Have access to studies examined on the basis of professional qualifications (without school entrance qualification)

Studying with professional qualifications (without school higher education entrance qualification): If certain requirements are met, you can gain access to certain courses of study without a school higher education entrance qualification.

If you want to study and do not have a school entrance qualification, you can gain access to study at a university in the state on the basis of your professional qualification and if certain requirements are met. In Hesse, there are three different access options: via a completed master craftsman's examination or comparable promotion qualification, a successfully passed university entrance examination or a combination of Mittlere Reife and at least three years of vocational training with at least 2.5 overall grades. You can get advice from your desired university as to which path is right for you. This depends on your desired course of study, your school leaving certificate and your professional qualifications.

Registrar's Office / Study Service of the respective Hessian university

As a rule, the following documents must be submitted for the examination of the prerequisites:

• current CV
• Certificate of the highest school leaving certificate (copy)
• Vocational training certificate (copy)
• Certificates of further professional qualifications and/or further education qualifications (copy)

If the examination of the requirements shows that a university entrance examination must be passed, you will be asked to submit further documents:

• last school report (officially certified copy)
• Certificates of vocational training (officially certified copy)
• Complete proof of the type, duration and place of professional activity
• Proof of further training including time

Letter of motivation In the case of access to higher education via option 3 (secondary school leaving certificate + at least three years of vocational training with a grade of 2.5 or better), a study agreement must be signed with the university upon enrolment. Please note the corresponding requirements of the respective university.

Forms/online services available: Yes

Written form required: No

Informal application possible: No

Personal appearance required: No

• Option 1: You have successfully completed a master craftsman's examination or a comparable promotion qualification, for example as a technician, IHK landlady or business administrator. Which promotion qualification is recognised is checked on a case-by-case basis by the respective university.
• Option 2: You successfully pass the university entrance examination at a Hessian university. In the university entrance examination, you will usually be examined in the areas of specialisation required for the desired course of study. The prerequisite for applying for or participating in the examination is at least two years of vocational training in a recognised training occupation and then at least two years of professional experience in a full-time occupation. If your training is not related to your desired course of study, you must also provide evidence of relevant and qualified further training in a related field amounting to at least 400 hours.
• Option 3: You will receive direct access to higher education if you can prove that you have a secondary school leaving certificate and a recognised vocational training course of at least three years, which was completed with an average grade of at least 2.5. As part of this university entrance, a study agreement must be signed with the respective university.

You must clarify with the respective desired university whether you have a professional qualification:

• Find out more about the procedure and the possibilities of counselling on the website of the respective university
• Send the necessary documents to the appropriate university so that your requirements can be checked
• The possibility and type of access to higher education for professionally qualified persons is determined at the university

You will be informed by the administrative department of the respective university about which type of university admission is suitable for you and how the further procedure works

Enquiries about university admission for professionally qualified persons and the examination of your prerequisites can be made at any time.

In the case of participation in the university entrance examination, the application for the university entrance examination must be submitted to the universities of applied sciences by 15.02. or 15.08. of each year.

Your request will be processed as soon as possible. In exceptional cases, for example if other authorities have to be involved, the processing can take up to four weeks.

There are no costs for the examination of the prerequisites by the universities.

In the case of admission to the university entrance examination, an examination fee of 200 euros will be charged. If you withdraw from the exam after admission, you will be refunded 150 euros (50 euros cancellation fees will be retained).