Going to College Without a High School Diploma

You can provide proof in several ways:

A grade point average of ≤ 2.7 on the transcript for the academic portion of the Fachhochschulreife, or a grade of “good” in German, English (including proof of Level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages), and one additional subject, depending on the chosen degree program.

Aptitude exams are required in the subjects listed above unless you have earned a grade of “good” or better (and, for English, at least level B1) in the certificate of eligibility for a university of applied sciences. 

You can find information about the exams and the additional subject under the heading “Which aptitude exams do I need to take?”

The following information applies only if you did not complete the academic portion of the Fachhochschulreife with a grade point average of 2.7 or higher. Otherwise, you can skip ahead to point 2).

Unless you have demonstrated a grade of “good” or better in the respective subjects in the academic portion of the Fachhochschulreife (and at least level B1 in English), you must take exams in the following subjects: 

German 

and 

English 

must be taken to demonstrate general eligibility. 

Depending on the chosen degree program, exams must also be taken in the following subjects, unless the corresponding subject is documented with a “good” grade on the university-preparatory diploma:

Mathematics exam for:

• Architecture
• Civil Engineering
• Business Administration
• Chemistry
• German and European Economic Law
• Biomedical Technology / Digital Biomedical and Health Sciences
• Digital Engineering
  - Electrical Engineering
  - Mechanical Engineering
  - Mechatronics
• Digital Public Health / Digital Biomedical and Health Sciences
• Electrical Engineering
• Computer Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Economics
• Business Information Systems
• Industrial Engineering

Exam in Social Sciences for:

• Education: Inclusion and Diversity 
• Social Work
• Social Sciences
• Social Sciences in Europe ( restricted admission*)

Exam in History for:

• Christian Theologies from an Ecumenical Perspective
• History
• Philosophy

French exam for:

• European Business Communication (restricted admission*)

For the Media Studies program, the second subject may be chosen from one of the following: 

• History
• Mathematics 
• Social Sciences 

For the Literature, Culture, and Media as well as Language and Communication programs, the second major may be chosen from one of the following: 

• History
• French 
• Mathematics 
• Social Sciences  

• Spanish

   

   

*These are degree programs that require a separate application. You can find more information about the application processhere.

In addition to demonstrating general eligibility, you must also demonstrate subject-specific eligibility. The following list explains how to do this for each degree program:

If you have any questions regarding academic eligibility, please contact the appropriate admissions office:

• Faculty I: Faculty of Arts and Humanities
• School of Education, Architecture and the Arts
• School of Economic Disciplines: School of Economic Disciplines, Business Information Systems, and Business Law

• School IV: School of Science and Technology

   

*These are degree programs that require a separate application. You can find more information about the application processhere.

An application for a determination of special aptitude must be submitted in all cases. The registration period for the following winter semester begins in early June and ends on July 15 (final deadline). If you can demonstrate a grade of 2.7 or better in the academic portion of the Fachhochschulreife, you may also submit the application by August 31. Please note that, in such cases, an assessment of your academic aptitude may no longer be possible. Documents submitted before this deadline cannot be considered. 

Please send your complete application materials as PDF files via email to fhr@zv.uni-siegen.de

You must submit the following documents as PDF files by July 15:

• Completed application for determination of special aptitude
• Certificate of eligibility for admission to a university of applied sciences (the academic portion is sufficient)
• Resume
• if available:
  • Proof of completed vocational training and details regarding the type, duration, and location of previous professional experience 
  • Proof of a completed internship 
  • Proof of having passed an aptitude test to determine special aptitude

• Exams that have been passed are also recognized for applications to a subsequent semester.
• Retake exams will not be held until the following year. Exams may be retaken only once.
• For Bachelor’s programs with limited enrollment, you must also submit an application by July 15 via the University of Siegen’s online portal. You will only have a chance of being admitted to the program if both applications are submitted by the deadline. The quickest way to find out whether a program has restricted or unrestricted admission, as well as further information on subject-specific requirements and course content, is through our program finder. 

