To study at a university, you need a university entrance qualification (HZB). HZBs include the general university entrance qualification, the university of applied sciences entrance qualification and the subject-related higher education entrance qualification. Which HZB allows you to study which subject depends on the Federal State and the higher education institution.

These HZBs can be obtained in a variety of ways. These may include, for example, school-based routes (e.g. upper secondary school, technical college), but a university entrance qualification can also be obtained through vocational qualifications (e.g. via three years of vocational training followed by three years of professional experience).

Further details on university entrance qualifications

Which degree programmes you can study depends on whether you have a general higher education entrance qualification or a subject-specific higher education entrance qualification.

• The general higher education entrance qualification entitles you to study all undergraduate degree programmes.
• The subject-specific higher education entrance qualification, on the other hand, entitles you to study a degree programme in a specific subject.

Applicants with previous academic appointments have the following options:

• Find out about previous academic appointments that confer a general university entrance qualification (e.g. state-recognised educators, master craftsmen).
• Three years of vocational training and three years of professional experience often entitle you to study a subject-related degree programme.