How to apply?

HTWK Leipzig welcomes applications from international students. The application procedure differs for degree and non-degree students.

Please note: Since nearly all courses at HTWK Leipzig are taught in German (except for the International Management Bachelor Programme, 50% in English), degree and non-degree students need to demonstrate a good command of written and spoken German prior to admission.

International Students (Degree-seeking)

This application information is for international applicants and German applicants with a foreign university entrance qualification who strive to graduate with a degree from HTWK Leipzig.

If you would like to study for one or two semesters at HTWK Leipzig, please check the information for non-degree students below.

General Admission Requirements

Please note: Since nearly all courses at HTWK Leipzig are taught in German (except for the International Management Bachelor Programme, 50% in English), degree and non-degree students need to demonstrate a good command of written and spoken German prior to admission.

  1. University entrance qualification: To be eligible for admission to a Bachelor’s degree programme as an international first-year student at HTWK Leipzig (or any other German university for that matter), you need to have the equivalent of a German Hochschulzugangsberechtigung. This long word refers to the school-leaving certificate that is recognised as a higher education entrance qualification. In Germany, this certificate is commonly known as the Abitur. You can apply at HTWK Leipzig if you have a university entrance qualification that is accepted by the Free State of Saxony, such as the general matriculation standard (allgemeine Hochschulreife) or an advanced technical college certificate (Fachhochschullreife). If this does not apply, please see below.

  2. German skills: International applicants will have to give proof of their German skills prior to starting their studies. Usually, the test "Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang ausländischer Studienbewerber (DSH)" needs to be passed at least at level DSH-2. You are exempt from this test if you hand in one of the following certificates:
    • Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache (TestDaF) (level 4) or
    • Goethe certificate C2 or
    • Deutsches Sprachdiplom (Stufe II) der Kultusministerkonferenz or
    • "telc Zertifikat C1 Hochschule" or
    • Großes or Kleines deutsches Sprachdiplom from Goethe-Institut or
    • Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung (ZOP) from Goethe-Institut

University entrance qualification or an equivalent.

Applicants with a foreign university entrance qualification that cannot be accepted, have to take the qualification assessment examination in Germany, called "Prüfung zur Feststellung der Eignung ausländischer Studienbewerber für die Aufnahme eines Studiums an Hochschulen der Bundesrepublik Deutschland" (Feststellungsprüfung FSP). Preparations for the exam take place at Studienkolleg and require a placement test. The placement test is held in January and August at Studienkolleg of Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz. You have to apply for the placement test via uni-assist e.V. at HTWK Leipzig.

Application Process with uni-assist

If you fulfil the requirements and you have a foreign university entrance qualification, please apply online at Arbeits- und Servicestelle für internationale Studienbewerbungen (University Application Service for International Students also known as uni-assist).

uni-assist will review your application (school and language certificates) to determine whether you meet the general requirements for admission at HTWK Leipzig. They will also convert your grades to the German grading system. Having your application documents reviewed by uni-assist is subject to a charge. But having your application documents reviewed once, you can apply at different universities that cooperate with uni-assist. You can find more information about the universities, charges, deadlines and the procedure on the uni-assist website.

We recommend the information portal Study in Germany for orientation and preparation purposes.

This application procedure applies to citizens from EU states as well and concerns all degree programmes at HTWK Leipzig.

This application procedure does not apply to international applicants:

  • with a German university entrance qualification (Abitur)
  • within non-degree exchange programmes of HTWK Leipzig
  • within non-degree cooperation programmes of HTWK Leipzig

After you have applied online, please send your complete application documents through regular mail to the following address:

HTWK Leipzig
c/o uni-assist e.V.
11507 Berlin
Germany

Application Documents

If you are applying to HTWK Leipzig as a degree-seeking student, you need to submit the following documents to uni-assist:

  • Application Form for Admission to Studies for Foreign Applicants: You can use the online application service of uni-assist to fill out this form on your computer, print it out and save it permanently on your hard drive for future use/reference. Please, don’t forget to sign the form.
  • School and university leaving certificates: Please send all documents attesting to the qualifications entered on your application form. To be eligible for admission as a first-year student, you will need to submit the equivalent of a German university entrance qualification (see the section on General Admission Requirements for further information). Depending on your school-leaving certificate, you may also need documentation confirming years of university study. For admission to one of HTWK Leipzig’s Master’s programmes, you will need a Bachelor’s degree certificate and a transcript of records for all study years.
  • Language certificates (see the section on General Admission Requirements for further information)
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Passport copy: Submit a photocopy of your current passport (the page showing your photo, name and nationality).

