International Student Office

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• Registration Deadlines

  You can enroll in our degree programs for the

  • Winter semester from 1 June to 31 July and for the
  • Summer semester from 1 December to 31 January.

• General Information on Enrollment

  There is no special admission procedure for applicants with foreign certificates at the FernUniversität in Hagen.

  All prospective students (with foreign and German qualifications) can use the same application to apply for admission to the distance learning program.

  To enroll, you must complete the application (and sign it) and send it online or by post to the Registrar’s Office at the FernUniversität in Hagen together with all the required documents. You can also hand in your documents in person to the Registrar’s Office or at any of our campus locations.

  Application for Enrollment

• Evaluation of Foreign Qualifications

  The International Student Office will check your foreign certificates according to the assessments of the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) in Bonn.

  Information about the ZAB and the Evaluation of Certificates (external page in German)

• Entrance Qualifications for Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programs

  In order to be admitted to our bachelor’s degree programs, you must be able to provide (educational) certificates equivalent to the German Abitur.

  Bachelor programs

  To be admitted to our master’s degree programs , you must submit proof of academic qualifications that are equivalent to German university degrees and meet the content-related admission requirements of the desired master’s degree program according to the respective examination regulations at the FernUniversität in Hagen.

  Master’s programs

• Proof of German Language Skills

  The FernUniversität only offers courses in German.

  All applicants who have not obtained their study qualification at a German-speaking institution must present recognized proof of German language skills upon enrollment:

  Proof of German language skills (PDF 73 KB)

  The FernUniversität does not offer preparatory language courses or language examinations. German citizenship is not a substitute for the language certificate.

  Overview of the most commonly recognized language certificates at the FernUniversität:

  • TestDaF Institut
    TestDaF exam (Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache für Studienbewerberinnen bzw. Studienbewerber) with at least level 3 in all 4 sections
  • DSH Germany
    DSH exam (German language test for university admission for foreign applicants), with a grade of at least level 1
  • Studienkollegs (academic qualifying course) in Germany
    assessment test, pass grade in the German section of the examination
  • German exams at the Goethe-Institut
    Goethe certificate C1 or C2

• Documents to Be Submitted for Admission to a Bachelor’s Degree Program

  Please remember to enclose the required documents along with your (signed) application:

  • A copy of your university entrance qualification certificate (Abitur) in the original language
  • A copy of the translation of your university entrance qualification certificate (Abitur) into German (if the original is not already issued in English)
  • Copy of proof of German language skills
  • Proof of identification (please submit a copy of an identification document, e.g., identity card, passport or residence permit)
  • Proof of name change, if applicable, if the name on your certificate is not identical to the name on the application (e.g., copy of marriage certificate, copy of identity card)
  • Proof of health insurance (e.g., copy of insurance card or membership certificate if resident in Germany)
  • If applicable, a copy of the notification of any definitively failed examination or examinations
  • Annex for professionals with non-academic vocational qualifications, if applicable
  • Certificate of participation in the online self-assessment from the StudyNAVI website (only for B.Sc. Psychology)
  • Application for fee reduction due to hardship, if applicable
  • Signed SEPA mandate for payment by direct debit, if applicable

• Documents to Be Submitted for Admission to a Master’s Degree Program

  Please remember to enclose the required documents along with your (signed) application:

  • A copy of the university entrance qualification certificate (university degree certificate/transcript of records) in the original language
  • A copy of the translation of your university entrance qualification certificate (university degree certificate/transcript of records) into German (if the original is not already issued in English)
  • Copy of proof of German language skills
  • Proof of identification (please submit a copy of an identification document, e.g., identity card, passport or residence permit)
  • Proof of name change, if applicable, if the name on your certificate is not identical to the name on the application (e.g., copy of marriage certificate, copy of identity card)
  • Proof of health insurance (e.g., copy of insurance card or membership certificate if resident in Germany)
  • If applicable, a copy of the notification of any definitively failed examination or examinations
  • Annex for professionals with non-academic vocational qualifications, if applicable
  • Application for fee reduction due to hardship, if applicable
  • Signed SEPA mandate for payment by direct debit, if applicable

• Translation of Certificates

  All foreign-language documents, except English-language certificates, must be translated into German and a copy submitted.

  The translation must be done by an official sworn interpreter or translator and be stamped accordingly.

• Proof of Health Insurance

  All full-time and part-time students with a residential address in Germany are obliged to provide proof of their health insurance cover at the time of enrollment or from the start of the semester.

  Further information about verification

  Students living abroad do not need to submit proof. You declare in your admission application that you do not live in the Federal Republic of Germany.

• Check: Enrollment in Seven Steps

  • Step 1: Find out what you can about the degree program in advance
  • Step 2: Plan your application/obtain preliminary information
  • Step 3: Fill out the online enrollment application (see above for submission options)
  • Step 4: Get your certificates ready
  • Step 5: Enclose a copy of your proof of identity (ID card/passport)
  • Step 6: Enclose other documents (proof of health insurance and/or change of name)
  • Step 7: Submit your application and documents by the deadline online or by post (the postmark date must be on or before the deadline) or hand them in in person at the Registrar’s Office or at one of our campus locations.
  • You made it! Your documents are on their way to us and will be checked.
  • You will receive an automatic confirmation of receipt upon receipt of your documents and will receive feedback on your application within around 2 to 4 weeks.

• Service Outside Enrollment Times – Checking Your Qualifications

  Would you like to find out whether you meet the admission requirements for your desired degree program?

  We will be happy to carry out a preliminary check of your foreign qualifications for you!

  Simply use our contact form to upload all the required documents (certificates in the original language, certificates in translated form, and a curriculum vitae in tabular form).

  Have you already had your certificates checked by us? If so, please enclose our e-mail correspondence with the application. Thanks!

  Our service periods for the preliminary checks:

  • 1 April to 31 May: Preliminary checks for enrollment for the following winter semester (enrollment period: 1 June to 31 July)
  • 1 October to 30 November: Preliminary checks for enrollment for the following summer semester (enrollment period: 1 December to 31 January)

  During the enrollment periods, you can apply directly for enrollment in your chosen degree program under Enrollment. The preliminary check is not a prerequisite for applying for enrollment.

  If you are interested, please use the corresponding web form via the following link:

  Preliminary check: bachelor/master international qualifications

Contact

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