefox. However, if the error message still occurs, please clear your browsing history (caches and cookies) or use an incognito tab (private window).

Please note that the upload portal might be rendered differently on mobile phones and tablets.

Please upload the following mandatory documents as part of your application:

• University entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung)
• Proof of language proficiency required for the degree programme

Please note that additional mandatory documents are required when applying for state examination study programmes (medicine/dentistry).

If you have a higher education entrance qualification if your previous educational background entitles you to study at a German university.

In Germany, secondary school-aged students receive their higher education entrance qualification, for instance, by obtaining what is called an ‘Abitur’ (similar to a baccalaureate). Therefore, your application will be assessed as to whether your previous qualifications are comparable to the German qualification standard. In the event that they are, you will receive a higher education entrance qualification and can study in Germany.

The higher education entrance qualification may require one or more of the following certificates:

• Last school-leaving certificate
• University entrance examinations
• Certificate of the assessment examination (Feststellungsprüfung)
• Proof of past enrolment and study periods
• University degree

Please find further information on your higher education entrance qualification here.

Before you submit your application, you can see for yourself whether your previous qualifications are equivalent to the university entrance qualification required for admission to the University of Göttingen. This information is available to everyone in the ANABIN system.

As part of the admission procedure, the International Student Office will assess whether your previous certifications qualify you for a university entrance qualification using the same criteria that is listed in ANABIN. After completion of this assessment, the assessment certificate will be sent to you by e-mail.

For study programmes that are taught in German, a minimum German language proficiency level of A1 (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is required at the time the application is submitted.

Applicants for medicine and dentistry must submit evidence of sufficient German language proficiency, such as DSH-2 or a certified alternative examination.

Students who have been admitted to study in a degree programme at Göttingen must, at the time of enrolment, provide proof of a successful DSH-2 exam or an equivalent language certification. For the bachelor’s programme in Psychology, DSH-3 is required.

The DSH exam can be taken at the University of Göttingen. A DSH certificate from another university will be recognised only if the DSH examination regulations of this university are registered with the German Rectors’ Conference (Hoschulrektorenkonferenz – HRK).

For further information, click here.

A list of examinations that are accepted as DSH-equivalent can be found here.

The DSH exam can be taken at the University of Göttingen. A DSH certificate from another university will be recognised only if the DSH examination regulations of this university are registered with the German Rectors’ Conference (Hoschulrektorenkonferenz – HRK).

Information on the DSH examination at the University of Göttingen can be found here.

If you would like to apply for a higher semester, you will need to have your previous academic performances accredited (mandatory document).

Please find here detailed information on how to get accreditation for your degree programme.

Once you have received a certificate of accreditation, you can apply online specifying the appropriate semester.

Click here to get to the application portal for higher semester.

No. At present, your diplomas and certificates do not have to be notarised. It is sufficient for you to upload scans of your original certificates and translations (German, English, French) via the upload portal.

If your application documents were not issued in German, English or French, a certified translation prepared by an officially accredited translation agency is required.

If your previous education does not qualify you to study directly at a German university, you do not have a valid university entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung), you may be eligible to attend a Studienkolleg with the goal of passing the final assessment exam (Feststellungsprüfung). This exam determines whether you meet the academic and language requirements for a degree programme.

There are Studienkollegs throughout Germany. As a rule, Studienkollegs are state-run institutions.

Further information on Studienkolleg Hanover can be found here.

Before applying, you may check whether your previous education and certifications qualify you for taking up a study programme at a German university. Please use the following link: ANABIN system.

If according to anabin, you do not directly qualify to study at a German university, attendance at a Studienkolleg may be an option for you to obtain your university entrance qualification.

The International Office will check your certificates as part of the application process to determine whether you qualify directly for university entrance on the basis of your prior educational experience. If you do not fulfil the requirements for direct university admission, meaning, it is not equivalent to the German (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung), we will notify the Studienkolleg in Hanover.

The Studienkolleg responsible for the University of Göttingen is the Lower Saxony Studienkolleg Hanover.

To apply for the Entrance Exam at Studienkolleg Hanover, please apply at Göttingen University for the study programme you would like to study later on.

Please note the language requirements to apply for the Studienkolleg.

Detailed information on the application process can be found here.

Once you have received an invitation to take the entrance examination in response to your application, you can take the Studienkolleg entrance examination.

If you do not know, for which study programme you are allowed to apply at the University of Göttingen, according to your specialisation course, please find here an overview.