Enrollment: Bachelor’s Degrees and First State Examination in Law

At the University of Potsdam, enrollment in open-admission bachelor’s degree programs (no NC) for the first semester is only possible for the winter semester, and you must enroll within the official enrollment period. You can check whether a program is restricted or open admission in the Degree Programs overview (PDF). For programs with multiple subjects, a complete subject combination is always required. If not all subjects in your chosen program are open admission, you must first apply for admission to that subject.

Enrollment in admission-restricted programs (UP NC) is only possible if you have received an offer of admission following a prior application. You can view the outcome of your application(s) after the admission process has been completed (expected in mid-February for the summer semester and mid-August for the winter semester) in the PULS portal and on hochschulstart.de. The official admission decision will also be made available to you in your account on hochschulstart.de. 

1. Recognition of your university entrance qualification in the State of Brandenburg

If you have earned your university entrance qualification outside Germany, you must first have it recognized for the state of Brandenburg before applying for first-year entry or transfer entry into a higher semester at the University of Potsdam. You can have your qualification recognized through one of the following options:

• Staatliches Schulamt Cottbus: Submit the required documents for the recognition of your university entrance qualification to the State School Authority Cottbus (Staatliches Schulamt Cottbus). Please also see the information sheet on their website. You will receive an official certificate confirming your eligibility to study at a university in the state of Brandenburg and your converted final grade. You can then apply to the University of Potsdam via the PULS portal, submitting this certificate and a copy of your university entrance qualification.
  or
• uni-assist e.V.: Alternatively, you can use the application service provided by uni-assist e.V. To do so, register in the uni-assist online portal and select “Universität Potsdam-VPD” under “University.” Upload all required documents for the evaluation of your qualification. You will receive a VPD (preliminary review documentation) confirming your eligibility for university study and your converted grade. You can then apply to the University of Potsdam via the PULS portal, submitting your VPD and a copy of your university entrance qualification.

Important: Please allow sufficient processing time. Proof of recognition must be submitted to the University of Potsdam by the application deadline. 

2. German language requirements

If you have earned your university entrance qualification outside Germany, you must also provide proof of sufficient German language proficiency (e.g., DSH 2 or TestDaf 4x4). 

3. Preparatory courses

Please also explore the preparatory courses offered by the University of Potsdam for international applicants.

The exact documents you need to upload will be shown in the PULS portal, based on the information you provide in your application. Requirements vary depending on your individual application. Please note that all documents must be uploaded in PULS; documents submitted by post will not be accepted. All required documents must be uploaded by the application deadline (late submissions will not be accepted).

Documents marked “if applicable” are only required if they apply to your situation.

• University entrance qualification
• Proof of identity (ID card or passport). If you hold a second citizenship, also provide a copy of the relevant passport or naturalization certificate. The document must show your full name, date of birth, and validity period. You may redact all other information. It is used solely for identification purposes and will be deleted after successful enrollment.
• If the name on your documents differs from the information in PULS: official proof of name change
• For applicants who obtained their university entrance qualification outside Germany: proof of sufficient German language proficiency at C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
  Exceptions: For the program Angewandete Kultur- und Translationsstudien (deutsch-polnisch), B2 level German is sufficient. For the program Anglophone Postcolonial Studies, no German language proficiency is required. 
• Complete chronological CV from the age of 16
• Biometric passport photo
• Electronic proof of health insurance coverage that meets statutory requirements for your intended semester of enrollment. Please note: You must request the “Meldung nach Meldegrund M10 für die Universität Potsdam” (Absendernummer H0001228) from your German statutory health insurance provider. The provider will send this information directly to the University of Potsdam. This notification is required even if you are exempt from statutory health insurance.
  Proof of private health insurance coverage alone is not sufficient. You must contact a German statutory health insurance provider of your choice and request a statement confirming that you are exempt from statutory health insurance.
• If applicable: documents relating to previous studies:
  • For placement in a higher semester of an open-admission program: official placement in the requested semester by the responsible examination board
  • If applicable: Semester Placement Request Form reviewed by the relevant examination board at the University of Potsdam, confirming placement in the first semester of your intended degree program. This is required if you were previously enrolled in a related program but cannot provide sufficient evidence of transferable coursework that would justify placement in a higher semester.
  • De-registration certificate(s) from the most recently attended higher education institution(s) in Germany, including your program of study, the total number of semesters enrolled at university (Hochschulsemester), and the number of semesters completed in that program (Fachsemester)
    • If this information is missing from the de-registration certificate(s): your most recent certificate of enrollment showing your program of study and semesters
    • Documents relating to previous degrees (final transcript and degree certificate)
    • Complete documentation of all previous periods of study, including information on the program of study and the number of semesters completed in that program (certificates of enrollment, confirmation of periods of study)
• If applicable, supporting documents required to apply for concurrent enrollment in two degree programs (Doppelstudium) or concurrent enrollment at two universities (Parallelstudium)
• For applicants under 16 (minors): general consent form (PDF) signed by a parent or legal guardian

Additional documents for specific subjects

• Anglistik/Amerikanistik, Englisch (except Förderpädagogik Englisch) and Anglophone Postcolonial Studies, first semester
  Proof of passing the entrance examination or an equivalent qualification
• Förderpädagogik Englisch
  Proof of passing the entrance examination or an equivalent qualification
• Französisch / Spanisch
  Proof of passing the entrance examination or an equivalency certificate issued by the examination board of the Institute of Romance Studies
• Polnisch / Russisch
  Proof of passing the entrance examination or an equivalency certificate issued by the examination board of the Institute of Slavic Studies
• Latein
  Proof of passing the entrance examination or an equivalency certificate issued by the examination board of Classical Philology
• Kunst
  Proof of passing the entrance examination
• Musik
  Proof of passing the entrance examination
• Sport, Sporttherapie und Prävention, and Sportmanagement
  Proof of passing the University of Potsdam sports entrance examination or an equivalency certificate issued by the examination board confirming recognition of an entrance examination taken at another university