How do extracurricular activities like volunteering or sports affect university applications in Germany?

There is no general rule on how volunteering or sports affect applications in Germany: each program's admission and selection rules decide whether they count at all. Such activities never replace the program's admission requirements.

#What comes first

• Bachelor's: you first need a higher education entrance qualification (HZB). A Turkish Lise Diploması alone is not enough; the YKS result and placement are assessed as well.
• Master's: each program sets its own requirements, such as subject fit of your bachelor's, grade, language proof and documents.
• In programs with restricted admission (NC), applicants are ranked according to the program's selection rules.

#When activities can help

• If the selection rules assess relevant experience or motivation, describe yours briefly and concretely in the requested document.
• An activity or certificate the program does not ask for earns no automatic points.

#Practical tip

• Read the program's admission and selection regulations (e.g. Zulassungsordnung).
• If in doubt, ask the international office. The university makes the final decision.

Source: anabin guide · anabin – school qualifications with university access