Studying with a general higher education entrance qualification

In order to begin studying at Saarland University, students must have a higher education entrance qualification (HEEQ) or recognized equivalent. The HEEQ entitles the holder to apply for a place to study on an undergraduate degree programme (Undergraduate degree programmes are also referred to as first degree programmes or first-cycle programmes, as defined in the Bologna process implemented in the European Higher Education Area), such as a Bachelor's degree programme or a state-examined degree programme (Staatsexamen). The most general higher education entrance qualification in Germany is the Abitur certificate awarded after 12 or 13 years of schooling and after completing the final school-leaving examinations.

Other academic credentials recognized as equivalent to the German Abitur are: an undergraduate degree from a public university of applied sciences (offentliche Fachhochschule) or a state-approved, private university of applied sciences (staatlich anerkannte private Fachhochschule), a leaving certificate from Saarland's College of Public Administration (Fachhochschule für Verwaltung ) in Saarbrücken verifying that the holder is qualified for service within the higher intermediate (non-technical) level (gehobener Dienst) of the Saarland state civil service.

In addition, anyone qualified as a certified master craftsman or master craftswoman (Meister/in) or anyone who has completed a recognized career-advancement programme (Aufstiegsfortbildungen) of at least 400 course hours is also entitled to study at Saarland University. This also applies to those who have successfully completed a vocational training programme at a specialist training college in Germany (Fachschule), e.g. state-recognized nursery nurses/preschool teachers.

Some applicants (e.g. German nationals with a foreign higher education entrance qualification) may also need to obtain a certificate that formally recognizes their foreign HEEQ and/or the overall grade awarded. If necessary, the applicant should apply for this type of certification from the Ministry of Education of the German federal state in which they are resident. In Saarland, formal recognition of foreign school leaving certificates is provided by the Saarland Ministry of Education and Culture.

Please note that an entrance qualification for a university of applied sciences (Fachhochschulreife) is not sufficient for admission to Saarland University.