Admission requirements
Admission will be open to all without any discrimination on the basis of race, caste, creed, national origin or gender, provided the applicant fulfills entrance requirements of the Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW).
University entrance qualification
International degree seeking students with no direct/a non-German university entrance qualification
need either
- have their academic credentials checked for equivalency through DHBW
- complete one successful year of study in the home country
- complete a preparatory course (Studienkolleg)
- take an entrance examination
The entrance examination consists of a written test through TestAS (180-250 min, minimum score to pass: 100 of 200 points in each of the two modules) and an oral examination in the form of a (remote) personal interview with two examiners from the university (30 min, minimum score: 100 of 200 points).
Further clarification: If you do not have or cannot provide an university entrance qualification or if your academic credentials are rated as non-equivalent to such qualification, you can still be accepted by passing the entrance examination!
International degree seeking students with a German university entrance qualification (“Abitur” or “Fachhochschulreife”) are admitted under the same conditions as German nationals.
Important: Enrollment at the university is only possible after a contract with a partner company („dual partner“) of the university has been signed! This means that your application documents will be forwarded to our partner companies. If a dual partner is interested in your application, they will contact you and invite you to an (online) job interview. During the interview, they will typically want to get to know you as a potential employee. There is also the possibility that you find a (new) partner company by yourself, but please contact us asap in such a case.
Language requirements
A good command of English is mandatory, which means at least B2/C1 level according to the CEFR.
If the official language or one of the official languages of your country of origin is English, no language certificate will be necessary.
If your completed high school education took place in English, no language certificate will be necessary.
If you already completed a first degree studies in English, no language certificate will be necessary.
If none of the above applies to you, you need a language certificate. We accept the following English proficiency tests and scores:
- TOEFL iBT with a minimum score of 84 (new score: 4,5)
- IELTS with a minimum score of 6.5
- PTE with a minimum score of 63
- Cambridge English with a minimum score of 170
Proficiency in German is not mandatory, but will increase your opportunities to find a partner company. At least, you should be willing to learn German, as this will give you an advantage in terms of being integrated into society as well as the work environment.
A work permit or work visa is not required for the enrollment, as the practical phase at the partner company is an integral part of the dual study programme.
Application process
Application is always possible, but please apply as early as possible to ensure that all administrative processes (especially your visa) will be completed in time! Usually, this takes up to six months, which means that you should apply end of April at the latest for the following winter semester (which starts October 1st).
Please note: Enrollment at the university is only possible after a contract with a partner company („dual partner“) of the university has been signed! This means that your application documents will be forwarded to our partner companies. If a dual partner is interested in your application, they will contact you and invite you to an (online) job interview. During the interview, they will typically want to get to know you as a potential employee. There is also the possibility that you find a (new) partner company by yourself, but please contact us asap in such a case.
The 5 steps of the application process
Inform yourself about the study program at DHBW Villingen-Schwenningen. Make sure to review the entrance requirements to confirm your eligibility. If necessary, complete the TestAS.
Prepare your application documents.
You will need:
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) in English
• Letter of Motivation in English including the answers to the following questions: Why would you like to start a dual study program in English at DHBW Villingen-Schwenningen? In which field(s) would you be interested in working? Which skills and competencies qualify you for a dual study program? What are your plans for after graduation?
• Proof of English language proficiency (This document can be handed in at a later point, the latest being September 1st.)
• Proof of higher education entrance qualification in English - if you have not yet completed school: an overview of subjects and grades issued by the school, including all grades earned to date and a grading scale indicating the lowest passing grade and the maximum grade
• Scan of passport (non-EU nationals) or ID card (EU nationals)
• If available: Bachelor's degree diploma (certificate) with final grade as well as an overview of subjects and grades / Transcript of Records with credit points / Diploma Supplement in English, respectively including a grading scale indicating the lowest passing grade and the maximum grade for the degree
• DHBW Villingen-Schwenningen reserves the right to request additional documents re: your application on an individual basis. In this case you will be contacted and informed accordingly.
Please send all required application documents to dhbw-international.vs@dhbw.de. We strongly recommend applying as early as possible to ensure that all administrative processes can be completed in time!
DHBW Villingen-Schwenningen will review your application documents and forward them to the dual partners participating in the study program.
If a dual partner is interested in your application, they will contact you and invite you to an (online) interview. During the interview, they will typically want to get to know you as a potential employee. You should explain why you are interested in the dual study program at DHBW and with the respective company, and convince them that you are the ideal candidate for the company. Please make sure to inform yourself about the company before the job interview. Find more general tips for job interviews with German companies here: https://www.alumniportal-deutschland.org/en/digital-learning/career-development/job-interviews-germany/
If your interview with the dual partner was successful, they will contact you and offer you a training contract for a period of three years (i.e. the duration of your studies), including a monthly salary.
After you have signed the training contract with the dual partner, you will be able to enroll at DHBW Villingen-Schwenningen.
Submission
Please submit your application to: dhbw-international.vs@dhbw.de
If you need your foreign academic credentials checked for equivalency, please send copies of the required documents to: ias@dhbw.de
You can also contact us via this email address if you have further questions regarding the assessment of foreign academic credentials.
Please not once again: DHBW Villingen-Schwenningen cannot guarantee that all applicants will receive an invitation to an interview or be offered a training contract with a partner company. We also cannot guarantee that applicants will receive a training contract with the partner company of their choice.
For further information, please feel free to contact us.
Prof. Dr. Clive F. W. Flynn
- program director
- clive.flynn@dhbw.de
-
Telefon +49 7720 3906 - 588
- Building B, Room 104
Anne Laqua
- program secretary
- anne.laqua@dhbw.de
-
Telefon +49 7720 3906 - 415
- Building B, Room 206
