Admission and enrolment of applicants
from NON-EU countries
Consultation hours cancelled on 22 November 2024
Due to a scheduled event, the Admissions and Enrolment Offices and the Front Offices on both campuses will remain closed on Friday, 22 November 2024, and the in-person and phone consultation hours will not be available.
1. Application
Application for bachelor’s courses
Applications for bachelor's courses (including Medicine) are to be submitted via the uni-assist application portal.
NEW!
Application periods:
Winter semester
For courses with admission restrictions: 1 May–15 June
For courses without admission restrictions: 1 May–31 July
Summer semester
For courses with admission restrictions: 1 November–15 December
For courses without admission restrictions: 1 November–31 January
Applications for master’s courses
Applications for masters' courses are to be submitted via UDE's application portal.
Exception: Applications for Psychology courses are to be submitted via the uni-assist application portal.
NEW!
Application periods:
For courses with admission restrictions: 1 May – 15 July
For courses without admission restrictions: 1 May – 31 July
Summer semester
For courses with admission restrictions: 1 November – 15 January
For courses without admission restrictions: 1 November – 31 January
Admission requirements
University entrance qualification (HZB)
University entrance qualification is necessary for studying in Germany. This means that you need to have an educational background that qualifies you to take up studies at a German university. This can be a secondary school leaving certificate, which in some cases has to be complemented by a university entrance examination; for some courses, certain prior academic credits are required, in some cases even a completed degree.
The University of Duisburg-Essen is responsible for assessing your university entrance qualification and any other admission requirements. If the certificates of your prior education are deemed equivalent to a German Abitur, you qualify directly for university entrance. If your certificates are not sufficient to enter university directly, you may have to attend a Studienkolleg preparatory course first. Unfortunately, the University of Duisburg-Essen does not have a Studienkolleg of its own. You can find information on locations and admission requirements on the ‘Studienkollegs in Germany’ website.
Language proficiency
The medium of instruction at the University of Duisburg-Essen is German (except in the courses that are taught in English). Therefore, you must have good German language skills in order to study successfully. Most applicants from foreign countries must provide proof of German language proficiency at DSH 2 level before beginning a course of study (apart from a few course-specific exceptions). Please provide one of the following documents as proof of your German proficiency:
- Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH, German language examination for university admission) with an overall grade of DSH-2 or higher (completed at a German university)
- Deutsches Sprachdiplom (German Language Diploma) (Stage II) from the German Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (DSD II)
- telc C1 Hochschule certificate with an overall grade of ausreichend (sufficient) or higher
- TestDaF at the TDN-4 level or higher in ALL its parts
- certificate from the Goethe-Institut of having passed the Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung (ZOP, Central Advanced Level Examination)
- Kleines Deutsches Sprachdiplom (KDS, Minor German Language Certificate) and/or Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom (GDS, Major German Language Diploma)
- successful completion of the Feststellungsprüfung assessment test at the Studienkolleg
- degree in German studies completed in the EU or a CIS country (the DSH Board may include additional countries)
Note: Please be aware that you CANNOT apply for preparatory German language courses if you would like to enrol for a course with admission restrictions (NC/Orts-NC). More information about the DSH examination is available on the DSH Board’s webpages.
Please note that a DSH-3 requirement currently applies for the following programmes:
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Medicine (state examination) |
DSH3 |
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Business Administration in Duisburg (M.Sc.) |
DSH3 |
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German as a Second or Foreign Language (dual-subject M.A.) |
DSH3 |
Are additional language skills required?
Many courses require proof of proficiency in additional languages. For information about the language requirements in each study course, please see the descriptions in the Study Courses section of the Student Advisory and Career Service Centre (ABZ) webpages.
Note: You cannot apply for the ISE courses at the University of Duisburg-Essen unless you have English language skills. You are expected to have English proficiency corresponding to CEFR level
- B1 (for bachelor’s programmes)
- B2 (for master’s programmes)
which you acquired in your home country. Please provide proof in the form of a certificate (TOEFL, IELTS, Medium of Instruction).
Can I apply if I do not have the required proficiency level in German?
If you do not have a certificate proving the required German language proficiency for direct admission for a course without admission restrictions (F), you will initially be admitted to attend a German language course.
You can apply via our application portals during the application periods. Once your eligibility for university admission – and, in the case of master’s courses, your subject-specific aptitude – has been established, you will receive a letter of admission for a language course.
Note: Please be aware that you CANNOT apply for preparatory German language courses if you would like to enrol for a course with admission restrictions (NC/Orts-NC).
