In general: Your bachelor's degree (either from EU/EAA or not EU/EAA countries) must be recognized in Germany. This is the case when you have earned your degree from an officially recognized foreign university.

Detailed information about official recognition and rating of your university in Germany can be found on the website anabin at:
http://anabin.kmk.org/anabin.html

You can also use the University Admission Check of uni assist e.V.:
https://www.uni-assist.de/en/tools/check-university-admission/

If you already know which master's programme you would like to study at the University of Cologne and you want to find out whether your bachelor's degree meets the requirements for your desired master's programme:

Please contact the appropriate Master's Admissions Committee.

For each Master's degree programme there is a so-called Master's Admissions Committee, which is responsible for the selection procedure and checks in individual cases whether your foreign Bachelor's degree is sufficient for the Master's degree programme you are aiming for. You can reach the relevant Master's admissions committee directly via the desired degree programme:

 Masters' programmes taught in German (Find them in the general overview)

 Masters' programmes taught in English

 Master's programmes taught optionally (English Track) or partially in Englishh

 Master's programmes with an international scope

For every master's programme taught in German you must demonstrate excellent 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 C2 certificate 
• ÖSD C2
• Feststellungsprüfung (FSP) with subject Deutsch

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

Exceptions or recognized as equivalent are certain international school-leaving certificates, e.g. from German-speaking regions. If you have any questions about examinations or qualifications that require exemption, please contact us via our contact form.

If you wish to study a master's programme in English, there are no formal German-language requirements. 

All applicants for a master’s degree who have obtained their university degree (e.g. a bachelor’s degree) in a country other than Germany. This applies to master’s programs at the following faculties: Faculty of Philosophy, Faculty of Human Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Medicine, Center for Teacher Education (ZfL)

All applicants for master’s programs at the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences who have obtained their university degree (e.g. a bachelor’s degree) in a country other than Germany.

The application continues to take place in the standard procedure. For that, you only apply via uni-assist and not in the UoC application portal, your application data will be automatically forwarded to the UoC.

Here you apply via uni-assist for the desired master’s degree in the uni-assist application portal.

Please note our two-stage application process!

1. Request the preliminary review documentation (VPD) from uni-assist

2. Application via the UoK Klips 2.0 application portal

You can only apply to the UoC after receiving the VPD. The VPD and all other documents are submitted with your application to the UoC via the Klips 2.0 application portal, which will open in June 2021. Please find out more about this on the website of the respective master’s course.

You request the VPD via the uni-assist online portal. You only have to submit the required documents online to uni-assist for the winter semester 2021/22.

During the online application at uni-assist as Hochschule Uni zu Köln - VPD, please select the option "All subjects".

Attention: The application via the online portal at uni-assist is not yet an application to the UoC. The application takes place via the application portal of the UoC Klips 2.0.

You can have your documents checked by uni-assist all year round, the VPD is not tied to an application semester. Please note that the application deadlines at the UoC must still be adhered to.

The application deadline at the UZK for Master's degree programmes for the winter semester 2021/22 is 31.07.2021

Please make sure to apply for a VPD at uni-assist well in advance of the application deadline at the UcC. The processing time is 3 - 4 weeks.

If you request the VPD shortly before the application deadline, it will be created. However, a timely application to the UoC is then only possible for the next possible semester.

In the application procedure for the winter semester 2021/22, all documents can also be uploaded to uni-assist without certification due to corona requirements. After enrolment, we reserve the right to request random certifications.

You need:

• School leaving certificate/proof of having passed a university entrance exam
• an officially certified copy of your degree certificate (if already available)
• an officially certified copy of the overview of subjects and grades (transcript of records)
• University grading system
• an officially certified translation if the original documents were not issued in German or English Language
• Applicants from China and Vietnam are required to also submit a current APS certificate.

These documents are to be submitted online to uni-assist.

All other documents are submitted with your application to the UoC via the application portal Klips 2.0. Please find out more about this on the website of the respective master’s program.

Your preliminary review examination documentation will be accepted indefinitely at the UoC as long as there have been no changes to your master’s access authorization.

If you have received a place in the selection procedure, you will have received the admission in your KLIPS account and can download the admission letter. You enrol as follows:

Enrolment takes place at the International Office of the University of Cologne.

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

1. Pay the semester fee in full.
2. Upload a photograph to KLIPS 2.0 for your electronic student ID (UCCard).
3. 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.

After successful enrolment we will send you your student card (UCCard) by mail. Please make sure to enter a valid German postal address in KLIPS 2.0.

Mailing address:
University of Cologne
International Office, Team Admission
Albertus-Magnus-Platz
50923 Cologne