How does the diploma recognition (denklik) process work?

It depends on which document you need assessed and why: school certificates are assessed by the university, uni-assist or a Land Zeugnisanerkennungsstelle, while a foreign university degree can be placed in the German system by the ZAB through a Statement of Comparability. None of these alone guarantees admission.

#School certificate (for a bachelor's)

• A Turkish school certificate on its own does not determine access; anabin combines it with the YKS result and placement.
• The final decision lies with the university (or the competent Land authority). uni-assist asks for the Lise Diploması plus the YKS placement page.
• Access routes: anabin – Schulabschlüsse

#University degree (for a master's, work or a visa)

1. Check your university's anabin status (H+, H+/-, H-) and your degree type. H+ is not automatic equivalence.
2. For a master's or PhD, the university you apply to checks your degree individually and may ask the ZAB.
3. If a university, employer or authority asks for it, apply for a ZAB Statement of Comparability: fee 208 € (re-issue 104 €), usually about 3 months. It gives no right to admission; it is used for visas and the EU Blue Card, by employers and by authorities.

#Professional recognition

Regulated professions such as medicine, teaching or law need recognition by the competent body. The ZAB statement does not replace it.

Source: ZAB Statement of Comparability · ZAB fees · our anabin guide