Application and Matriculation for International Students
EU and EEA (European Economic Area) nationals
Foreigners with German education
Non-EU and non-EEA nationals
Special regulations for exchange students
International student applicants must apply with the university for all subjects. The application procedure is determined by your nationality and the study programme you wish to apply for.
The general application deadline for all application procedures at Heidelberg University is 1 June - 15 July for the winter semester; 1 December - 15 January for the summer semester.
EU and EEA Nationals and Foreigners with German Education
For international applicants who are citizens of an EU or EEA (European Economic Area) member country, the same rules and regulations as for German nationals apply. This is also the case with international applicants who have acquired a German university-entrance qualification (“Abitur”) in Germany or at a German school abroad (foreigners with German education – so-called “Bildungsinländer”). A formal application, however, is still mandatory for all subjects.
Admission requirements for the undergraduate study programmes at Heidelberg University are a higher-education entrance qualification as well as very good German-language knowledge. Additional qualifications may be required for individual study programmes. Detailed information on the special requirements in a given study programme can be found in the rules and regulations for admission (“Zulassungssatzungen”).
If your higher-education entrance qualification is not fully equivalent to the German “Abitur”, you will be required to pass an assessment test (“Prüfung zur Feststellung der Eignung ausländischer Studienbewerber für die Aufnahme eines Studiums an Hochschulen der Bundesrepublik Deutschland” – so-called “Feststellungsprüfung”) before you can begin your studies at Heidelberg University. The university’s “Studienkolleg” offers preparatory courses for this test.
General information on studying in Heidelberg can be found in the brochure „General information for international student applicants“. Detailed information on the application procedures at Heidelberg University can be found in the brochure „2012-10-31 Aktuelleinfoss2013” (available only in German).
The general application period applies to all the following application procedures at Heidelberg University (1 June - 15 July for the winter semester; 1 December - 15 January for the summer semester).
In the subjects Medizin (Medicine), Pharmazie (Pharmacology) and Zahnmedizin (Dentistry), 40% of the openings are allocated by the “Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung”. For these subjects, you must apply via hochschulstart.de. Additionally, you may take part in the university’s application process (so-called “Auswahlverfahren der Hochschulen (AdH)”), through which the remaining 60% of the openings are allocated.
Openings in subjects with an admissions restriction by the university are allocated directly by Heidelberg University. For these subjects, the use of the online application portal for restricted admissions subjects (“Online-Bewerbungsportal für Auswahlverfahren” is mandatory.
Openings in Psychologie (Bachelor, 100%) are allocated via the Dialogorientierte Serviceverfahren. In order to apply, you will need to register with hochschulstart.de as well as apply to Heidelberg University.
Openings in subjects with an assessment test (so-called “Aufnahmeprüfung” or “Eignungsfeststellungsverfahren”) are also allocated directly by the university. An online application is mandatory (“Online-Bewerbungsportal für Aufnahmeprüfungen”).
Applications for openings in free admissions subjects can be made via the online application portal for international student applicants.
The following websites contain further information on important aspects of the application and registration procedure for international student applicants:
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Application documents
Information on on-line application - Key dates and deadlines
- Recognition of study achievements completed abroad
- Legal requirements (immigration / visa)
- Financing
- Matriculation / Registration
International Applicants from Non-EU and Non-EEA Countries
International applicants who are neither EU nor EEA (European Economic Area) nationals holding a university-entrance qualification acquired in a country other than Germany (e. g. High School Diploma, Attestat, Maturità etc.) must apply with the university for all subjects.
Admission requirements for Heidelberg University’s undergraduate study programmes are a higher-education entrance qualification as well as very good German-language knowledge. Additional qualifications may be required for individual study programmes. Detailed information on the special requirements in a given study programme can be found in the rules and regulations of admission (“Zulassungssatzungen”).
If your higher-education entrance qualification is not fully equivalent to the German “Abitur”, you will be required to pass an assessment test (“Prüfung zur Feststellung der Eignung ausländischer Studienbewerber für die Aufnahme eines Studiums an Hochschulen der Bundesrepublik Deutschland” – so-called “Feststellungsprüfung”) before you can begin your studies at Heidelberg University. The university’s “Studienkolleg” offers preparatory courses for this test.
General information on studying in Heidelberg can be found in the brochure „General information for international student applicants“. Detailed information on the application procedures at Heidelberg University can be found in the brochure „Aktuelle Informationen für grundständige Studiengänge” (available only in German).
In principle, the general application period applies to all the following application procedures at Heidelberg University (mid-May - 15 July for the winter semester; mid-November - 15 January for the summer semester).
Openings in all subjects offered at Heidelberg University are allocated directly by the university. An online application is available.
In the subjects Medizin (Medicine), Pharmazie (Pharmacology) and Zahnmedizin (Dentistry), there is a two-step application procedure. Before you can hand in your application at Heidelberg University, you have to apply for a so-called “Vorprüfungsdokumentation” at Uni-Assist e.V. in Berlin. Additionally, you must apply with Heidelberg University using the online application portal (“Online-Portal für internationale Studieninteressierte”) The original of the “Vorprüfungsdokumentation” you received from Uni-Assist e.V. must be included in your application dossier to Heidelberg University. For more details on this procedure, please consult this information leaflet.
In case of IT problems, international student applicants without citizenship of an EU or an EEA member state may apply via the form Application for Admission, instead of via the online application portal.
The following websites contain further information on important aspects of the application and registration procedure for international student applicants:
- Application documents
- Information on the online applications
- Key dates and deadlines
- Recognition of study achievements completed abroad
- Legal requirements (immigration / visa)
- Financing
- Matriculation / Registration
Special Regulations for Exchange Students
Please take note of the additional information for exchange students:
