Guide for international applicants

Application and enrolment

How to apply to our degree programmes as an international applicant

  1. Choosing the right programme
  2. When are applications accepted for degree programmes?
  3. When are the application periods?
  4. What are my chances of admission?
  5. How do I apply?
  6. Which documents should I upload to the uni-assist application portal?
  7. When is the completion deadline for the preparatory internship (bachelor’s degree programmes only)?
  8. How long will it take to get a decision on my application?

 

First-semester enrolment for international students

  1. When is the enrolment deadline?
  2. When does the semester start? When do lectures start?
  3. Do I need to apply for an entry visa to Germany? Which documents will I need?
  4. Do I need to make an appointment for enrolment?
  5. Which documents do I need to enrol at the University?
  6. When will I receive proof of enrolment?

 

First steps after arrival in Kleve or Kamp-Lintfort

  1. Enrol at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences
  2. Register your place of residence at the Einwohnermeldeamt
  3. Open a bank account
  4. Apply for your residency permit at the immigration office

 

Whom can I contact with my questions?

  1. Accommodation
  2. Jobs for students
  3. Available scholarships in Germany
  4. The SemesterTicket
  5. Questions about my studies and progress
  6. General questions about living in Germany

 

How to apply to our degree programmes as an international applicant

1. Choosing the right programme

  • Content: The right degree programme should teach you the knowledge and skills you’ll need to succeed in your desired career. A good place to start looking is with the content of our degree programmes. First, visit our overview of our currently offered degree programmes. Click on the programmes that interest you and you’ll be redirected to detailed descriptions of the curriculum, goals, careers possibilities and more. To see a list of all required modules, please consult the programmes’ recommended study and examination schedules, which are found at the end of each programme’s examination regulations.
  • If you can’t decide on one programme: You can also apply for more than one degree programme during an application period. If you are accepted into more than one, you can later decide which programme is the best fit for you. This decision ultimately won’t affect your application for an entry visa, so you can make the choice after your arrival in Germany. Our Study Advisory Service is glad to give you helpful advice to make the decision even easier.

 

2. When are applications accepted for degree programmes?

Applications are accepted either once or twice a year:

  • Bachelor’s degree programmes: only in winter semester
  • Master’s degree programmes: in summer or winter semester

Please refer to our overview of degree programmes for more information.

 

3. When are the application periods?



All information can be found in our overview of the application process. The application deadline will be published there, once the application portal is open. Note that start dates for application periods can vary, so please visit our homepage for the most up to date information.

 

4. What are my chances of admission?

Unfortunately, this question is impossible to answer individually. In general, there are two deciding factors in the admissions process:

Factor 1: Your University Entrance Qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung):

  • Bachelor’s degree programmes: In order to qualify for a bachelor’s degree programme in Germany, you must have acquired academic qualifications that are comparable or equivalent to either the German entry qualification for universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulreife) or the qualification for universities (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung, earned by successfully completing the German Abitur). Please note that we cannot prescreen applications! If you have specific admissions-related questions, please refer to the website Studying in Germany or the DAAD website and the comprehensive Anabin database (in German).

     
  • Master’s degree programmes: If you are interested in applying to a master’s degree programme, you must meet the minimum entry requirements of that degree programme. These include, first and foremost, a professionally qualifying and thematically relevant undergraduate (bachelor’s) degree. Additional requirements include minimum GPAs and proof of sufficient command of German or English (depending on the programme’s language of instruction). See our admissions overview for master’s degree programmes as well as the individual examination regulations for our degree programmes for more information.

Factor 2: Open admission or restricted admission? Some degree programmes have what is called restricted admission (referred to in Germany as Numerus Clausus, or N.C.). These programmes have only a limited number of spots available in each admission cycle and use a competitive selection process among applicants. Please see our overview of degree programmes for a list of which programmes have restricted admission as well as our admissions overview for bachelor’s degree programmes for more details on the selection process itself.

Conversely, if a degree programme has open admission (non-N.C.), then all applicants who meet the minimum requirements will receive a spot in that programme.

