As an international student, there can be key differences in how an education system abroad functions in comparison to your home country. For students who are looking at applying to German higher education institutions, there are certain academic qualifications which need to be met. For bachelor’s programs, this means having a prior academic certificate. However, a world full of different education systems and certificates may make this process have an extra step.

To apply for a bachelor’s program at a German university, a German student would normally just need a Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (HZB). The HZB acts as confirmation that a student is prepared for university-level courses. As an international student, you will not be applying with a HZB and will therefore need to have your education certificate recognized by German academic authorities. Upon having a certificate approved, students will receive a Statement of Comparability for Foreign Higher Education Qualifications, stating that the foreign qualification is comparable with the German system.

For students who do not receive such a statement, they may need to partake in additional courses in Germany prior to their higher education degree program in order to receive the Statement of Comparability. The following article will provide a detailed overview of the recognition process, how to check your qualification, German grade conversions, and how to submit your application. If you are only beginning your bachelor’s degree search, our StudyFinder is a great way to filter bachelor’s that fit exactly to your study interests.