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Universities Offering Conditional Admission in Germany

Conditional admission, German-course admission or certificate at enrolment? 9 German universities compared using their official pages (checked October 2026).

Conditional admission, admission to a German course, preparatory student status and handing in the language certificate at enrolment are four different routes. Only the first one gives you a conditional place in a degree programme. Of the 9 universities on this page, two (Philipps-Universität Marburg and TU Clausthal) offer conditional admission to German-taught programmes, two (Duisburg-Essen and TU Dortmund) admit you to a German course and expect a new application for the degree, and five are often listed but follow a different route.

Four routes that are often confused

Conditional admission to a degree programme
The university admits you to the programme on condition that you meet a missing requirement, usually the German certificate, within a set time.
Admission to a German course
You are admitted only to a language course or as a language-course student. Once you have the certificate, you apply again for the degree programme.
Preparatory student status
You are enrolled for a preparatory phase, but no place in a degree programme is reserved for you.
Certificate due at enrolment
You may apply before you have the certificate, but you must hand it in by the enrolment deadline. There is no language-course route.

Language-course admission is not degree admission

A letter admitting you to a German course does not give you a place in the degree programme and does not guarantee a visa. Where a university reserves the place, it says so explicitly; this page only states it where the official page does.

How to use this comparison

  • Check whether your programme is admission-restricted (NC). Most routes below exclude NC programmes.
  • Note when the German certificate is due: with the application, at enrolment, or after a preparatory phase.
  • Confirm the current rules on the official page before you apply. Rules change between semesters.

Comparison of the 9 universities

Based on the official university pages linked in each row.

University Route Who and which programmes German certificate due Degree place reserved? New application for the degree? Where to apply Official source
Philipps-Universität Marburg Conditional admission (bedingte Zulassung) Admission-free programmes applied for through uni-assist. Not for NC programmes. For Master's programmes the official page is not explicit. The DSH level your programme requires (or an accepted equivalent), uploaded in Marvin by 30 September (winter semester) or 31 March (summer semester). Yes, while you are enrolled as a language student in the same programme. No for the same programme. Changing programme needs a new uni-assist application. uni-assist www.uni-marburg.de
Checked October 10, 2026
Technische Universität Clausthal Conditional admission (bedingte Zulassung) German-taught Bachelor's and Master's programmes. Not for applicants who apply from within Germany. DSH-2, DSH-3 or TestDaF (TDN 4) for full admission. The page does not state a deadline. The official page does not say. The official page does not say. HISinOne (TU Clausthal's own portal) www.izc.tu-clausthal.de
Checked October 10, 2026
Universität Duisburg-Essen Admission to a German course Admission-free Bachelor's and Master's programmes. Not for NC programmes. DSH-2 level (DSH-3 for some programmes) before the degree programme starts. No. Yes, within the regular deadline. Bachelor's: uni-assist. Master's: uni-assist or the UDE portal, depending on the programme. www.uni-due.de
Checked October 10, 2026
Technische Universität Dortmund Admission to a German course Applicants without C1. For NC programmes, C1 must be submitted by the application deadline. Admission-free programmes: at enrolment. NC programmes: by the application deadline. No. Yes, within the regular deadline. uni-assist international.tu-dortmund.de
Checked October 10, 2026
Universität Bremen Preparatory student status (Vorbereitungsstudium) Bachelor's and law applicants with a direct university entrance qualification but no C1. Master's applicants apply directly to the university. C1 for the degree application. For a Bachelor's application it can be handed in up to 15 September (winter semester) or 15 March (summer semester). No. Yes, with the C1 certificate through the MOIN portal. uni-assist (VPD), then the MOIN portal www.uni-bremen.de
Checked October 10, 2026
Technische Universität Braunschweig University German courses, no admission Course participants are not enrolled students. Exception: the SEPP Bachelor's programme. Admission-free programmes: a B2 course is enough when you apply, the certificate is needed at enrolment. Other programmes: by the application deadline. No. Yes, a regular application. TU Braunschweig's own portal www.tu-braunschweig.de
Checked October 10, 2026
Universität Paderborn German course discontinued All German-taught Bachelor's and Master's programmes. Before you start the degree programme. Not applicable. Not applicable. The university applicant portal or uni-assist, depending on the programme www.uni-paderborn.de
Checked October 10, 2026
Universität Hamburg Certificate due at enrolment Bachelor's, Staatsexamen and German-taught Master's programmes. With the enrolment application, within the enrolment period. Not applicable. Not applicable. STiNE (Universität Hamburg's own portal) www.uni-hamburg.de
Checked October 10, 2026
RWTH Aachen University Certificate due at enrolment German-taught programmes, both admission-free and NC. By the end of the enrolment period (international Bachelor's applicants: C1). Not applicable. Not applicable. RWTHonline www.rwth-aachen.de
Checked October 10, 2026

Conditional admission to a German-taught degree programme

These two universities state on their official pages that they admit applicants without sufficient German to the degree programme on condition that they pass a recognised German exam.

Philipps-Universität Marburg

Philipps-Universität Marburg

Marburg
Conditional admission (bedingte Zulassung)

Applicants without sufficient German who apply for an admission-free programme through uni-assist receive conditional admission and are enrolled as language students for two semesters. The university says this reserves the study place while you are enrolled as a language student.

