Studying without a general higher education entrance qualification (without Abitur)
In principle, the general higher education entrance qualification (aHR, "Abitur") entitles students to study at universities. The aHR is obtained through a successful Abitur examination after attending the upper secondary school at (vocational) grammar schools, comprehensive schools or secondary schools. In NRW, the corresponding certificate is known as "Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife". If the aHR is available, the regular application and enrolment process applies.
Under certain conditions, however, it is possible to study at a university without an Abitur.
You can find out more here:
What other university entrance qualifications (HZB) are there and what do I need to consider when making an application?
Note: If you have a "Fachabitur", please pay particular attention to the differences between the subject-restricted higher education entrance qualification and the entrance qualification for a university of applied sciences.
Subject-restricted higher education entrance qualification (fachgebundene Hochschulreife, fgHR)
The subject-restricted higher education entrance qualification differs from the general higher education entrance qualification mainly in terms of the subject-specific requirement and the required language skills. The qualification is not the same as the entrance qualification for a university of applied sciences (Fachhochschulreife, FHR, see below). The fgHR can be obtained, for example, at vocational grammar schools and specialised upper secondary schools and entitles the holder to study certain degree programmes (oriented towards the school's subject areas) at universities of applied sciences and universities. The degree programmes/subjects that can be studied on the basis of the school subject area are usually noted on the certificate. In NRW, the corresponding school-leaving certificate is entitled "Zeugnis der fachgebundenen Hochschulreife".
If you have the fgHR and the subject-related qualification for the desired degree programme can be found on your certificate, the regular application and enrolment process applies to you.
Entrance qualification for a university of applied sciences (Fachhochschulreife, FHR)
The Fachhochschulreife (FHR) is obtained by completing a school-based part and a practical part (professional activity/vocational training/relevant internship) as part of the corresponding educational programme, e.g. at Fachoberschulen. The certificate is usually labelled "Zeugnis der Fachhochschulreife".
The FHR entitles the holder to study at universities of applied sciences. At Paderborn University, however, it is possible to acquire the higher education entrance qualification for selected, admission-free degree programmes:
If you have the FHR, you can obtain the HZB for the above degree programmes if you can prove that you have a particular subject-related aptitude and a general education that meets the university's requirements by successfully passing the examination.
How does the application process work and what do I need to bear in mind?
The procedure takes some time - start early so that the processing can be completed within the deadlines.
Before you can take part in the examinations for special subject-related aptitude and general education, the Student Service (STS) must certify your FHR.
- You can apply for the certificate in our PAUL application portal. If you do not yet have a PAUL account, you must first create a user account.
- Once you have successfully logged into PAUL, you will find the application in the menu > Bewerbung und Einschreibung > Anträge zur Prüfung des Hochschulzugangs.
- The required supporting documents are listed in the application.
- The STS will review the submitted documents and issue the appropriate certificates for submission to the examining bodies (see below).
The necessary examinations cannot be taken without the certificates. As it can take up to two weeks for the Student Service to confirm the qualification, it is in your own interest to submit the form (and all supporting documents) in good time.
Examination of general education:
The Centre for Language Teaching (ZfS) is responsible for assessing general education. You can find detailed information on the deadlines and proof of general education here.
Examination of special technical aptitude:
The responsibility for determining subject-specific aptitude lies with the respective faculty:
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics
-> Computer Engineering: Prof. Dr. Marco Platzner
-> Electrical Engineering: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Noé (more information here)
-> Computer Science: Study Service (more information here)
-> Mathematics: Prof. Dr. Fleischhack
-> Technomathematics: Prof. Dr. Winkler - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Business Administration and Economics
If you have the certificates for the two examinations you have passed, you must complete the regular application and enrolment process.
Professional and vocational qualification (Berufliche Qualifikation, BQ)
Vocationally qualified persons without a general higher education entrance qualification have the opportunity to gain access to Bachelor's degree programmes in accordance with the Vocational Training University Admission Ordinance (BBHZVO).
