University Entrance Qualification (HZB)

What is a university entrance qualification (HZB)?

In order to study at OTH Regensburg, you need a university entrance qualification (HZB). This means that your school or university degree must show that you are allowed to study in Germany. In most cases, your certificates must be officially checked for this - this is called recognition of certifikates.

The easiest, quickest and cheapest way to get your certificate recognized is to apply for a preliminary examination documentation (VPD) from uni-assist. Whether you need a VPD depends on several factors. What are they? We explain them on this page.

When is a VPD required?

At the OTH Regensburg you need a preliminary review documentation (Vorprüfungsdokumentation = VPD) from uni-assist for

  • all Bachelor degree programmes
  • the Master degree programme in Computer Science (MIN)
  • the English-language Master degree programmes
    • Electrical and Microsystems Engineering (MEM)
    • International Management (MEB)
    • Mathematics for Business and Industry (MBI)

No VPD is required for all other Master degree programmes. But please note: Each Master degree programme has its own specific admission requirements. Detailed information on the admission requirements can be found on the respective programme page in the application info.

Applicants with certificates from the People's Republic of China and Vietnam must upload a certificate from the Academic Evaluation Center (APS) of the respective German embassy to the OTH Regensburg application portal by the deadline. The APS certificate must contain the overall average grade and the subject connection. If the APS certificate does not contain a grade, a VPD must be submitted.

Applicants from India need an APS certificate to apply for the VPD. If academic achievements are to be recognized in the VPD, these must also be verified in the APS certificate.

  • Studienkolleg / FSP:
    If you have already attended a Studienkolleg and passed the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP), you do not need a VPD from uni-assist.
  • International Baccalaureate (IB): 
    If you have an International Baccalaureate (IB) or an AbiBac, you also do not need a VPD. You can upload the IB diploma as a university entrance qualification* (HZB). If you have taken the final examinations but have not yet received the final certificate, you can also apply with a provisional certificate and ask your school to activate your degree in the IB portal for OTH Regensburg for verification. If you have any questions about the IB Diploma, please contact department-of-studies@oth-regensburg.de.
  • German school abroad: 
    If you have attended a German school abroad, you do not need a VPD.
  • Non-German school-leaving qualifications:
    For all other non-German school-leaving qualifications, you will need a VPD.


* The International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB Diploma) is recognized as a university entrance qualification if the conditions of the "Resolution of the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of 10.03.1986", as amended, are met. Depending on when the examination was taken and which subjects were chosen, either direct general university admission or subject-specific university admission can be determined if the criteria stipulated by the directive are met. More details on the applicable guidelines for the IB Diplomacan be found on the DAAD website. If you have any questions, please contact department-of-studies@oth-regensburg.de.

What do you have to do if you need a VPD?

Now you know whether you need a preliminary review documentation (VPD) from uni-assist. If so, please read the following information.

Our information sheet on how to request the VPD summarizes the most important information in just a few steps.

Processing at uni-assist usually takes 4 to 6 weeks, sometimes longer. Tip: Start in good time! The application is independent of application deadlines and can be made at any time. The current processing times can be found on the uni-assist website.

The VPD states whether you have direct access to a university or a preparatory college .

Before applying for the VPD, you should carry out auniversity admission check at uni-assistto obtain information on the classification of your certificates in advance.

 

Direct university admission

If your VPD confirms that you can study directly at a university , the VPD is your university entrance qualification (HZB). You can use it to apply for a place at OTH Regensburg. The VPD also contains your average grade, which is important when applying for degree programmes with restricted admission (with NC). When applying, please be sure to observe the deadlines (see "Application information" / "Deadlines" on each degree programme page)! For some degree programmes there is a "deadline for submitting certificates". This applies to the VPD. Submitting the uni-assist application instead of the VPD is not sufficient.

 

Direct access to the Studienkolleg / Indirect university admission

If uni-assist issues a VPD for the Studienkolleg, you cannot yet use it to apply to OTH Regensburg. In this case, you must complete a preparatory year at a preparatory college (see "Studienkolleg" button).

You may already have a VPD for another German university. It must be checked on a case-by-case basis whether it can be accepted for an application at OTH Regensburg. The decisive factor is what is stated in your VPD under ‘Evaluation’:

  • It must include a direct university entrance qualification.
  • If there is a limitation to certain academic disciplines, the desired degree programme must match.
  • There mustn't be a regional restriction that excludes an application in Bavaria.

In this case please apply early and upload the VPD. As soon as your application documents have been checked, you will see by the status notice in the portal whether your VPD has been accepted. Please understand that we cannot provide any binding information in advance.

If your VPD states that you are not directly qualified to study at a university but for a Studienkolleg, you must first take the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP) at a Studienkolleg. The Studienkolleg prepares applicants for the FSP over the course of two semesters (1 year). An entrance examination in German and mathematics takes place at the beginning of February and the end of July. Please note that the language of instruction at all Studienkollegs is German!

You must register yourself at a Studienkolleg with your VPD. In Bavaria theStudienkolleg Coburgis responsible for the universities of applied sciences.

On the Internet you will findgeneral information on preparatory collegesand alist of all preparatory colleges in Germany.

With your Feststellungsprüfung (FSP) certificate, you can apply for a place at OTH Regensburg after completing the Studienkolleg. To do this, you must submit your FSP certificate together with your translated foreign school-leaving certificate as a university entrance qualification (HZB). If you have a VPD for the Studienkolleg or another recognition of your foreign school-leaving certificate, please also submit this for the grade calculation.

The FSP certificate is also proof of the necessary German language skills. No further German certificate is required.

Glossary

  • The Academic Evaluation Centers (APS) are an institution of the German embassies in cooperation with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). They exist in China, Vietnam and India. The APS check whether submitted certificates are genuine. A certificate from the relevant APS is required if you wish to apply with certificates from China, Vietnam or India.


  • The German grading system ranges from 1.0 (best grade) to 4.0 (lowest sufficient grade).

    • 1.0 - 1.2 Passed with distinction
    • 1.3 - 1.5 Very good pass
    • 1.6 - 2.5 Good pass
    • 2.6 - 3.5 Satisfactory passed
    • 3.6 - 4.0 Passed

    Grades from other systems are converted using the modified Bavarian formula . There are several online calculators available on the Internet that you can use to easily convert your grade and check in advance whether you meet our admission requirements.


  • The Feststellungsprüfung (FSP) is the final examination of a Studienkolleg. What does it determine? The suitability of international applicants to study in Germany.

    With the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP) certificate, you can apply for a place at OTH Regensburg. The FSP certificate is also proof of the necessary German language skills.


  • The International Baccalaureate (IB) is an internationally recognized Swiss school-leaving qualification that can be obtained at schools worldwide.

    The International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB Diploma) is recognized in Germany as a university entrance qualification if the conditions of the "Resolution of the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of 10.03.1986", as amended, are met. Depending on when the examination was taken and which subjects were chosen, either direct general access to higher education or subject-specific access to higher education can be determined if the criteria stipulated by the directive are met.


  • The preliminary review documentation (Vorpüfungsdokumentation = VPD) is a certificate of certificate recognition from uni-assist with which you can apply directly to the university.

    The VPD contains the following information:

    • which certificates were submitted
    • how uni-assist evaluates these certificates
    • how uni-assist classifies the grade in the German grading system