While you are learning German, you can enrol at the University of Duisburg-Essen as a German language course student. Then you will receive your semester materials such as your student ID card, semester ticket and access to University facilities (canteens, library, IT services, University sport services, etc.).
The University of Duisburg-Essen does not offer its own preparatory German courses. You will find a list of course providers located near campus here.
Attending languages courses is not part of any degree programmes. While attending German language courses, you will focus solely on language proficiency and the German language examination. It is not possible to attend lectures or take examinations in your later course of study.
2. After your Admission
Visa
Once you have your notice of admission (Zulassungsbescheid), you can apply at the German embassy in your country for a visa for study purposes or for purposes of taking a German language course. In many cases, the embassy/consulate requires a reservation confirmation from a course provider in Germany when you apply for a visa for a German language course.
Important: Do not enter Germany on a tourist visa. A tourist visa expires after three months and cannot be extended or changed to a student visa.
Visa requirements:
Costs
The University of Duisburg-Essen does not charge tuition fees. However, all students must pay the student services and student body fees each semester. Information about living expenses in Germany can be found on the DAAD webpages.
External scolarships
Some scholarships can only be applied for in your home country! If you are already studying in Germany, it is usually no longer possible to apply for such scholarships. Please apply for funding while you are still in your home country.
- DAAD scholarship database for studying in Germany
- Overview: Funding opportunities
- FAQs on scholarships
- Index of German foundations
- Scholarships of the Fulbright Commission (for US citizens only)
- Support for international students under the BAföG grant programme
Scolarships from the University Duisburg-Essen
- Individual scholarships awarded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia to highly talented students from emerging and developing countries (see News)
- Graduation grants from the International Office (applications accepted each year in spring only, see News)
- Duisburg-Essener Universitäts-Stiftung (DEUS) foundation
- UDE scholarships
In individual cases of social hardship, Catholic Student Community (Katholische Studentengemeinde, KOM) and the social advisory service (Sozialberatung) of the Studierendenwerk may be able to provide assistance:
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Catholic Student Community |
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| Social advisory service of the Studentenwerk | ||
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Social advisory service of the |
AStA Duisburg |
You are also welcome to come to the International Office during office hours for an initial consultation. You can make an appointment here. The enrolment key (Einschreibeschlüssel) is SoSe2021.
Prizes for final thesis
Duisburg-Essener Universitäts-Stiftung (see menu item Ausschreibungen (calls for applications))
Working during your studies
If you want to get a job while studying, some regulations apply. Please find further information here. DAAD website.
Here you will find the information flyer “Job regulations for international students in Germany” from the Deutsches Studierendenwerk.
Health Insurance
All students in Germany must have health insurance. You cannot enrol as a student without proof of valid health insurance. Germany has both statutory and private health insurance schemes. Do you want to continue being insured privately during your studies? Are you covered by your family insurance? Are you over 30 years of age?
Degree studies - Statutory health insurance
In order to enrol in your selected course of study, you must request a digital notification of your insurance status (‘M10 notification’) from your statutory health insurance provider. Enrolment is only possible when the University has received a notification regarding your insurance status from a statutory health insurance provider!
For this notification to be sent digitally, the health insurance provider needs to be given the University of Duisburg-Essen’s reference number (Absender-Nr.), which is H0000277.
Do you want to continue being insured privately during your studies? Are you covered by your family insurance? Are you over 30 years of age?
In all of these cases, an M10 notification that shows you are not subject to mandatory insurance from a statutory health insurance provider is necessary. Please contact a statutory health insurance provider of your choice and get information about the legal consequences of an exemption from the statutory health insurance obligation. The health insurance provider will then send the digital notification to the University.
There is no obligation to be insured by a statutory health insurance provider for:
- those wishing to enrol in a German course
- doctoral candidates who wish to enrol to pursue their doctoral studies only
If you fall into one of these categories, proof of private health insurance is sufficient for enrolment and you do not need to prove your insurance status via a statutory health insurance provider.
Language course: Private health insurance
Students enrolled in a German language course are not subject to compulsory health insurance within the meaning of the German Social Code (Sozialgesetzbuch), which means that they are not eligible for statutory health insurance. Therefore, they must have private health insurance.
Accommodation
Student residence halls
The University of Duisburg-Essen itself does not offer rooms in student residence halls. Please contact the Studierendenwerk, which is responsible for the student residences. You can only apply for a place in a student residence once you have received your notice of admission (Zulassungsbescheid). The Studierendenwerk also requires proof of admission if you would like to enrol in a course without admission restrictions.
You can apply for accommodation online HERE.