Uni-assist requires you to submit authenticated copies of your original certificates (in the original language) and of the translations of these certificates. Never send any original documents! 'Authenticated copies' means that a public authority, or the institution that originally issued the certificate in question, confirms that the copy of the certificate corresponds to the original by marking it with their official seal (usually a stamp). Translations need to be carried out by a state-registered, sworn translator. For further information, please refer to the uni-assist website.

All documents should be send by regular mail to:

HTWK Leipzig
c/o uni-assist e.V.
11507 Berlin
Germany

Application Deadlines

The following deadlines apply:

  • Winter semester: 15.07.
    15.06. Studienkolleg|German course (DSH)
  • Summer semester: 15.01.
    15.12. Studienkolleg|German course (DSH)

Entry and Stay Requirements

Students from states of the European Union that have special arrangements with Germany are exempt from visa obligations.

Students from other countries will need a valid passport with a visa or a permit of residence for study purposes.

A tourist visa is not sufficient and cannot be changed to a visa for study purposes.

You will find more information on the website of the German Embassy.

International Students (Non-degree)

HTWK Leipzig welcomes applications from international students who wish to study with us for a semester or two as visiting or exchange students from one of our partner universities abroad.

As a visiting or exchange student, you may take any course you are academically qualified to take. However, as some courses are offered on a space-available basis, we cannot guarantee that any specific course will be available. You will meet regular HTWK Leipzig students in most of your courses and have unlimited access to all of the university’s facilities.

In order to be eligible for non-degree studies at HTWK Leipzig, you must be enrolled in a degree-seeking undergraduate or postgraduate programme at your home university and have completed at least one full year of university credit by the time of enrolment. A Bachelor’s degree is required for taking courses at the Master's level.

If you strive to graduate with a degree from HTWK Leipzig, please check the information for degree-seeking students above.

Please note: Since nearly all courses at HTWK Leipzig are taught in German (except for the International Management Bachelor Programme, 50% in English), degree and non-degree students need to demonstrate a good command of written and spoken German prior to admission.

Application Process

International students who come to Leipzig for one or two semesters either on an Erasmus exchange or as exchange students from our other partner universities abroad are called non-degree students, or 'Teilstudenten', at HTWK Leipzig. 'Teilstudenten' because they only complete part of their studies here, rather than study for a full degree.

To apply for admission as a non-degree student, please submit the following documents:

  • Application for admission to non-degree studies for international students of partner universities (PDF)
  • Learning agreement - programme of study
  • Transcript of records of all courses and exams completed at home university and copy of Bachelor Diploma (Master students only)
  • Proof of German/English language skills: Please submit a copy of a recognised language certificate and/or the HTWK Leipzig Language Certificate (PDF) completed by a language instructor at your home university. If you wish to attend courses taught in German, HTWK Leipzig requires German proficiency of at least level c which is roughly equivalent to B1/B2 levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. If you wish to attend courses taught in English, HTWK Leipzig requires English proficiency on a comparable level. We strongly recommend that you take German language lessons before your arrival, as general structures and university life function largely in German.
  • Proof of health insurance coverage (EU students only): Students from EU countries please submit a copy of their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC); students from non-EU countries are required to contract health insurance immediately upon their arrival in Leipzig.
  • Registration form for the introduction course 'Deutsche Sprache und Landeskunde' (PDF)
  • Curriculum vitae
  • one passport-size photograph (35mm x 45mm); no scan, please!

Please send all documents via regular mail to:

HTWK Leipzig

International Office

Postfach 301166

04251 Leipzig

Germany

Application Deadlines

The following deadlines apply:

  • 15 June for entry in the following winter semester (October - March)
  • 15 December for entry in the following summer semester (April - September)

Letter of Acceptance

Please note that we will only accept full applications. After we receive the applications, the International Office will forward them to the Departmental International Coordinator at the respective faculty. After acceptance, exchange students receive an official letter of acceptance and additional information about housing and their study period in Leipzig.