Many paths lead to a course of study. Higher education law in Baden-Württemberg is linked to different ways of life.

You can acquire a higher education entry qualification for a Bachelor's degree or a state examination programme through the school route or also by way of a professional qualification. In addition, you have the possibility to acquire the right to study at a university by taking special school examinations.

General or subject-related higher education entrance certificate

The general higher education entrance certificate entitles you to study all subjects at all universities and the subject-related higher education entrance certificate entitles you to study the relevant subject at a university, teacher training college, art college and at Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University, as well as to study all subjects at a university of applied sciences.

Higher education entrance certificate bound to a specific group of subjects

The higher education entrance certificate bound to a specific group of subjects entitles you to study at universities of applied sciences. In addition, you can study the “Early Education and Training (Elementary Education)” course at a teacher training college.

If you have a higher education entrance certificate bound to a specific group of subjects, universities may grant individual applicants the entitlement to study a Bachelor's course at a university, teacher training college, arts college or at Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University, as well by way of a foundation examination. This procedure is called a delta examination.

The delta examination is conducted at the University of Mannheim on behalf of the universities and teacher training colleges. The cooperative university conducts its own delta examination.

The Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs offers other opportunities to acquire academic entry qualifications, for example, as an additional qualification to vocational training or through external examinations. The Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs also offers an examination to acquire the general university entrance certificate for talented applicants who have an outstanding aptitude for a specific subject area.

Professional qualification

A professional qualification through recognised advanced vocational training (e.g. master craftsman or business administrator) entitles you to study all subjects at all universities.

If you have a professional qualification and have completed at least two years of vocational training, you can acquire a subject-related entry qualification by passing an aptitude test; the prerequisite for taking the aptitude test is usually three years of relevant professional experience. Training times are not taken into account.

You also need to have an interview at the university for these two access paths.

Aptitude test for arts-based courses of study

The universities can give individuals with a special artistic talent and an adequate general education the opportunity to study on appropriate arts-based courses by way of an aptitude test.

Access to university after studying successfully at a university in another federal state

If you have successfully studied for a year at a university in another federal state, you are entitled to continue your studies on the same or a similar course at the same type of university in Baden-Württemberg. A trial period of study that has been approved on the basis of professional qualification in other states, where the admission requirements differ from those that apply in Baden-Württemberg for an aptitude test based on professional qualifications, is not taken into account in the period of study.

Access to higher education after successfully completing an undergraduate degree

If you have already successfully completed a degree, you are entitled to study all subjects at all universities, regardless of the type of institution at which you completed your first degree. The successful completion of an arts-based course of study entitles you to study a similar course at all universities; if you studied scientific or not purely arts-based subjects on your arts-based course, which correspond to at least 45 performance points, this study entitlement extends to all subjects.

Other possible admission requirements

Entrance qualification examinations may also be required in Baden-Württemberg in addition to the higher education entrance qualifications for studying certain courses of study that place particular demands on the students (e.g. music-based courses, sport).

You must initially demonstrate that you have completed an internship or vocational training for some courses of study. Other courses in turn require special language skills (for example, Latin), language proficiency tests or sporting aptitude tests.

Tip: Please take a look at the website of the respective university in good time to obtain information.