 

5. How do I apply?

Which application portal you need to use depends on whether you earned your academic qualifications in Germany or a different country:

Who?

Required portal

  • Bachelor’s programmes: Applicants without a German university entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung)

     
  • Master’s programmes: Applicants with a bachelor’s degree from a university outside of Germany

 

uni-assist

  • Bachelor’s programmes: Applicants with a German university entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung or Fachhochschulreife)

     
  • Master’s programmes: Applicants with a bachelor’s degree from a German university

 

HSRW

portal

 

Essentially all international applicants must use uni-assist, as their entrance qualifications were earned in different academic systems and must be converted for comparison with the minimum entry requirements. For more information, please see question 4 in our FAQ for prospective students.

For questions regarding uni-assist, please refer to uni-assist’s English FAQ.

 

6. Which documents do I have to upload to the uni-assist portal?

For bachelor’s degree programmes:

  • High school diploma or secondary school leaving certificate
  • (If required) university entrance examination *
  • (If required) proof of successfully completed semesters of study at another university *
  • Recognised language certificate **
  • APS document (only for China, Mongolia, Vietnam and from winter semester 2023/24 for India)
  • If available: confirmation of passed Art Portfolio (only for Information and Communication Design B.A.)

* These documents are required if your high school / secondary school qualifications are not equivalent to the minium requirements for entry to a university in Germany. For more details, please see Hochschulzugangsberechtigung.

** This certificate must be issued for the language of instruction of the degree programme(s) that you are applying to. If the language of instruction is English, you do not need a German language certificate to apply. Please see our overview of degree programmes for the languages of instruction. For accepted certificates and scores, please see our FAQ for prospective students.

For master’s degree programmes:

  • Your bachelor’s degree diploma or certificate, including your final GPA, an overview of your marks and a description of the grading system used
  • If available: Diploma Supplement (for applicants from EU countries)
  • If available: the module guide for your bachelor’s degree programme
  • Recognised language certificate *
  • APS document (only for China, Mongolia, Vietnam and from winter semester 2023/24 for India)
  • Other requirements according to the examination regulations of the degree programme (please see: Master’s programmes | Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (hochschule-rhein-waal.de)

* This certificate must be issued for the language of instruction of the degree programme(s) you are applying to. If the language of instruction is English, you do not need a German language certificate to apply. Please see our overview of degree programmes for the languages of instruction. For accepted certificates and scores, please see FAQ for prospective students.

 

7. When is the completion deadline for the preparatory internship? (bachelor’s degree programmes only)

If you are enrolled in a bachelor’s degree programme, you submit proof of a completed eight-week preparatory internship before the re-registration deadline for your fourth semester of study. Please submit the appropriate application for recognition together with relevant internship documentation to your faculty.

For additional information about the preparatory internship and its requirements, please see the relevant examination regulations and our FAQ for prospective applicants.

 

8. How long will it take to get a decision on my application?

Please note that these are general estimations. Actual required time can vary from case to case.

Applications for degree programmes with open admission: uni-assist usually takes around six weeks to process an application. If you meet the minimum entry requirements, uni-assist will forward your application to the University. It can then take up to an additional two weeks until you are notified about the final decision. 

Applications for degree programmes with restricted admission: As above, uni-assist requires around six weeks for initial processing of an application. If you meet the minimum entry requirements and your application is sent to the University, it will then be included in a competitive selection process to determine the allotment of available places. The first round of admission letters will be sent out in the middle of August for winter semester and in middle of February for summr semester at the earliest.

 

First-semester enrolment for international students

1. When is the enrolment deadline?

The enrolment deadline can be found on your letter of admission.

 

2. When does the semester start? When do lectures start?

Semester dates:

1 September – 28 February (winter semester)

1 March – 31 August (summer semester)

Lecture periods:

Please see our academic calendar.

 

Naturally, we recommend that you arrive in Germany as early as possible so that you can attend all your lectures. However, late enrolment is also possible if your arrival is delayed until after lectures begin.

