To clarify this, please get in touch directly with the contact person at the State Examination Office: University admission in Lower Saxony with the Z exam

Admission is granted by the State Examination Office at the Lower Saxony State Institute for School Quality Development (NLQ) in Hildesheim.

You can find the application form and contact details here: University admission in Lower Saxony with the Z examination

The registration deadline for the examination and the deadline for submitting the application for admission is

• for participants in the general part of the examination (preparation course or personally supervised preparation): 1 October of the previous year and
• for participants who are recognised for the general part of the examination on the basis of the Fachabitur: usually at the end of the previous year for the subject-related part of the examination (by arrangement!).

The exam consists of two parts: The general and the specialised/special part of the Z examination. Further information can be found under "Exam structure".

The state-wide preparation course for the general part is offered annually from the beginning of June by the adult education centre REGION Lüneburg in a predominantly online format.

Please contact Mr Ahmed Osman directly for further information:
Email
Telephone 04131 / 15 66 227

Due to declining demand, there is now only one preparation course for the general part of the Z exam nationwide, which is offered annually by the adult education centre REGION Lüneburg in a predominantly online format.

Please contact Mr Ahmed Osman directly for further information:
Email
Phone 04131 / 15 66 227

You can also arrange for a person with a university degree to supervise your exam preparation. Please enquire about the requirements at the State Examination Office at the: Niedersächsisches Landesinstitut für schulische Qualitätsentwicklung (NLQ).

The examination period for the general part (A part) is January/February after completion of the preparation course or the personally supervised preparation (standardised dates throughout the state).

For the subject-related part (B part) at the University of Oldenburg, the examination period is April to June each year.

All individual examinations are graded with scores from 0 to 15. The general and subject-related parts each end with an overall score.

The overall grade of the Z examination is made up of these two total scores, to which an overall grade is assigned.

If a Fachabitur is recognised as the general part of the exam, the final grade of the Fachabitur is used to determine the overall grade.

The exact calculation of the Z examination grade can be found in paragraphs 9 and 10 of the HZbPrüfVO.

In degree programmes with restricted admission, places are allocated primarily according to the final grade of the university entrance qualification - here: Z examination.

You can find out which Bachelor's degree programmes at the University of Oldenburg are subject to admission restrictions - and which are not - at .

Here you will find all information on the numerus clausus.

Yes, with the Z examination you acquire a subject-related / subject-specific higher education entrance qualification for the exact subject for which you have taken the examination.

In principle, you can take the Z exam for any subject offered to first-year students in Lower Saxony - these are usually Bachelor's degree programmes.

You can find out which university in Lower Saxony offers which subjects as part of which degree programmes here: Studying in Lower Saxony

In accordance with the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act (NHG) and the Lower Saxony Administrative Procedure Act (NVwVfG), all universities in Lower Saxony are obliged to offer the Z examination. You can usually contact the Admissions office of the respective university.

It is advisable to take the Z examination at the university at which you plan to study.

You can take the Z examination at the University of Oldenburg for any of the Bachelor's degree programmes listed here
.

It is not possible to take the Z examination for degree programmes that are not offered by a university! In other words: The Z examination should be taken at the university at which you plan to study.

Yes, you can also use the Z exam as a university entrance qualification to study medicine.

Information on studying medicine at the University of Oldenburg can be found here: Human Medicine (State Examination)

A university can only offer the Z exam for subjects in its own programme, as the examiners are lecturers from the respective department.

It is therefore advisable to take the Z exam at the university where you plan to study.

Please contact the respective university to find out whether the Z examination is recognised by universities outside Lower Saxony.

Universities in the Federal State of Bremen generally recognise the Lower Saxony Z examination.

You can find the subjects you can study at the University of Oldenburg here: Study programmes

No, because you have to apply for a study place.

Further information on applying for a place at the University of Oldenburg can be found here: Enrolment

Applications for a study place can be submitted for the winter semester following the Z examination passed. If you pass the Z examination in June 2026, you can therefore apply for a study place in the winter semester 2026/27.

Further information on applying for a place at the University of Oldenburg can be found here: Enrolment

After passing the Z examination, you have the option of taking a so-called extension examination in a subsequent year - this comprises (only) the subject-related part / B part of the Z examination for a further subject of your choice.

You can find the application for admission to the extension examination on the website of the State Examination Office: University admission in Lower Saxony with the Z examination