Applying With Certificates Issued Abroad

The final examination of your documents will only take place during the application process. However, we recommend that you check the admission database of the DAAD in advance. It will help you find out easily whether you are entitled to studying your desired subject at a German university or whether you may have to attend a preparatory course (Studienkolleg) first.

The anabin online database also provides you with more detailed information on the assessment of foreign degrees and the conversion of grades.

In order to successfully study at HSBI, German language skills are a must. Courses (lectures, exercises and seminars) are usually held in German. For most of our study programmes you need a German level of C1 according to the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). You can read below which certificates you need for this. For the English-taught International Business Management (IBM) degree programme, you need a German language proficiency level of A2. This can be proven, for example, by a certificate from your home university.

We accept the following language certificates:

• “TestDaF” examination with at least 16 credit points (i.e. four credit points per partial examination),
• “Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang” (DSH) with a minimum level of 2,
• “telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule,”
• Passed German examination within the admission examination for a preparatory course (Studienkolleg),
• C2 examination of the Goethe Institute,
• Proof of graduation in German Philology at a university abroad,
• “Deutsches Sprachdiplom” (DSD) of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany level 2,
• Proof of completion of a three-year vocational training/apprenticeship in Germany.

Language courses at HSBI

If you don’t have the German skills required for studies yet, you can be enrolled as a language course student at HSBI. Preparatory language courses are held by the Bielefeld-based language institute bibis; fees are charged for these courses. The application for the language course is processed via uni-assist. In this process, you will apply for the desired specialist studies. Assessing your application, we will determine that you do not have the language skills required for studies yet and you will automatically receive a letter that you will need in order to register for a language course.

This type of enrolment is possible for a maximum of two semesters. You will have to bear the costs for the language course yourself.

Please find further information on the language course on the bibis website.

The International Office offers additional courses starting at B1/B2 level; however, places in these courses are limited.

1. You are a citizen of an EU or EEA country (all member states of the European Union plus Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway).
2. You live in Germany, at least one of your parents is a citizen of an EU or EEA country and works in Germany or has worked in Germany.
3. You live in Germany, your spouse or registered partner is a citizen of an EU or EEA country and currently works in Germany.
4. You have already completed a degree in Germany.
5. You have attended a German school abroad and have obtained a German university entrance qualification there.

If at least one of the statements above applies to you, please apply through HSBI’s application portal: continue to application.

If none of the statements above applies to you, please apply through uni-assist: continue to application.

Application for a higher semester is currently not possible with qualifications obtained abroad. You need to apply for the first study semester as a rule. After successful examination and admission for the study programme of your choice, you can apply for recognition of credits you have acquired in Germany or abroad and apply to be upgraded to a higher semester.

The information below applies to applicants who have earned their (subject-specific) university entrance qualification abroad.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Both the university entrance certificate and the valid cooperation agreement must be available at the time of application.

Step 1: Application

As an applicant with certificates issued abroad, you must apply by e-mail (not via uni-assist and not via HSBI’s application portal). Please send your application documents by e-mail to admission@hsbi.de, attaching the following application documents:

• Proof of university entrance qualification (originals and translations into German or English),
• Recognised language certificate,
• Copy of the cooperation agreement*,
• Passport copy,
• CV.

*Please note: The work placement can be planned as an internship, part-time job or as an apprenticeship. Proof of this must be provided before registration through an agreement on the implementation of the work-integrated study (cooperation agreement) between the students, the cooperation company and HSBI.

Step 2: Submission of the cooperation agreement by post

After you have applied by e-mail, we need three physical signed copies of the cooperation agreement with the cooperation company. Please submit these to HSBI by post or clarify with the company whether it sends us the documents.

Hochschule Bielefeld
International Office
Interaktion 1
33619 Bielefeld

Please find more information and forms here.

Step 3: Review of documents and registration (enrolment)

In the next step, we will review the cooperation agreement and the suitability of your company. If everything is fine, you will receive a confirmation of receipt and a copy of the cooperation agreement signed by us by post. The company, too, will receive a signed copy of the cooperation agreement from us.

Around mid-June you will receive the following documents by e-mail:

• Admissions letter,
• Payment request,
• Information on the digital proof of health insurance.

If necessary, you will be asked to provide further documents/proof. In order to ensure a smooth start to your studies, we kindly ask you, also in your own interest, to submit the requested documents in good time.

In the payment request, which you will receive by e-mail, you can find the semester contribution to be paid and your personal registration deadline. You must transfer the semester contribution and ask your health insurance provider to send the digital proof of your health insurance to HSBI by this deadline. Please find information on mandatory health insurance for students at:

https://www.hsbi.de/en/international-office/degree-seeking-students/before-your-departure

We will not be able to fully register you until the contribution has been booked in HSBI’s system and we have received all the required documents (including the digital notification of your health insurance).

Step 4: Semester contribution and credentials

After we have fully registered you, you will receive a letter with the credentials for our online campus. It may take a few days for you to receive the letter. Students who were already registered at HSBI in the past or still are usually keep their student ID no. and thus their credentials for HSBI’s online services.

The examination of certificates issued abroad is very complex and takes some time. We will contact you if any documents are missing or if we have any questions about your records.

Until an admission decision has been made, you can find information about offers for international students at HSBI or about life in Germany in general on the International Office’s website.

If you have any questions or problems, please do not hesitate to contact us!

Application deadlines are 15 July of each year for the following winter semester and 15 January of each year for the following summer semester.

We wish you the best of luck!