One of the following certificates of advanced vocational training must be provided:

• Master Craftsman’s Certificate
• Completion of an advanced vocational training program in accordance with the Vocational Training Act or the Crafts and Trades Code
• Graduate of a technical college
• Completion of a comparable advanced training program regulated by state law for professions in the healthcare sector as well as in the fields of social care and social pedagogy (e.g., training to become a state-certified early childhood educator)
• Completion of another comparable advanced vocational training program regulated by federal or state law

The qualifications listed above qualify holders to enroll in any degree program.

As an applicant with a relevant background* (where the vocational training, professional experience, and degree program are aligned), you must provide the following documentation:

a) Completion of a vocational training program of at least two years’ duration, regulated under federal or state law, that is professionally equivalent to the degree program

and

b) Proof of at least three years of full-time professional experience in the occupation for which you were trained or in a related field. Periods of part-time employment (at least half-time) are generally eligible for consideration on a pro-rata basis. Additional vocational training in a related field is recognized as professional experience. 

Upon submission of the documents listed above, a degree program in a related field may be pursued. The university determines which profession is relevant to which degree program.

Even for professionally qualified applicants, an application is required only for degree programs with limited enrollment. All applicants for degree programs with limited enrollment must submit an application. If your degree program has no enrollment restrictions, you can enroll directly here. 

The quickest way to find out whether a program has limited enrollment or is open enrollment—as well as to get more information on subject-specific requirements and course content—is through our program finder. 

The following documentation must be provided:

a) Completion of a vocational training program of at least two years’ duration, as regulated by federal and state law

and

b) Proof of at least three years of full-time professional experience, including experience outside the field of the training program.

Independently managing a household with at least one person requiring care or supervision is considered equivalent to the professional activity required under b). Periods of part-time employment accounting for at least half of full-time hours are generally eligible for consideration on a pro-rata basis.

The following are also counted as professional activity:

• voluntary military service
• the Federal Volunteer Service
• the voluntary social year
• the voluntary ecological year
• work as a development aid worker
• Completion of additional vocational training

A regular degree program may be pursued if either a trial enrollment (in degree programs without admission restrictions) or an entrance exam (in degree programs with admission restrictions) has been successfully completed.

For applicants with other professional qualifications, a trial period is required for all bachelor’s degree programs without admission restrictions. It lasts 2 semesters and is considered successful if at least 40 credit points are earned within the first 2 academic semesters. Only coursework completed during the trial period will be considered for successful completion of the trial period. Coursework that has been transferred—for example, from a previous degree program—will not be considered.

For applicants with other professional qualifications, an entrance exam is required only for all Bachelor’s degree programs at the University of Siegen that have limited enrollment. The application, along with the relevant supporting documents, must be emailed to Mr. Fiedler by April 1. No entrance exam is required for programs with open admission.

Applicants with other professional qualifications must take the entrance exam for these programs in order to have a chance of securing a spot. The entrance exam determines whether applicants meet the subject-specific and methodological requirements for the specific program they have chosen. The exam covers general and subject-specific knowledge. The exam generally consists of a written and an oral portion.

Using the average grade from the passed entrance exam, you must then submit an application via the University of Siegen’s unisono online portal by January 15 of each year for the summer semester and by July 15 of each year for the winter semester; in some cases, you must also register via hochschulstart.de to be eligible to participate in the selection process. Please check the specific requirements for each degree program on the respective program information pages. The quickest way to find these is through our program finder. In the admissions process, applicants who have successfully passed the entrance exam compete with applicants who have a high school diploma for spots in degree programs and subjects with limited enrollment.

Even for professionally qualified applicants, an application is required only for degree programs with limited enrollment. All applicants for degree programs with limited enrollment must submit an application. If your degree program has no enrollment restrictions, you can enroll directly here. 

The quickest way to find out whether a program has limited admission or is open enrollment—as well as further information on subject-specific requirements and course content—is through our program finder. 

Please usethe Application for University Admission for Those with Vocational Qualifications(please fill out on a computer) exclusively for applications to the entrance exam and send it along with the other required documents to:

Sascha Fiedler 
Phone: 0271 740-4814
Email: sascha.fiedler@zv.uni-siegen.de