Applying for a Master's Degree: Information for International Applicants

General information for international applicants

Thank you very much for your interest in studying at the South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences. There are currently students from about 100 nations studying at the university - and we would be glad to welcome you as well in the near future.

If you are still uncertain about selecting a study course due to your language skills, you can find an overview of our study courses according to language requirements here.

Please note that not all Master's courses start in the winter semester as well as in the summer semester. You can find the exact application deadlines here. You can apply for higher semesters in both the winter and summer semester. Classification in a higher semester is decided by the examination board once admission has been granted. Applications for credit transfer can be obtained from the Student Service Office (contact details at the bottom of this page).

What language skills do I need? Language skills

German language skills and DSH exam

If you are a foreigner without a German university entrance qualification and would like to enrol in a Bachelor's or Master's study course at the South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences, you need to take the DSH exam or the TestDaF test. This does not apply to all study courses, please consult the course-specific admission requirements.

Where can I take these German exams?

In the test centres for the
TestDaF
In the testing locations of the
Goethe Institute
The Goethe Institute and its testing locations are available worldwide in many countires as well as in several German cities.
At the
telc GmbH
At German universities (DSH exam)
Please note that DSH exams are not offered at all German universities (unfortunately, South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences does not offer a DSH exam) and that universities often only admit applicants to the DSH exam subject to very specific conditions.

Learning German

There are numerous ways to learn German, both worldwide and in Germany, e.g. at the Goethe Institutes:

Head Office Munich
Goethe Institute
Oskar-von-Miller-Ring 18
80333 München
muenchen@goethe.de

Additionally, the International Office of the South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences offers German courses within the program "NRWege ins Studium". The courses take place several times a year and start from the language level B1. The courses are aimed at degree seeking persons with refugee status and international degree seeking students. Further information can be found under our Additional Programmes.

English-language study courses

The South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences also offers some study courses that are entirely taught in English.

Which application procedure is suitable for me? Application procedure

Depending on your background and your chosen study course, different application procedures apply. Please make sure to pick the right one!

A) Are you German or equal to German citizens? Then use the online procedure of the South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences

Applicants from EU countries and applicants with equal status to German citizens can apply for admission at the South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences via the online application procedure.

Overview: What does "equal to German citizens" mean?

You are considered equal to German citizens if you meet one of the following requirements.

European HZB = European higher education entrance qualification, European Bachelor's degree (not: Master's degree!)
Applicants from EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway
The applicant lives in Germany and has family members with EU citizenship. This family member must work or have worked in Germany.

Family members in this sense are:

Parents
Spouse
Registered partners
Parents of the spouse/registered partner, if they provide financial support for the applicant
Children, if they are financially supporting the applicant
Children of the spouse/registered partner, if they are financially supporting the applicant

In more detail: The following foreign nationals and stateless persons are treated equally to German applicants in the admission procedure

Foreign nationals or stateless persons who have acquired a German higher education entrance qualification (Abitur or Fachhochschulreife), even if it is a German school abroad, provided the higher education entrance qualification was acquired in accordance with German law.
Citizens of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway.
Applicants resident in the Federal Republic of Germany whose parents are citizens of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway and who work or have worked in Germany.
Persons resident in the Federal Republic of Germany whose spouse or registered partner is a national of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway and works or has worked in Germany.
Persons resident in the Federal Republic of Germany, provided that the parents of the spouse or registered partner are nationals of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway and work or have worked in Germany and are financially supported by them.
Persons resident in the Federal Republic of Germany whose children are nationals of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway and work or have worked in Germany and who are dependent on them.
Persons resident in the Federal Republic of Germany, provided that the children of the spouse or registered partner are nationals of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway and are working or have worked in Germany and are supported by them.

Entrance Qualification

If you would like to do your own check regarding the university entrance qualification in advance, you can use the qualification database of DAAD.

The information provided there serves as an orientation for international students, but it is not binding for the certification authorities. It does not constitute a claim to the allocation of a place at our university of applied sciences.

Information sytem to recognise foreign qualifications in german: anabin

Exchange students

Are you a student from one of our partner universities and take part in an exchange programme?

You will then find specific information here.

Language of instruction

The language of instruction at the South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences is German, with the exception of our international study courses which are taught entirely in English.

Detailed information on our support for refugees

B) Are you not equal to German citizens? Then please apply via uni-assist

On the uni-assist homepage you will find instructions on how to apply in 6 steps. Short video tutorials are a good source of help here.

Enrolment procedure for admissions granted in the previous semester

For some degree courses (see below), admissions are directly granted for one or two enrolment semesters. If you have not received a visa for the semester you initially applied for in time, you can enrol in the upcoming enrolment period via the online application portal of the South Westphalia University. For this, please register in the online application portal for EU applicants, since all application data has been deleted for data protection reasons. This portal is relevant for you if you have already been admitted. Please complete all fields in the application portal and enter a new user name and password. Make sure to remember these account details. You will receive a welcome email with instructions for verification. Once verified, please apply for the degree course for which you still have a valid admission.

Please apply during the application periods and upload the following documents as part of the online enrolment:

Admission letter
Photo ID
Exmatriculation certificate, if you have already studied at a German higher education institution
Certificate of Non-Objection, if you have already studied a similar degree course at a German higher education institution

Furthermore, please request a special insurance certificate for enrolment from your health insurance agency, which will be sent to us electronically. You can find information on the electronic health insurance procedure here.

The above-mentioned procedure applies exclusively to the following degree courses:

Which application documents are required?Which application documents are required?

Please upload your application documents. It is important that you upload copies from your original certificates or certified copies from your certificates. It is not sufficent to upload a picture of simple copies. We reserve the right to request copies from your original certificates or certified copies from your certificates by post.

List of required documents

Higher education entrance qualification for NC courses with a specified average grade (Abitur, Baccalaureate, GCE....) in the original language and a German or English translation by a sworn translator
Undergraduate degree certificate and transcript of records including average grade in the original language and a German or English translation by a sworn translator
Grading scheme.
Proof of German language proficiency or proof that the language proficiency is expected to be proven by the start of the lecture period (e.g. registration for the language test). Proof of English language proficiency is required for degree courses taught in English; proof of German language proficiency is not required
Depending on your home country, additional proof may be required, e.g. APS (optional original). For further information please contact uni-assist: Country Information

Please note:
The following documents must only be submitted after admission to enrolment:

Copy of a photo ID (a plain copy is sufficient!)
Course-specific certificates such as internships, entrance exams in the original language and in German or English translation
Furthermore, please request a special insurance certificate for enrolment from your health insurance agency, which will be sent to us electronically. You can find information on the electronic health insurance procedure here.
For all postgraduate courses, you must also submit a qualified job certificate or a certificate from your (former) employer written on a paper with company letterhead containing the following information: name and address of employer, your full name, employment period, weekly time extend / weekly hours, job description and/or list of professional activities, date and signature.