Application procedure for Non-EU-Citizens with Formal University Entrance Qualification

To apply for an undergraduate degree programme, you must possess a formal university entrance qualification to German universities (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung) and sufficient proficiency in German language.

a. University Entrance Qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung)

A University Entrance Qualification makes you eligible to apply to a German university. You can check whether your foreign secondary school diploma (or university education) is recognized in Germany at Check: university admission (uni-assist).

b. German-language proficiency

The teaching language of all Bachelor's programs at the University of Cologne is German. The same applies to the courses of study with state examination as well as the course of study with 1. Prüfung (law).

In order to study at the University of Cologne, you must therefore demonstrate very good German language skills. We recognize the following German certificates:

• TestDaF TDN 4 in all examination parts
• DSH 2*
• Deutsches Sprachdiplom, level II of the KMK (DSD II)
• Telc C1 Hochschule
• Telc C2
• Goethe-Insitut C1 certificate
• ÖSD C2
• Passed “German section” of the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP)

* Only DSH of higher education institutions with registered examination regulations in accordance with the provisions of the German Rectors' Conference (HRK).

According to the current DSH regulations, certain international school-leaving certificates, e.g. from German-speaking regions, are recognised as exceptions or as equivalent. If you have any questions, please contact us via our contact form.

c. TestAS certificate

The TestAS is a centralised, standardised study aptitude test for international students. It can be taken in German or English and only at licensed test centres, e.g. the University of Cologne. We accept both the paper-based and digital TestAS. You can retake the TestAS.

The University of Cologne stands for fairness and equal opportunities! That is why we use the TestAS as a selection criterion for non-EU citizens, regardless of the different education and grading systems around the world.

d. Special application requirements

Special application requirements apply to certain fields of study. Please consult the relevant websites for more information:

Bachelor's degree programmes at the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences (WISO)

Bachelor (dual) Klinische Pflege (no TestAS required / in German only)

Bachelor (dual) Angewandte Hebammenwissenschaft (no TestAS required / in German only)

We want you to study successfully!

Studienstart International integrale will be supporting you ideally during the beginning of your study. Apart from specialist German classes you will be partaking in seminars on intercultural sensitization as well as overall competences of studying. Orientation sessions and intensive support supplement that programme.

During your first semester, you will complete the compulsory Studienstart International integrale alongside your studies. 

Additional seminars and lectures can be attended according to personal preferences with the help of a skilled worker of the corresponding faculty.

Exceptions: Teacher training students (bachelor's degree) and law students do not participate in Studienstart International integrale, but if interested, they can contact the Studienstart International staff.
Those interested in subjects at the Faculty of Medicine apply for Studienstart International Medizin.

You can find further information on Studienstart International here.

You can find our entire range of degree programmes on the University of Cologne's study orientation portal.

The higher education compass offered by German Rectors' Conference (Hochschulkompass der Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (HRK)) provides you with information about all degree courses offered by German universities.

The semester for which you can apply depends on the degree programme you wish to study:

Non-EU-citizens applying for undergraduate degree programmes (bachelor degree courses or state examination) beginning in the first semester must use the online application portal of uni-assist e.V.

Attention: Paperless application procedure. Please do not send any documents by mail for this application. Upload all documents to the online application portal.

Until when do I have to submit my application to uni-assist e.V.?

• Application deadline for the winter semester: July 15th (date of receipt)
• Application deadline for the summer semester: January 15th (date of receipt)

Here you can find a video tutorial on how to apply online to uni-assist.

The following application documents must be submitted to the online portal of uni-assist e.V. (upload). The International Office reserves the right to request certified documents at any time.

Attention: Paperless application procedure. Please do not send any documents by mail for this application. Upload all documents to the online application portal.

• A gapless curriculum vitae in tabular form written in German
• A proof about the knowledge of the German language, at least at the level of DSH-2 (see point 1b)
• Your secondary education certificate including a subject and grading schedule and a translation (if not issued in German or English) or, in applicable, the letter of acceptance or the certificate of enrollment
• TestAS certificate
  • For applications for teaching degree courses: core test and subject-specific module HUM
  • For applications at the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences: core test and subject-specific module ECO
  • For applications at the Faculty of Law, Faculty of Arts and Humanities and the Faculty of Human Sciences: core test and module HUM
  • For applications at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences: core test and subject-specific module MATH
• If applicable, a proof of the successfully completed university entrance exam in the home country
• If applicable, a certificate of entrance examination (»Feststellungsprüfung« incl. »Vorbildungsnachweis«)
• Only for holders of certificates from China, India and Vietnam: individuale APS certificate (see point 7)
• Only for holders of an International Baccalaureate (IB): IB certificate with proof of continuous attendance (2 years) of the examination subjects.
• If applicable, transcript of records with list of subjects and grades (with translation) (if not issued in German or English)
• A copy of your passport

Please note that you must have previously completed the TestAS and must submit a TestAS certificate with your application to uni-assist e.V. 

Applications at University of Cologne are only possible for holders of a valid individual certificate of a Akademische Prüfstelle (APS-Zertifikat).

The University of Cologne stands for fairness and equal opportunities! That is why we use the TestAS as a selection criterion for non-EU citizens, regardless of the different education and grading systems around the world.

Der TestAS (= Test for Academic Studies) is a centralised, standardised study aptitude test for foreign students. It can be taken in German or English and only at licensed test centres. Licensed test centres are located worldwide (e.g. at the University of Cologne). The majority of TestDaF test centres also offer the TestAS. There are only a few TestAS exam dates each year, for which you must register early. The test consists of a core test and a subject-specific test module that you can choose depending on your desired field of study.

You must take the TestAS for all undergraduate programmes before applying and submit the TestAS certificate to uni-assist e.V. with your application. We accept both the paper-based and digital TestAS.

The minimum percentile rank depends on your choice of study. It is the average of the achieved minimum percentile rank of the core test and the field of study specific module. The paper-based TestAS and the digital TestAS are accepted.

Achieving the minimum percentage rank is no guarantee of an offer of a place. You will then take part in our selection process.

After your application documents have been reviewed by uni-assist e.V. and forwarded to the University of Cologne, you will receive login data for the university’s KLIPS 2.0 online application portal.

The login data will be sent to the e-mail address you indicated in the application you submitted to uni-assist e.V. You can then follow the status of your application on your KLIPS 2.0 account.

If you get a study place in the allocation, you will find the admission for your requested subject in your KLIPS 2.0-account.

To enrol, you must complete the following by the deadline specified on the admission notification: 

1. Pay the semester fee in full and
2. Submit the documents needed for enrolment (Upload in Klips 2.0).

The documents must be received by the International Office of the University of Cologne by the deadine (upload).

Your KLIPS 2.0 applicant account shows which documents you need to upload for enrolment in KLIPS 2.0.

New: Please note important information regarding proof of compulsory health insurance.

Please find all the necessary information regarding Student ID and Semester-Ticket on the website of our Student Application and Registration Office.