Information

Knowledge of German as an admission requirement for Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences

In order to be admitted to Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, you must have a good command of German, which will enable you to follow lectures and work independently. Certificates which Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences recognizes as sufficient can be found here.

There are general admission requirements that the university expects all applicants with foreign documents to fulfill:

• Your secondary school diploma or university degree must be recognized as entitling you for admission to a Bachelor or Master program. Make sure that you meet the requirements for recognition. To do so, you can make use of information provided by the German Academic Exchange Service or the Anabin database of the Central Office for Foreign Education (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen).
• Proof of German language proficiency

Also, certain degree programs have further specific admission requirements:

• Practical professional experience before commencing studies (vocational placement)
• Three-year vocational training program before commencing studies (e.g. for degree programs in the care/health sector)
• Artistic aptitude (for artistic/creative degree programs such as design, music pedagogy, or theater pedagogy)
• Knowledge of English

Please ensure that you are informed about the conditions for your chosen degree program. You can access the degree program that interests you from the list of all the Bachelor degree and Master degree programs offered by Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences.

Due to the great demand for study places at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, all degree programs generally have an admission restriction. 5% of the available Bachelor places are reserved for applicants from non-EU states. These places are awarded by grade point average. Applicants from UE states are evaluated along with German applicants, also on the basis of their grade point averages.

Here we would like to give you a few tips about what you can do if your application does not meet the admission requirements of Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences:

• If your secondary school diploma is not recognized as a university entrance qualification, you can attend the preparatory college (Studienkolleg) for a year in order to gain the required qualification (the assessment test - Feststellungsprüfung). The nearest preparatory colleges in the Osnabrück area are Comenius College in Mettingen and the Niedersächsisches Studienkolleg.
  Please note that we do not have our own preparatory college in Osnabrück. You apply directly to the Studienkolleg in Mettingen. For the Niedersächsische Studienkolleg Hannover, registration for the entrance exam is conducted by a university (e.g., Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, provided the applicant has a minimum B1 level of German proficiency or higher). Please contact us at international@hs-osnabrueck.de if you wish to register for the entrance exam at the STK Hannover.

• If you are lacking the required vocational placement, you must independently apply for an internship. The vocational placement can also be completed in your home country. Not every degree program requires vocational placement. However, if an internship is an admission requirement, please take note of the exact requirements with respect to duration, content, and certification type. For this information, please consult the description of the admission requirements for your chosen degree program.

•  If your knowledge of German is insufficient, you must improve your German skills and obtain one of the required German certificates before applying to Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences. The better your language skills are, the better are your chances to complete your studies successfully and the easier it will be to establish contacts with fellow German-speaking students or roommates and to orient yourself outside the university.
  Please note that the deadline for submission of German language certificates for the summer semester is February 28, while those for the winter semester must be received by August 31. Please be aware that achieving C1 proficiency requires a significant investment of time and that your language skills will have a direct impact on your academic success. Our study preparation course C1 is designed to help you reach the appropriate level. You will also find general information on the subject of German for university studies here.

• Some degree programs require the completion of a vocational training program as an admission requirement. Vocational training programs are a special feature of the German education system. In this system, a profession is learned via a combination of practical training in a company and theoretical training in a special school, the vocational school. Vocational training generally takes 2.5 to 3.5 years, and trainees generally spend 3 days a week in the company and 2 days at the school. If you are interested in a degree program with this admission requirement, you should speak with the office of the degree program to find out whether there are other options for you to satisfy this requirement. If you are interested in participating in a vocational training program in Germany, please contact the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit).

• If the degree program requires an artistic aptitude test, you must, depending on the degree program, submit a portfolio with work samples and/or come to Osnabrück for an aptitude test. The following degree programs require an aptitude test and provide detailed information about this test: Music Education, Theater Pedagogy, Industrial Design, and Media & Interaction Design.

• The easiest way to certify your knowledge of English is with an internationally recognized test such as TOEFL, IELTS, or TOEIC.

The following apply using the uni-assist service:

• Foreign applicants who have obtained their secondary school diploma or their university degree in a foreign country
• German applicants who have obtained their secondary school diploma or their university degree in a foreign country (exception: German international schools)

Uni-assist is the "university application service for international students".

Applicants who have completed their school or university studies abroad submit their application here. Uni-assist checks whether the academic admission requirements for Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences have been met. However, the decision of whether to admit the prospective student or not is not made by uni-assist, but by Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences. The University Registrar is responsible for the admission and enrollment of international students. Uni-assist does not provide information about studying at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences or about the admission requirements. This information is obtained directly by the university on the web pages of the particular Bachelor degree programs. Please also note the application deadlines for Bachelor degree programs.

