To apply for an undergraduate degree programme, you must possess a formal university entrance qualification to German universities (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung) and prove very good German language skills.

a. University Entrance Qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung)

A Hochschulzugangsberechtigung makes you eligible to apply to a German university. You can find out whether your secondary school leaving certificate is equivalent to a Hochschulzugangsberechtigung in Germany here: https://www.uni-assist.de/en/tools/check-university-admission/ 

b. German-language proficiency

The teaching language of all Bachelor's programs at the University of Cologne is German. The same applies to the state examination courses and the course of studies with 1. Prüfung (law).

Therefore, to study at the University of Cologne, you must prove very good German language skills, at least at the level DSH-2 (or equivalent). 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 C1 certificate
• ÖSD C2
• Passed “German section” of the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP)

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

According to the current DSH regulations, certain international school-leaving certificates, e.g. from German-speaking regions, are recognised as exceptions or as equivalent. If you have any questions, please contact us via our contact form.

If you have not yet reached this level, but already have a completed level B2, we offer you a preparatory German course.

c. Special application requirements

Special application requirements apply to certain fields of study. Please consult the relevant websites for more information:

Bachelor's degree programmes at the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences (WISO)

Bachelor (dual) Klinische Pflege (German only)

Bachelor (dual) Angewandte Hebammenwissenschaft (German only)

You can find our entire range of degree programmes on the University of Cologne's study orientation portal.

The higher education compass offered by German Rectors' Conference (Hochschulkompass der Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (HRK)) provides you with information about all degree courses offered by German universities. 

There are two different application procedures for EU-citizens and Non-EU-citizens:

• EU/EEA-citizens, German citizens with foreign university entrance qualification and Non-EU/EEA citizens who are on equal admission terms as German or EU-citizens
• Non-EU-citizens with a direct or subject-specific university entrance qualification (Studienstart International integrale)
• Non-EU-citizens with a non direct university entrance qualification (Studienstart International plus)

The deadlines for your application are the following:

• Winter semester: 15 July (date of receipt)
• Summer semester: 15 January (date of receipt)