Who and which programmes
Admission-free programmes applied for through uni-assist. Not for NC programmes. For Master's programmes the official page is not explicit.
German certificate due
The DSH level your programme requires (or an accepted equivalent), uploaded in Marvin by 30 September (winter semester) or 31 March (summer semester).
Degree place reserved?
Yes, while you are enrolled as a language student in the same programme.
New application for the degree?
No for the same programme. Changing programme needs a new uni-assist application.
Where to apply
uni-assist
University profile and programmes → Official page ↗

Checked October 10, 2026

Technische Universität Clausthal

Technische Universität Clausthal

Clausthal-Zellerfeld
Conditional admission (bedingte Zulassung)

Applicants from abroad for a German-taught programme receive conditional admission to the programme together with a registration confirmation for a fee-based intensive German course at a partner language school.

Who and which programmes
German-taught Bachelor's and Master's programmes. Not for applicants who apply from within Germany.
German certificate due
DSH-2, DSH-3 or TestDaF (TDN 4) for full admission. The page does not state a deadline.
Degree place reserved?
The official page does not say.
New application for the degree?
The official page does not say.
Where to apply
HISinOne (TU Clausthal's own portal)
University profile and programmes → Official page ↗

Checked October 10, 2026

Admission to a German course, then a new application

Here you can apply without sufficient German, but you are admitted to a German course, not to the degree programme. You apply again once you have the certificate.

Universität Duisburg-Essen

Universität Duisburg-Essen

Essen
Admission to a German course

You can apply for an admission-free Bachelor's or Master's programme without sufficient German and receive a notice of admission to a German course. You study at a private language school and apply again for the degree once you have passed the DSH.

Who and which programmes
Admission-free Bachelor's and Master's programmes. Not for NC programmes.
German certificate due
DSH-2 level (DSH-3 for some programmes) before the degree programme starts.
Degree place reserved?
No.
New application for the degree?
Yes, within the regular deadline.
Where to apply
Bachelor's: uni-assist. Master's: uni-assist or the UDE portal, depending on the programme.
University profile and programmes → Official page ↗

Checked October 10, 2026

Technische Universität Dortmund

Technische Universität Dortmund

Dortmund
Admission to a German course

Up to level B1 you receive a letter of access to a language course. With B2 and an admission-free programme you may hand in the C1 certificate at enrolment. Language-course students cannot attend lectures or take exams.

Who and which programmes
Applicants without C1. For NC programmes, C1 must be submitted by the application deadline.
German certificate due
Admission-free programmes: at enrolment. NC programmes: by the application deadline.
Degree place reserved?
No.
New application for the degree?
Yes, within the regular deadline.
Where to apply
uni-assist
University profile and programmes → Official page ↗

Checked October 10, 2026

Often listed, but a different route

These universities are often named in lists of conditional admission. Their official pages describe a different route, or none at all.

Universität Bremen

Universität Bremen

Bremen
Preparatory student status (Vorbereitungsstudium)

Bremen states that conditional admission without sufficient German is not possible. Bachelor's applicants without C1 can enrol for a preparatory phase of up to four semesters while attending an external intensive German course.

Who and which programmes
Bachelor's and law applicants with a direct university entrance qualification but no C1. Master's applicants apply directly to the university.
German certificate due
C1 for the degree application. For a Bachelor's application it can be handed in up to 15 September (winter semester) or 15 March (summer semester).
Degree place reserved?
No.
New application for the degree?
Yes, with the C1 certificate through the MOIN portal.
Where to apply
uni-assist (VPD), then the MOIN portal
University profile and programmes → Official page ↗

Checked October 10, 2026

Technische Universität Braunschweig

Technische Universität Braunschweig

Braunschweig
University German courses, no admission

TU Braunschweig runs fee-based preparatory German courses. The application confirmation for these courses is explicitly not an admission and not a conditional admission. One bilingual Bachelor's programme (Sustainable Engineering of Products and Processes) admits students with A2.

Who and which programmes
Course participants are not enrolled students. Exception: the SEPP Bachelor's programme.
German certificate due
Admission-free programmes: a B2 course is enough when you apply, the certificate is needed at enrolment. Other programmes: by the application deadline.
Degree place reserved?
No.
New application for the degree?
Yes, a regular application.
Where to apply
TU Braunschweig's own portal
University profile and programmes → Official page ↗

Checked October 10, 2026

Universität Paderborn

Universität Paderborn

Paderborn
German course discontinued

Paderborn has discontinued its DSH course and no longer accepts course applications, except from refugees already living in the region. German-taught programmes require DSH-2, TestDaF 4 or an equivalent certificate.

Who and which programmes
All German-taught Bachelor's and Master's programmes.
German certificate due
Before you start the degree programme.
Degree place reserved?
Not applicable.
New application for the degree?
Not applicable.
Where to apply
The university applicant portal or uni-assist, depending on the programme
University profile and programmes → Official page ↗

Checked October 10, 2026

Universität Hamburg

Universität Hamburg

Hamburg
Certificate due at enrolment

Universität Hamburg offers no preparatory German courses. The German certificate has to be submitted with the enrolment application within the enrolment period and cannot be handed in later.

Who and which programmes
Bachelor's, Staatsexamen and German-taught Master's programmes.
German certificate due
With the enrolment application, within the enrolment period.
Degree place reserved?
Not applicable.
New application for the degree?
Not applicable.
Where to apply
STiNE (Universität Hamburg's own portal)
University profile and programmes → Official page ↗

Checked October 10, 2026

RWTH Aachen University

RWTH Aachen University

Aachen
Certificate due at enrolment

RWTH Aachen currently offers no preparatory German courses. You can apply before you have the certificate, but the German certificate must be submitted by the end of the enrolment period.

Who and which programmes
German-taught programmes, both admission-free and NC.
German certificate due
By the end of the enrolment period (international Bachelor's applicants: C1).
Degree place reserved?
Not applicable.
New application for the degree?
Not applicable.
Where to apply
RWTHonline
University profile and programmes → Official page ↗

Checked October 10, 2026

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