Language and Admission Requirements

Language requirements

All international applicants for Bachelor's and Master's programmes must prove German language skills on level B1 (CEFR) minimum at the time of application and successfully pass the German language test "DSH-2 or DSH-3" or an equivalent exam before starting their studies. An application without German language skills or only with basic knowledge will not be accepted.

If applicants present a university entrance qualification that is recognized as equivalent to the German Abitur, they can begin their studies as soon as the examination result DSH-2 or DSH-3 is achieved. If a DSH certificate is not yet available at the time of application, applicants will be granted conditional admission to the programme with the requirement that they take the DSH before beginning their studies.

In preparation for the DSH exam, our cooperation partner, the Erfurt Center for Language and Integration (EZSI), offers preparatory German courses at the B2 and C1 levels, as well as other language courses, for which interested students can register directly at EZSI. At the end of the C1 course, the Telc C1 Hochschule certificate can be obtained at EZSI or the TestDaF exam can be taken. These are recognized as DSH equivalents.

At the University of Erfurt, applicants of the University and the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt with advanced German language skills can take the DSH exam in September. To register, the conditional admission must be submitted to the Language Center.

Detailed information about the recognition of equivalent language certificates as well as a DSH sample exam can be found on the pages of the German Department of the Language Center. There you will also find the registration information for the DSH examination.

The following degree programmes are taught in English and therefore do not require proof of German language skills:

Other language requirements

Some Bachelor's programmes, such as International Relations, Economics, Law and Social Science, English/American Studies, require a good knowledge of English at the B2 level in addition to German, which must be proven by a certificate at the time of application. More detailed information can be found on the programme websites.

In some Master's programmes, other language requirements (English, French, etc.) must also be fulfilled and proven by certificates. More information on the required language certificates can be found on the respective programme website.

General requirements for Bachelor studies

Information on the university entrance qualification

International applicants who have acquired their higher education entrance qualification abroad, as well as German applicants with a higher education entrance qualification from abroad, require a school leaving certificate equivalent to the Abitur for admission to a higher education institution/ university in Germany. If the school-leaving certificate from abroad can be recognized as equivalent to the German Abitur, international applicants are admitted directly to the Bachelor's programme. The decision on equivalence lies with the Ministers of Education of the German federal states and is made on the basis of their assessments.

Studienkolleg

International applicants with a higher education entrance qualification that is only indirectly comparable to the German qualification can also be admitted to the Bachelor's program, but must successfully pass a special assessment test (Feststellungsprüfung) before beginning their studies.

Preparation for the Feststellungsprüfung usually takes place in a one-year course at a Studienkolleg. The Staatliches Thüringer Studienkolleg is located on campus of the University of Applied Sciences Nordhausen, about 70 km away from Erfurt.

Prospective students apply directly at the university where they intend to study later. It is not possible to apply directly to the Studienkolleg. It is absolutely necessary to indicate the future desired course of study when applying in order to be assigned to the appropriate preparatory course at the Studienkolleg.

Since the University of Erfurt is a Social Science, Education and Humanities oriented university, it only issues conditional admissions to the G or W course of the Studienkolleg, but not to the M or T course.

To attend the Studienkolleg, students must have an intermediate level (B1) of German. German classes are continued at the Studienkolleg. Classes are taught in German.

Admission limitation and special entry requirements

In addition to the general and language prerequisites, some study progammes offered at the University of Erfurt request other specific programme prerequisites. Some programmes have admission limitations (a limited number of study places, ranking made with numerus clausus procedure), others have an aptitude test or another selection procedure.

Admissions restricted programmes (Numerus Clausus ranking)

Several Bachelor programmes have only a limited number of study places, which means that the number of applicants greatly exceeds the number of available places for students. That is why those programs have an admission limitation with a numerus clausus ranking (NC). At the university of Erfurt the following study programmes have limited places with numerus clausus ranking:

The application deadline for admission-restricted programmes of study is July 15 each year. The application must be submitted to the University of Erfurt via the online portal by July 15 (deadline). Applicants who possess a conditional admission from the previous year and now wish to begin their studies in the coming winter semester must reapply via the online portal in order to participate in the NC procedure. Following the July 15 deadline, the selection process will take place, and applicants will be informed of the results via the portal. If an offer of a place is received, the place must be accepted within a certain period of time.

Programmes with an aptitude test

Some study programmes demand specific entry requirements that students need to prove by participating in an aptitude test. The proof of successful participation in the aptitude test is part of the application at the university of Erfurt and has to be submitted for the enrolment via the online portal. Information about the requirements of the aptitude test and the dates can be found here . An aptitude test is required for the following Bachelor's degree programmes:

Programmes with specific selection procedures

The following Bachelor programme conducts a specific selection procedure including an Interview:

Communication Science

The deadline for applying for the selection procedure is July 15. Further information can be found on the programme website.

Selection procedures for Master programmes

Selection procedures are conducted in the following Master's programmes. Information on the respective application procedure can be found on the programme websites. Application deadline is July 15.