Application for Study Program

Foreign applicants who wish to register at the University of Siegen need to be eligible for admission, just like German applicants. They must hold a secondary school certificate, university entrance exam from their home country, or must have completed sufficient years of study in their home country.

The application procedure depends on your nationality and the kind of study program you choose. Due to the high demand for certain programs, the admission requirements may vary and some programs may have restricted admission. To be eligible for a master's degree program, candidates must comply with the formal admission requirements, as well as demonstrate specific knowledge.

During the admission process, you will learn whether admission restrictions apply and whether specific knowledge is required by the University of Siegen for the program of your choice (see study programs). We strongly advise you not to start a degree program unless you are sure that you have sufficient funds for the entire duration of the program. Please ascertain as early in the admission process as possible, that you will be able to finance your studies in Germany. To cover all your costs (including housing, health insurance and day-to-day expenses, such as food), you will need at least EUR 934.00 per month. Please see: Declaration of financial status.
Here you can find an overview of the monthly estimated costs of living.

Important advice for international students: If you change your study program without getting a permission of the Immigration Office first, you risk to losing your residence permit!

International or english speaking study programs
The Univeristy of Siegen offers a lot of international study programs, including bachelor and master programs as well as postgraduate programs. Here you will find an overview of our offers. 

General study programs
Here you can find all study programs that the Univeristy of Siegen offers.

Foreign students who acquired their university entrance qualification in Germany (educational residents)
Foreign applicants who have passed Abitur or a comparable university entrance qualification in Germany or at a German school abroad are called ”educational residents“. Educational residents must comply with the same admission requirements and deadlines as German applicants. For Bachelor's programs with admission restrictions, please apply for admission through the online Portal unisono. For programs with unrestricted admission, you may register via the online-portal unisono . For information about programs, which require a technical college certificate (Fachhochschulreife), click here. For all information about application and registration, please contact the Studierendensekretariat.

Foreign students who acquired their university entrance qualification abroad (educational foreigners):
Applicants who are EU nationals or nationals of the European Economic Area (EWR nationals) are regarded as equivalent to German applicants for the purposes of admission.

In programs in German, proficiency in German is mandatory: DSH exams level 2 or 3 (German language exam for foreign students wishing to enter a university) or an equivalent diploma is required. For linguistics or media programs, DSH exam level 3 or equivalent is recommended.

The following German Language certificates are accepted as equivalent to DSH exam level 2:
• das Abitur an einer deutschen Auslandsschule
• das Goethe-Zertifikat C2: Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom oder eine der bisherigen Prüfungen: Kleines Deutsches Sprachdiplom (KDS), Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom (GDS) oder Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung (ZOP) des Goethe-Instituts
• das Sprachdiplom (Stufe II) der Kultusministerkonferenz (KMK)
• die Feststellungsprüfung eines Studienkollegs
• der TestDaF: TDN 4 in all parts of the exam
• telc C1 Hochschule
Applicants who do not meet the German proficiency yet, the University of Siegen offers preparatory German Courses (DSH-preparation). Information on preparatory German courses is available here.

Bachelor Programs:
Applicants who are EU nationals or nationals of the European Economic Area (EEA) are regarded as equivalent to German applicants for the purposes of admission.
(A) For programs with admission restrictions, please apply through the online portal unisono.
(B) For programs with unrestricted admission, please apply for admission in writing to the Department STARTING (Student Admission, Registration and Training in German Language), within the general application deadline.

In any case, you have to send your University Entrance Qualification (e.g. high school diploma) as a officially verified copy in German or English via regular post to STARTING within the general application deadline.

Non EU nationals may only apply in writing to STARTING .

Recognition on bachelor's programs:
Information regarding the recognition of school leaving certificates, qualifications, or graduations can be found on the website of the Information System Regarding the Recognition of Foreign Diplomas or in the admissions database of German Academic Exchange Service.

If the STARTING verification process evaluates your previous education as equivalent to the German University Entrance Qualilfication, you have the opportunity for direct university entrance to Bachelor´s programs. This means that you do not have to attend any preparatory courses at a Studienkolleg.

If your certificates do not qualify for direct admission to the university, you may be required to attend preparatory courses in Germany (Studienkolleg). There is no Studienkolleg at the University of Siegen. For further information on Studienkollegs please click here. 

Prospective students with school leaving qualifications entitling them to study in their home country but not in Germany, can achieve an admission to study in Germany by passing the test for foreign students (TestAS by g.a.s.t.e.V.). The result must be at least a standard grade of 100 or better in both parts of the test. The University of Siegen does not offer the TestAS and this test cannot replace the certificate of German language proficiency (DSH2, TestDaF 4-4-4-4, or equivalence).