What are the admission options and requirements?
The prerequisite is a master craftsman's certificate in the skilled trades or a comparable advanced training programme (e.g. Fachwirt IHK).
This group is entitled to study on any Bachelor's degree programme without an entrance examination. This also applies if the advanced training qualification was exceptionally obtained without prior vocational training.
However, please note the process described below, which must also be completed before the regular application and enrolment process.
The group of subject-specific applicants is entitled to take up a Bachelor's degree programme that corresponds to their professional training and professional activity. In the case of a teacher training programme or a two-subject Bachelor's degree, applicants must be subject-appropriate for each subject area. If necessary, a trial study programme or an entrance examination must be completed in the subject area that does not correspond to the professional training (see below).
A prerequisite is the completion of at least 2 years of recognised vocational training and at least 3 years of full-time professional activity in the training occupation (or an occupation corresponding to the training).
- The vocational training programme must be regulated by state or federal law. You can check whether your training is recognised here, for example.
- Two years of professional experience are sufficient for scholarship holders of the federal government's advancement scholarship programme.
- Further vocational training in a related subject is recognised as professional activity.
- At least half-time employment is recognised as professional activity with the corresponding proportion.
However, please note the process described below, which must also be completed before the regular application and enrolment process.
This group is entitled to enrol in a Bachelor's degree programme that does not correspond to their vocational training and professional activity, provided that
- an entrance examination has been successfully passed for degree programmes/subject areas with admission restrictions
- for degree programmes/subject areas without admission restrictions, an entrance examination OR a two-semester trial course has been successfully completed
and the professional requirements are fulfilled:
Completion of at least 2 years of recognised vocational training and at least 3 years of full-time professional activity.
- The vocational training must be regulated by state or federal law. You can check whether your training is recognised here, for example.
- Two years of professional experience are sufficient for scholarship holders of the federal government's advancement scholarship programme.
- At least half-time employment is recognised as professional activity with the corresponding proportion.
However, please note the process described below, which must also be completed before the regular application and enrolment process.
How does the application process work and what do I need to bear in mind?
The procedure takes some time - start early so that the processing can be completed within the deadlines.
It is also strongly recommended that you first attend a counselling session at the Student Advise Center (ZSB). The ZSB provides information on admission requirements, study options and support services.
Der Zugang zum Studium als beruflich Qualifizierte*r (für alle Gruppen!) ist nur möglich, wenn der Antrag "STS Prüfung der Zugangsvoraussetzungen für beruflich Qualifizierte" mit allen erforderlichen Nachweisen (hierzu gehört auch ein Nachweis über die Durchführung des verpflichtenden Beratungsgesprächs) fristgerecht über das Onlineportal PAUL gestellt wird.
Wie erfahre ich, welche Nachweise erforderlich sind und wie stelle ich den Antrag?
- Falls Sie noch nicht über einen PAUL Account verfügen, müssen Sie sich zunächst ein Benutzerkonto anlegen.
- Nachdem Sie sich erfolgreich in PAUL angemeldet haben, finden Sie den Antrag im Menü > Bewerbung und Einschreibung > Anträge zur Prüfung des Hochschulzugangs.
Im Antrag sind alle erforderlichen Nachweise aufgeführt. Wichtig: Prüfen Sie die geforderten Nachweise frühzeitig! Es kann einige Zeit in Anspruch nehmen, die notwendigen Nachweise einzuholen. Insbesondere ist vor dem Absenden des Antrags ein verpflichtendes Beratungsgespräch mit dem*der zuständigen Fachberater*in der Fakultät durchzuführen, welches rechtzeitig vereinbart werden muss.
Beratungsgespräch(e) mit dem*der zuständigen Fachberater*in
Im Beratungsgespräch wird das fachliche und methodische Vorwissen ermittelt. Das Gespräch informiert auch über Möglichkeiten des Ausgleichs des fehlenden Vorwissens im Sinne einer Studienerfolgsprognose. Die zuständigen Fachberater*innen können Sie über das Studienangebot im jeweiligen Studiengang/Fach unter Kontakt/Anlaufstellen (Fachbezogene Fragen) recherchieren oder in der Fakultät erfragen.