Uni-assist charges a processing fee for the inspection of application documents and will only begin processing your application once the fee has been paid and all your documents have been submitted to uni-assist.

If you have any questions about the status of your application at uni-assist, please contact uni-assist directly.

Please use the application form provided by uni-assist for your application. Here you can find a step-by-step application manual for your uni-assist application.

Application documents to be submitted to uni-assist:

• Completed application form (online application - uni-assist)
• Certified copy of your high school diploma/bachelor's certificate: 1 copy in the national language, 1 copy in translation (German or English)
• Overview of your grades from your previous studies as a certified copy (if available)
• Proof of your German language skills as a certified copy (can be submitted later!)
• Copy of your passport (to confirm your name and date of birth)
• If applicable, internship certificates / training contract (depending on the degree program!)

Form of documents to be submitted

Please do not send original documents, but rather a certified copy. Exception: The APS Certificate (for Chinese, Vietnamese and Indian applicants) must be submitted in the original. Application materials cannot be sent back to you.

The following German and international institutions are empowered to certify copies:

International:

• Diplomatic missions of the Federal Republic of Germany (embassies, consulates)
• International DAAD branches
• German international schools

In Germany:

• Federal or state authorities, local authorities (e.g. municipalities, registration offices, immigration authorities)
• Notaries
• Catholic or evangelical church congregations

Here you will find detailed information about certifications.

If your original documents are not written in English, you must submit a German or English translation along with the copy of the original documents. These translations must be made by a sworn translator.

Note:

In the database, http://anabin.kmk.org/ you can find information about whether the diploma issued in your home country is recognized as an entrance qualification for a German university.

Application deadlines for the winter semester when applying with uni-assist:

For all applicants with school/university diplomas from countries outside of Germany:

• For study programs with restricted admissions the application period runs from March 01 to June 15 (receipt of application documents by uni-assist)
• For study programs with open admissions the application period runs from March 01 to August 01 (receipt of application documents by uni-assist)
• For the study program Theater Pedagogy the application deadline ends on June 01
• For the study program Music Education the application deadline ends on May 31

In general: German language certificates can be submitted directly to Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences until August 31 (to the following address: Hochschule Osnabrück, Studierendensekretariat, Postfach 1940, 49009 Osnabrück, Germany)

List of admission restricted / admission free bachelor programs

Application deadlines for the summer semester when applying with uni-assist:

For all applicants with school/university diplomas from countries outside of Germany:

• For study programs with restricted admissions the application period runs from September 01 to December 15 (receipt of application documents by uni-assist)
• For study programs with open admissions the application period runs from September 01, to February 01, 2026 (receipt of application documents by uni-assist)

In general: German language certificates can be submitted directly to Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences until February 28 (to the following address: Hochschule Osnabrück, Studierendensekretariat, Postfach 1940, 49009 Osnabrück, Germany)

List of admission restricted / admission free bachelor programs

• Foreign students who have a German secondary school diploma
• Foreign students who have attended a preparatory college (Studienkolleg) in Germany and have passed the assessment test (Feststellungsprüfung) there

 online application portal.

Application deadlines for the winter semester when applying directly to Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences:

• for degree programs with restricted admissions the application period runs from May 02 to July 15*, (cut-off deadline)
• for degree programs with open admissions the application period runs from May 02 to September 01 (cut-off deadline)

*For some degree programs, the application deadline might differ from the above mentioned date. Please double-check on the website of your chosen degree program.

Registration/application deadlines for the Bachelor's degree programs Industrial Design, Media & Interaction Design, Music Education and Theatre Education are always possible a little earlier. Please note the different registration and application deadlines. You can find more information on the respective pages of the degree programs.

List of admission restricted / admission free bachelor programs

Application deadline for the summer semester when applying directly to Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences:

• for degree programs with restricted admissions the application period runs from November* to January 15*, (cut-off deadline)
• for degree programs with open admissions the application period runs from November* to 01 March (cut-off deadline) (receipt of application documents at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences)

*For some degree programs, the application deadline might differ from the above mentioned date. Please double-check on the website of your chosen degree program.

List of admission restricted / admission free bachelor programs

• Foreign applicants who have obtained their secondary school diploma or their university degree in a foreign country
• German applicants who have obtained their secondary school diploma or their university degree in a foreign country (exception: German international schools)

Important: Applications for Master degree programs at the Faculty of Business Management and Social Sciences are submitted not to uni-assist, but directly in the Application Portal of Osnabrück University of Applied Science.

Exception: For the English-language Master's degree courses “International Business and Management” and “Management in Nonprofit Organizations” the application process is via uni-assist.

Uni-assist is the "university application service for international students".

