Requirements for study
The University of Passau is a state university. As such, the admissions requirements for undergraduate programmes are governed by Bavarian state law. This page explains the relevant criteria.
If you are an international applicant, the interactive guide will provide you with a better experience, as it collates all the relevant information for you.
How to apply: an interactive guide
The application procedure depends on your intended degree programme and on your academic background and qualifications. Please answer the questions below, then follow the link to get specific information on the application process and what documents to include in your application.
Personalised application guide
Doctoral study
If you are interested in attaining a doctorate and you want to apply to undertake doctoral study in Passau, please visit the web pages of the Graduate Centre and the Faculties to find out about the application process.
Enrolment for doctoral students
If you have already been accepted as a doctoral student a the University of Passau, you have the option to enrol and obtain a student card. Please see the doctoral students' enrolment page for more information.
Entitlement to study
German nationals (and people who have the same rights as German nationals) are entitled to study the university programme of their choice, provided they have the necessary qualifications, so long as no obstructions to enrolment apply. The entitlement to study is regulated by the Bavarian Higher Education Law (BayHSchG). You may find the following articles of the law relevant to information on this page:
- General rules around the entitlement to study: BayHSchG Article 42
- Required qualifications: BayHSchG Artikel 43 (general), BayHSchG Article 45 (requirements for those qualifying through vocational experience) and BayHSchG Article 44 (special requirements, for example aptitude tests)
- Obstructions to enrolment: BayHSchG Article 46
Qualification for study at a university
You will need a general or a subject-specific university entrance qualification ('Hochschulreife') to be accepted into the University of Passau:
The general university entrance qualification is known as 'allgemeine Hochschulreife' or 'allgemeine Hochschulzugangsberechtigung' in German. With this qualification, you can apply for all undergraduate programmes at the University of Passau.
With a subject-specific university entrance qualification ('fachgebundene Hochschulreife' or 'fachgebundene Hochschulzugangsberechtigung'), you can apply for a place on certain undergraduate programmes only.
People who do not obtain a university entrance qualification through the school system may attain a vocational university entrance qualification ('Hochschulzugangsberechtigung für beruflich Qualifizierte'). This qualification can be either general or subject-specific.
German nationals who acquired a university entrance qualification in a foreign school system can use uni-assist's university admission check tool to get an idea whether their qualification will be recognised in Germany.
The same applies for those with international qualifications. For example, the International Baccalaureate Diploma is recognised as a university entrance qualification in Germany only if certain conditions are met. You can look up the rules around this qualification on the DAAD's web page about the recognition of the IB Diploma in Germany.
German nationals with a university entrance qualification obtained outside the European Economic Area (EEA) have to use uni-assist when applying for a place of study at the University of Passau, unless they have obtained a certificate of recognition of their university entrance qualification by a German Zeugnisanerkennungsstelle (office for the recognition of academic certificates).
If you have acquired your university entrance qualification in a foreign school system, please visit the web page about academic requirements for international applicants.
Aptitude tests for certain teacher training programmes
Aptitude test for the teacher training specialisation in arts and crafts
If you want to specialise in teaching arts and crafts in one of the teacher training programmes, then you must first submit a portfolio of your own work to the University of Passau. Based on this portfolio, you will be referred to an aptitude test (in German).
If you have already passed an aptitude test at another state university (or at another recognised university) in Germany, then you can request your result to be recognised by the Professorship of Art and Aesthetic Education at the University of Passau, provided the aptitude test had full equivalence to the Bavarian one.
You will have to submit the results of your aptitude test during enrolment.
Aptitude test for the teacher training specialisation in sports / physical education
If you want to specialise in teaching sports / physical education in one of the teacher training programmes, then you must first pass an aptitude test organised by Bavarian higher education providers.
If you have not already passed this aptitude test, then you must register for the sports aptitude test online. If you want the results of a sports aptitude test that you passed in another German state to be recognised, you can also request this through the BaySPET portal.
You will have to submit the results of your aptitude test during enrolment.
Contacts
Student Registration Office
Phone: +49 851 509 1127
registry@uni-passau.de
Website
Academic Advice Service
Phone: +49 851 509 1154
advice@uni-passau.de
Website