→ Falls Sie sich für mehrere Studiengänge/Fächer bewerben möchten, ist für jeden Studiengang/jedes Fach eine Beratung erforderlich.
→ Im Beratungsgespräch sind alle Nachweise zur beruflichen Qualifikation vorzulegen. Das Gespräch ist auf dem entsprechenden Formular von dem*der Fachberater*in zu bescheinigen. Bitte achten Sie selbst darauf, dass alle erforderlichen Angaben darauf gemacht werden.- Antrag ausfüllen, Nachweise hochladen und fristgerecht abschicken. (Haben Sie noch Fragen zur Antragstellung, kontaktieren Sie uns gerne unter beruflich-qualifizierte@zv.uni-paderborn.de.)
Bis wann muss ich den Antrag inklusive aller Nachweise abschicken?
Die Ausschlussfrist für das Abschicken des vollständigen Antrags ist:
- 15.06. für eine Bewerbung mit Studienstart zum Wintersemester des Jahres
- 15.12. für eine Bewerbung mit Studienstart zum Sommersemester des Folgejahres
Was passiert nach dem Abschicken des Antrags?
Nach Prüfung Ihres Antrags erhalten Sie per E-Mail den entsprechenden Bescheid. Im Falle eines positiven Bescheids, enthält dieser Informationen zum weiteren Vorgehen.
Ob Sie eine Prüfung ablegen müssen, wird Ihnen im Bescheid über Ihre Zugangsvoraussetzungen mitgeteilt.
Die Anmeldefrist für die Zugangsprüfung endet für die Aufnahme eines Studiums zum Wintersemester am 01.04. des Jahres und für die Aufnahme eines Studiums zum Sommersemester am 01.10. des Vorjahres.
Achtung:
Die Anmeldefrist für die Zugangsprüfung liegt deutlich vor dem Ende der Frist zum Einreichen des Antrags auf Prüfung der Zugangsvoraussetzungen (siehe 1. Punkt). Wenn Sie vermuten, in mindestens einem Fach nicht fachtreu zu sein, reichen Sie den Antrag auf Prüfung der Zugangsvoraussetzungen mit genügend Vorlaufzeit ein!
Zuständig für die Termine und die Anmeldung zur Zugangsprüfung ist das Prüfungsmanagement. Zu den Prüfungsinhalten berät die Zentrale Studienberatung.
Bei zulassungsfreien Bachelorstudiengängen ist alternativ zur Zugangsprüfung ein zweisemestriges Probestudium möglich, das bei Erfolg fortgesetzt werden darf. Ob Sie ein Probestudium absolvieren können oder eine Zugangsprüfung ablegen müssen, wird Ihnen im Bescheid über Ihre Zugangsvoraussetzungen mitgeteilt.
Wenn Sie den Bescheid der Zugangsvoraussetzungen sowie ggf. den Nachweis der bestandenen Zugangsprüfung/en erhalten haben, ist der reguläre Bewerbungs- und Immatrikulationsprozess innerhalb der entsprechenden Fristen durchzuführen.
University degree
If you do not have a general higher education entrance qualification, but have already obtained a recognised university degree, you can apply for Bachelor's degree programmes as well as Master's degree programmes that are close to your university degree in terms of subject content.
Recognised university degrees:
- State final examination/university degree examination at a university or university of applied sciences with a standard period of study of at least six semesters.
- Ecclesiastical final examination at a university with a standard period of study of at least six semesters.
- University final examination at a university of applied sciences with a standard period of study of at least six semesters.
- Career examination for graduates of a federal or state university of applied sciences for the civil service with a standard period of study of at least three years and at least eighteen months of specialised study.
These degrees are equivalent to the general higher education entrance qualification certificate. The regular application and enrolment process applies.