Applicants who have completed their school or university studies abroad submit their application here. Uni-assist checks whether the academic admission requirements for Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences have been met. However, the decision of whether to admit the prospective student or not is not made by uni-assist, but by Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences. The University Registrar is responsible for the admission and enrollment of international students. Uni-assist does not provide information about studying at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences or about the admission requirements. This information is obtained directly by the university on the web pages of the particular Master degree programs.

Uni-assist charges a processing fee for the inspection of application documents and will only begin processing your application once the fee has been paid and all your documents have been submitted to uni-assist.

If you have any questions regarding the processing status of your application at uni-assist, please contact uni-assist directly.

Please use the application form provided by uni-assist for your application. Here you can find a step-by-step application manual for your uni-assist application.

Application documents to be submitted to uni-assist:

• Completed application form (online application - uni-assist)
• Copy of your bachelor's certificate: 1 copy in the national language, 1 copy in translation (German or English)
• Overview of your grades from your previous studies as a copy (if available)
• Proof of your German language skills as a copy (can be submitted later!)
• Copy of your passport (to confirm your name and date of birth)

Form of documents to be submitted

Please do not send original documents, but rather copy. Exception: The APS Certificate (for Chinese and Vietnamese applicants) must be submitted in the original. Application materials cannot be sent back to you.

The following German and international institutions are empowered to certify copies:

International:

• Diplomatic missions of the Federal Republic of Germany (embassies, consulates)
• International DAAD branches
• German international schools

In Germany:

• Federal or state authorities, local authorities (e.g. municipalities, registration offices, immigration authorities)
• Notaries
• Catholic or evangelical church congregations

If your original documents are not written in English, you must submit a German or English translation along with the copy of the original documents. These translations must be made by a sworn translator.

Note:

In the database anabin.kmk.org, you can find non-binding information about whether the diploma issued in your home country is recognized as an entrance qualification for a German university.

Application deadlines for the winter semester when applying with uni-assist:

For all applicants with university diplomas from countries outside of Germany:

• For study programs with restricted admissions the application period runs from March 01 to June 15* (receipt of application documents by uni-assist)

• For For study programs with open admissions the application period runs from March 01 to August 01* (receipt of application documents by uni-assist)

  Exceptions:

  The following applies to the master's programs International Business and Management and Management in Nonprofit Organisations:
      Application period for non-EU applicants with a foreign degree: February 01 to April 01
      Application period for EU applicants with a foreign degree: March 01 to July 15

  The application period for the Master’s program Design Entrepreneurship ends on April 15 for all applicants

  The following apply to the master's program Land Use Transformation:
      Application period for non-EU applicants with a foreign degree: February 01 to April 01
      Application period for EU applicants with a foreign degree: March 01 to June 15

• In general: German language certificates can be submitted directly to Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences until August 31 (to the following address: Hochschule Osnabrück, Studierendensekretariat, Postfach 1940, 49009 Osnabrück, Germany)

List of admission restricted / admission free master programs

Application deadlines for the summer semester when applying with uni-assist:

For all applicants with foreign university certificates:

    for degree programs with admission restrictions from September 1 to December 15 (receipt of application documents by uni-assist)
    for open-admission degree programs from September to February 1 (receipt of application documents by uni-assist)

Exception:

The following apply to the master's program Land Use Transformation:
    Application period for non-EU applicants with a foreign degree: August 01 to October 01
    Application period for EU applicants with a foreign degree: November 01 to December 15

• In general: German language certificates can be submitted directly to Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences until February 28 (to the following address: Hochschule Osnabrück, Studierendensekretariat, Postfach 1940, 49009 Osnabrück, Germany)

*For some degree programs, the application deadline might differ from the above mentioned date. Please double-check on the website of your chosen degree program.

List of admission restricted / admission free master programs

• Foreign applicants who have a German university degree
• Foreign applicants and German applicants with a foreign university degree who apply for a Master program at the Faculty of Business Management and Social Sciences
• Exception: For the English-language Master's degree courses “International Business and Management” and “Management in Nonprofit Organizations”, the application process is via uni-assist.
  
  online application portal

Application deadline for the summer semester when applying directly to Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences:

• January 15 (receipt of application documents at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences)

For some degree programs, the application deadline might differ from the above mentioned date. Please double-check on the website of your chosen degree program.

Application deadlines for the winter semester when applying directly to Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences:

• July 15 (receipt of application documents at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences)

For some degree programs, the application deadline might differ from the above mentioned date. Please double-check on the website of your chosen degree program.
Especially for most of the Master programs of our Faculty of Business Management and Social Sciences other (often earlier) deadlines apply for Non-EU applicants.