Studying without a qualifying school degree – Guidance and decision-making

Access to higher education without a qualifying school leaving certificate is divided into the following categories:

1. General university entrance qualifications for holders of a ‘Meister’ qualification and equivalent qualifications

and the

2. subject-specific university entry for students with vocational qualifications

1. General access to higher education for holders of a Meister qualification and equivalent qualifications

You have

• a certificate confirming that the master craftsman’s examination has been passed in accordance with the provisions of the Vocational Training Act or the Crafts and Trades Regulation Act, or
• a certificate confirming that the candidate has passed a vocational further training examination (e.g. Fachwirtin/Fachwirt) – recognised by the State Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs as equivalent to the master craftsman’s examination and taken in accordance with the provisions of the Vocational Training Act or the Crafts and Trades Regulation Act – for which the preparatory course comprises a total of at least 400 hours, or
• a certificate confirming that you have passed the final examination at a public or state-recognised technical college or technical academy (e.g. as a technician or childcare worker) or
• a successful completion of a further training qualification at an academy of public administration and economics, or
• a passed examination to become an administrative specialist, or a pass in Specialist Examination II at the Bavarian School of Public Administration
• and also attended a advisory appointment at Hochschule München.

Universal access to higher education means you are free to choose which degree programme you wish to apply for.

2. Subject-specific university entry for students with vocational qualifications

You have

• successful completion of a vocational training programme lasting at least two years, in accordance with the provisions of the Vocational Training Act, the Crafts and Trades Regulation Act, or federal or state legislation, in a field related to the intended degree programme, and
• followed by, as a rule, at least three years’ full-time professional experience in a field related to the intended degree programme, and
• attended a advisory appointment at Hochschule München and
• passed the university entrance examination at Hochschule München.

Subject-specific university entry means that your chosen field of study must be related to your training and professional experience. A subject-related field is deemed to exist if both the vocational training and the professional experience demonstrate sufficient substantive links to the intended studies, in particular by imparting knowledge and abilities that are beneficial to those studies. The determination of subject-relatedness is the responsibility of Hochschule München.

Which personal interests are important?

• Engineering: A degree in engineering requires a sound grounding in the natural sciences, particularly in mathematics, physics and chemistry. You should have an interest in technical projects, innovations and developments, as well as the ability to think logically and a good sense of spatial awareness and design. An engineering career also requires flexibility and creativity, so that you can find innovative solutions to technical problems later in your professional life.

• Business Studies: To undertake studies in business, you need to have an interest in economic developments and be open to administrative tasks. As well as a good grasp of mathematics, language skills – particularly in English – are important. Logical and abstract thinking are essential for understanding business contexts and finding appropriate solutions.

• Social Work: For your future career, you will need an interest in working with people and empathy for marginalised groups and their needs. You should have a high tolerance for frustration, as well as the ability to manage personal conflicts and mental resilience. However, this field of work also requires an interest in administrative tasks and the law, as well as the ability to think holistically and collaborate across disciplines.

• Design specialisation: The Design studies require a high degree of creativity and an aesthetic understanding. As well as enjoying imaginative work, you will need skills in drawing, photography or craftsmanship, depending on your specialisation. As designers often work on a self-employed basis, you will also need an interest in business management, organisation and setting up your own business.

Why is the advisory appointment important?
It is important that you gain a realistic impression of the course structure, the course content and the academic requirements. The advisory meeting is designed to help you assess your own strengths and weaknesses in relation to the studies and to provide you with important information about the application process, admission and the studies themselves. The advisory meeting is compulsory for all applicants who wish to submit an application on the basis of a vocational qualification.

Where can I book an appointment?
The consultation takes place at the Student Advice Centre at Hochschule München.

How should I prepare for the appointment?
Please bring the vocational qualification certificate relating to the role you wish to apply for to your counselling appointment, provided you have already received it! Vocational trainings passed outside of Germany have to be approved by IHK first.

You can download and print out our checklist (German only) for qualified professional applicants making applications in the run-up to your advisory appointment. You may then already have specific questions, or be able to ‘tick off’ certain topics because you have already clarified them.

Are certificates from other universities also valid?
Hochschule München also accepts proof of advisory meetings from other universities if the degree programme is in a related field. Proof of the advisory session must be submitted no later than the time of enrolment.

To help you prepare your application or for your studies, you can download and print out the checklist (in German only) for qualified working applicants.

Perhaps this will help you come up with specific questions for your advisory meeting, or you may be able to ‘tick off’ certain topics because you have already clarified them.

Career Advancement Grant
The Career Advancement Grant for students with professional experience supports committed professionals with vocational training and practical experience in undertaking their first academic degree – either full-time or extra-occupational. Further information is available at https://www.sbb-stipendien.de/sbb-start

Other funding options
If you are looking for other ways to fund your studies, you can find further information on the ‘Support and Funding’ webpage

There are various ways to prepare for studies.
On our ‘Preparing for Studies’ page, you will find plenty of information on self-assessment, guidance and preparatory courses.