The secondary school International Baccalaureate (IB, degree with German language) and Mixed Language International Baccalaureate (GIB) are special forms of school-leaving qualifications. School graduates with a Gemischtsprachiges International Baccalaureate (GIB) do not have to take another German language exam or a Studienkolleg in order to apply to study at the University of Siegen. Prospective students with IB and GIB apply at the STARTING department within the application deadlines.

The Studienbrücke offers a special program to prepare students for their prospective studies in Germany. In this program, it is possible to pass the TestAS as well as the TestDaF.

Master programs:
Please note that there are different application procedures and deadlines for master's degree programs. For the international master's degree programs, please take note of the application deadlines for international master's degree programs.

Recognition for master´s programs:
If the verification process evaluates your previous education as equivalent to the German Bachelor´s Degree, you are qualified for university entrance to Master´s programs (academic requirements will be evaluated in addition in the faculty).

Application for Master programs in English: 
Please note that there are different application procedures and deadlines for master's degree programs. For the international programs you apply via unisono. For the international master degree programs, please take note of the application deadlines for international master degree programs.

Recognition:
If the verification process evaluates your previous education as equivalent to the German bachelor degree, you are qualified for university entrance to master programs (academic and English skills requirements will be evaluated in addition in the faculty).

Checklist and procedure:

1. You decide on a course of study. You can find the entire study programs of the University of Siegen here. International degree programs here. 

2.a. Complete your application online via the online portal unisono (English taught master programs)
2.b. Complete your application form depening on your nationality and the program you choose.office of STARTING (Student Admission, Registration and Training in German) of the University of Siegen. (German taught programs and preparatory German language course)

!Please note that there are different application deadlines!
For international master programs (english) the following application deadlines apply: Application deadlines
For german master programs different application deadlines and additional formalities may apply: Application deadlines
For german bachelor programs please use the following application deadlines as a guide: Application deadlines

3. The STARTING department checks whether you meet all requirements for the program you chose. STARTING also identifies whether you hold a university entrance qualification, whether you will need to demonstrate that you have passed the DSH exam, or whether you have to pass an additional assessment test and sends you a letter of admission or rejection letter. STARTING does not provide any information about the status of your application prior to sending this notification. The letter of admission or rejection is only sent at the end of the admission process for the corresponding semester. We ask you to refrain from queries during the application process.

4. Enrollment: With the letter of admission, you can enroll in the degree course or the German language course via the online portal unisono. Please note the registration deadline stated in the letter of admission!

• Please review the application details on the program website and special application processes and deadlines
• In case of applications via the online-portal unisono, all application details are explained in the online-portal.
• In case of applications outside of the online-portal for German taught bachelor or master programs, please send the following documents by regular post within general application deadline to Department STARTING:

Universität Siegen
STARTING-Admission
Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 2
57076 Siegen
Germany

» Application form: You can find the application form here. Please fill it out online and sign it. For master’s applications, also the application form for the respective faculty or departments. 

» University entrance qualification, university diploma, academic transcript of records (and university entrance examination: If they are necessary in your home country). The documents must be certified copies translated in English or German (prepared by a sworn translator) and sealed with attached original copies.

» Copy of German language certificate: Required in degree courses offered in German. The documents must be translated in English or German (prepared by a sworn translator).

» study grades overview/transcript of records of previous studies 

» Copy of Certificate of nationality (passport or visa) 

» CV

» If necessary certificate of the results of the TestAS

If you are changing universities: a clearance certificate from your former university.

Please notice additional requirements on the website for bachelor and master Degree.

Preparatory German Language Courses (DSH-Preparation): If you did not reach the level of German language skills required for your desired study program at the time of your application or registration you cannot be admitted to a bachelor's or master's program in German. You can, however, acquire the necessary knowledge in the preparatory German courses of the Department STARTING  at the University of Siegen. If you would like to participate in a German course at the University of Siegen, you have to indicate this in your application form. You will then be registered for the selection process.

Please note the application deadlines: 15 May for the winter semester and 15 November for the summer semester. After admission and registration at the University of Siegen, you will obtain student status. Courses include 20 lessons per week. The basic level is generally passed after one semester with the examination at level B1. You can then attend the DSH-preparatory course, which is completed with the DSH exam. You have the possibility to re-take the exam twice. Your German language level (basic or advanced) is decided at the beginning of each course. In addition to the semester fee, a fee of EUR 500.00 per semester is required. Refugees will receive guest auditor status and will be exempt from the fees.
To apply via unisono chose "Other degree" -> "German course (DSH Preparation)". Follow this link to the application