Contact
Studierendenwerk
Reckhammerweg 1
Student Residence Administration
45141 Essen
Private housing market
You can, of course, look for accommodation on the private housing market, where you may find a furnished apartment/room or a place in shared accommodation (Wohngemeinschaft or WG).
Useful links for your search:
http://www.immobilienscout24.de/de/finden/wohnen/index.jsp
http://www.studenten-wohnung.de/
IImportant terms you will need if you are looking for accommodation:
http://www.uni-due.de/scies/accommodation.shtml#glossary
Download accommodation glossary as a PDF.
3. Enrolment
Please note the following steps for enrolment:
Please be aware that you cannot enrol before you have arrived in Germany!
Send an email to: einschreibung-io@uni-due.de
Subject line: Your application number and/or student ID number (if available)
Necessary information:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Citizenship
- Address in Germany
- Which subject and degree course would you like to enrol for?
Attachments:
- Letter of admission
- Passport photo (jpeg) for your student ID card
- Scan of your passport
- University entrance certificate and/or bachelor's degree certificate
- Complete transcript of records
- Language certificates (German, English if applicable)
- APS certificate if you’re from China, India or Vietnam
-
for language course enrolment only: confirmation of registration for/participation in a German language course (registration for an intensive language course in Germany with at least 18 teaching units per week and usually daily lessons)
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Proof of health insurance coverage (please find essential information on health insurance via the link)
For language course enrolment: private health insurance
For degree course enrolment: statutory health insurance - if applicable, proof of withdrawal from the register of your previous university in Germany
Please note that you can only be enrolled once we have received your complete email providing all information and attachments as mentioned above!
Student services and student body fees are only due once you have successfully enrolled. You will receive all necessary information in due time. Please do not transfer any money beforehand!
Enrollment deadlines
Enrolment in a German language course:
Possible throughout the year
Enrolment in bachelor’s/master’s courses without admission restrictions:
See enrolment deadlines: Registrar's Office
Enrolment for bachelor’s/master’s courses with admission restrictions:
Please see your notice of admission for the exact date.
Enrolment for doctoral studies:
Possible throughout the year - see information for doctoral candidates
Student services and student body fees
The student services and student body fees are not tuition fees. All students must pay these fees each semester regardless of the date on which they enrol.
Please find further information here.
Semester ticket
After you have enrolled and paid the student services and student body fees (please allow at least three business days), you can load the semester ticket (Deutschlandsemesterticket) onto your smartphone using the campus app myUDE (https://www.uni-due.de/myude/).
Further information about the Semester Ticket
Student ID card
All students are issued a student ID card, which will be sent to you by post after you have enrolled. Your student ID card doubles as your library card and canteen card with payment chip. You can use it at the self-service stations (to print enrolment certificates, make changes to your address or print bank transfer slips).
This card is the property of the University of Duisburg-Essen. As a student ID card, it is personal to you and cannot be used by anyone else. Once you are no longer registered as a student, it ceases to be valid and must be returned to the Admissions and Enrolment Office.
If it is lost or damaged, you can request a new card from the Admissions and Enrolment Office during opening hours .
Further information about the Student ID Card
University ID (“Unikennung”)
All students at the University of Duisburg-Essen are issued a personal user identification (Unikennung) and password after they first enrol. The University ID allows you to use the University’s IT services, for example for access to the Internet (Wi-Fi, PC workstations, LSF electronic lecture schedule, exam registration). Please contact the e-Point if you have any questions about your University ID or the IT services, or if you have forgotten your password.
Please find further information here.
Enrolment certificate
After you have transferred the student services and student body fees and they have been received by the University of Duisburg-Essen, you can use your University ID (Unikennung) and your password to download your enrolment certificate from the UDE HISinOne portal and print copies.
You might need to present an enrolment certificate to authorities, health insurance providers, banks or the Studierendenwerk.
Advice for international students
You are an international student and you have questions about your studies or life in Duisburg and Essen?
The International Office will be happy to help.
For questions relating to topics such as financing your studies and dealing with the immigration office, please make an appointment for our online consultation hour via Moodle.
ISAAC (International Student Activity and Assistance Club)
ISAAC offers leisure activities for international students and provides support to those who have questions.
Contact
Enrolment Services - International Admissions Department
Essen Campus
Weststadttürme
WST B 06.05
Berliner Platz 6-8
45127 Essen
international@uni-due.de
Duisburg Campus
Geibelstraße 41
Gebäude SG 027
47057 Duisburg
international@uni-due.de
Team
If you have any questions, please contact the responsible staff member.