How is your bachelor's degree assessed for a master's application in Germany?

The university decides whether your bachelor's degree qualifies you for its master's programme, and it checks your degree individually. An H+ entry in anabin does not make that decision; it only shows that degrees from your institution can undergo an equivalence assessment.

#What H+ in anabin means

• H+, H+/- and H- describe higher-education institutions. H+ means the institution is recognised in its home country and regarded as a higher-education institution in Germany.
• H+ is a basic prerequisite, not automatic admission and not automatic recognition.
• The degree type is rated separately ("entspricht", "gleichwertig", "bedingt vergleichbar") — that is not a recognition decision either.

#What the university looks at

• How well your bachelor's subject fits the master's, your grade, your language proof and the required documents.
• There is no Germany-wide GPA, NC or language threshold; each programme sets its own requirements.
• The university may consult the ZAB.

#Do you need a ZAB Statement of Comparability?

• It places a foreign degree in the German system but gives no admission right. Some universities ask for it; it is not required of every applicant.
• Fee 208 € (payable within three weeks of applying). Standard processing time about 3 months, starting only once all documents and the fee have reached the ZAB; it can take longer. Faster for EU Blue Card and § 81a accelerated skilled-worker cases. The statement is not a professional recognition; regulated professions need a separate decision by the competent authority (zab.kmk.org; checked 13 Oct 2026).

#How to check

In anabin, search your university under "Institutionen", then look up the degree type under "Hochschulabschlüsse". anabin is not complete; binding information comes only from the competent Land offices.

Source: anabin guide · anabin institutions · ZAB Statement of Comparability