Please check DAAD’s admissions database to see whether your foreign certificates entitle you to study your desired subject at a German university. Additionally, the anabin online database also provides you with more details on the evaluation of foreign degrees.

If you do not yet have the qualifications required to study at a university, please find further information here on the opportunities of obtaining a university entrance qualification (Studienkolleg, TestAS, ITB test, VORsprung, private university preparation programmes).

Please refer to our website for an overview of our work-integrated study programmes. You will find details regarding the admission requirements in the respective study programme’s examination regulations. These can be downloaded from the download boxes on each study programme page.

If you would like advice on choosing a study programme, please contact our Student Advising and Counselling (ZSB) service.

You are an applicant who is treated as a German national if at least one of the following statements applies to you:

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 you are treated as a German national, you do not need a VPD certificate when applying through the university’s application portal. If none of the statements above applies to you, you require a VPD certificate from uni-assist. Unfortunately, you will not be able to apply without the certificate.

 

Applicants with certificates issued abroad who are not treated as German nationals must request a VPD certificate from uni-assist before they apply to HSBI.

How to request a VPD certificate:

1. Create an account at uni-assist.
2. Upload your certificates and certified translations of your documents.
   You do not have to upload any language certificates or other programme-specific certificates to uni-assist, as uni-assist only checks your university entrance qualification (HZB) or your master’s entrance qualification (MZB).
3. Pay the service charge.

Processing of the VPD request usually takes 4 to 6 weeks. A request for the VPD certificate can be made throughout the year. For more information on the VPD certificate, please refer to the uni-assist website and our FAQ section.

 

Please note

Even if you obtain your university entrance qualification via an aptitude test (TestAS or ITB test), you will still need a VPD certificate for your application to HSBI. You will not need to submit your TestAS or ITB test to uni-assist when you apply for a VPD certificate, just your (educational) certificates. In this case, the VPD certificate will state that you meet the requirements for attending a Studienkolleg. You only need to submit the TestAS/ITB test when you apply to HSBI.

Once you have your VPD proof, you can apply to the company providing training. Please find information on work placement offers and applications to companies in the company portal. For your application to HSBI, you will need a signed cooperation agreement. Please find the appropriate form in the company portal’s download centre.

As an applicant with certificates issued abroad, you can apply through HSBI’s application portal. The application period is usually from 1 December to 15 July each year.  Please upload the application documents listed below to the university’s application portal:

• Proof of university entrance qualification (originals and certified translations into German or English produced by sworn translators),
• The VPD certificate from uni-assist (see step 4),
  • In case of access to the university through TestAS or ITB test: preliminary review documentation (VPD) from uni-assist (for Studienkolleg) and TestAS or ITB result,
• Recognised language certificate,
• Copy of the cooperation agreement*
• For applicants with Chinese, Vietnamese or Indian certificates: APS certificate.

Please submit all documents with your application via HSBI’s application portal “CAT”: click here to access the portal.

*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 company providing training and HSBI.

After you have applied, we need three physical signed copies of the cooperation agreement with the company providing training. Please submit these to HSBI by post or clarify with the company whether they will send us the documents.

Hochschule Bielefeld
International Office – Admissions
Interaktion 1
33619 Bielefeld

In the next step, we will review your application documents, the cooperation agreement and the suitability of your company. 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 to submit the requested documents in good time.

Once we have received your necessary documents, we will make you an offer of admission. You can download the admission letter from HSBI’s application portal CAT. You must then apply for enrolment in the CAT portal – please mind your individual registration deadline.

1. Please transfer the semester contribution within 14 calendar days to HSBI’s account. You will find the bank details and your individual reference number in your enrolment certificate. (Please note: the reference number must be used exactly as stated in your enrolment certificate. Otherwise, your payment cannot be allocated.)
2. Ask your health insurance provider to send a digital proof of your health insurance status (M10) to HSBI.

You will then receive a copy of your cooperation agreement signed by us by post. The company providing training will receive a signed copy from us as well.

 

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

On our website, you will also find information about starting your studies and the Welcome Week, our orientation days for international students in German-language degree programmes at HSBI.