 

3. Do I need to apply for an entry visa to Germany? Which documents will I need?

Unfortunately, the University is unable to asisst you with the application process for an entry visa to Germany. For guidance, please visit the website of the German Federal Foreign Office to learn about entry visa requirements to Germany. If you come from a country with a visa requirement, please contact your nearest German embassy as soon as possible to begin the application process.

 

4. Do I need to make an appointment for enrolment?

There is no need for an appointment. You can visit the Study Advisory Service during the period of time that is written in your letter of admission. Please note that there can be a waiting period.

 

5. Which documents do I need to enrol at the University?

To ensure that the enrolment process runs smoothly, please be sure to bring all of the following documents:

  • Your passport
  • Proof of valid visa
  • Your letter of admission (hard copy)
  • The originals of all the documents that you uploaded to uni-assist (transcripts, diplomas, language certificates etc.)
  • Proof of payment for the semester fee *
  • Proof of appropriate health insurance coverage *
  • 2 recent biometric passport photos
  • If necessary, your exmatriculation certificate (only for applicants with previous semesters of study at a different German university)
  • If necessary, a certificate of good standing (Unbedenklichkeitsbescheinigung – only for applicants who have previously studied in the same or a similar degree programme at a different German university)

* You can apply for these documents after your arrival in Germany. Please let us know during your enrolment appointment whether you still need to pay your semester fee or apply for health insurance. We will gladly go through your various options as a student. For more information, please refer to the helpful info sheet that you received with your letter of admission.

 

6. When will I receive my student ID and enrolment certificate?

For administrative reasons, it can take a week or more to process your enrolment and send out your student ID (which includes the SemesterTicket) as well as your enrolment certificate.

 

First steps after arrival in Kleve or Kamp-Lintfort

Step 1: Enrol at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences

Where:

Study Advisory Service Kleve

Building 20, ground floor

Minoritenstraße 1

47533 Kleve

Study Advisory Service Kamp-Lintfort

Building 4, ground floor

Friedrich-Heinrich-Allee 25

47475 Kamp-Lintfort

 

When:

Monday to Friday: 9:00-11:30 am

 

Step 2: Register your place of residence at the Einwohnermeldeamt

Every resident of Germany is required to register their current place of residence at the Einwohnermeldeamt (resident registration office), which is usually in the Bürgerbüro (municipal registry office). You must do this within two weeks of moving into a new permanent address. It’s a quick and simple process and usually free. Simply bring your passport and a copy of your rental contract to the nearest Bürgerbüro (Kleve, Kamp-Lintfort) during opening hours and speak with the person at the front desk.

For more information or assistance, please contact the Student Service Centre or the Welcome Centre.

 

Step 3: Open a German bank account

If you haven’t already opened a German bank account for your entry visa, then you should do so soon after arriving in Germany. Bank transfers are the most common way to pay bills in Germany and landlords will expect you to pay your monthly rent this way. Simply go to a bank of your choosing and ask to open a ‘Girokonto’. Many banks offer special conditions for students, so it can be worth it to do a bit of research beforehand to find the best deal.

To open a new bank account as a student, you will need your passport, your HSRW enrolment certificate and your certificate of residency from the Einwohnermeldeamt (see step 2).

 

Step 4: Apply for your residency permit at the immigration office

After arriving in Germany, it is absolutely essential to apply for a residency permit (i.e. your student visa) at the nearest immigration office as soon as possible. If you need any assistance with this, please don’t hesitate to contact the Welcome Centre. The Welcome Centre regularly organises group visits to the immigration office so that they can help you with your application or speak with immigration officials on your behalf.

 

Whom can I contact with my questions?

1. Accommodation

 

2. Jobs for students

 

3. Scholarships and financing your studies

 

4. The SemesterTicket

  • The SemesterTicket is a valuable transport pass for students. Please see our page on the SemesterTicket for more information.

 

5. Questions about my studies and progress

 

6. General questions about living in Germany