Studying without a high school diploma
Education and, in particular, a degree are the key to success and personal satisfaction. Many people have the desire to advance their education and with that their career. But what do you do if you don’t have a high school diploma?
Perhaps you have a different graduation qualification and have completed vocational training and have years of professional experience. Or you have the “Fachhochschulreife” and don’t know exactly what you can study. No problem! There are several ways to complete your desired course of study without an “Abitur” or A-Levels.
Why do you need a high school diploma to study?
In Germany, the “Abitur” (A-Levels) is the generally recognized higher education entrance qualification that entitles students to study at universities and universities of applied sciences.
There are several reasons why the “Abitur” is considered a prerequisite for studying. On the one hand, the “Abitur” ensures that students have a certain level of education and a broad general knowledge. This is particularly important as studying at a university is at a high level and requires a solid foundation. On the other hand, the “Abitur” is also an indicator of the ability to successfully complete a course of study. It shows that students are able to understand complex relationships, think abstractly and work independently. Of course, you can also have these skills if you don’t have a high school diploma.
What admission requirements do you have to fulfill to study without a high school diploma?
There are various ways to studywithout an “Abitur”:
- Completed three-year vocational training
If you have a secondary school leaving certificate and have completed three years of vocational training with a final grade of 2.5 or better, then you will have a technical university entrance qualification and can start your studies without any problems.
Some universities require a certain number of years of professional experience, often two years, while others only require completed vocational training.
Even with a final grade of less than 2.5, there are still opportunities to start your dream degree course.
- Taking a university entrance examination
If the final grade of your apprenticeship is lower than 2.5, you still have the opportunity to study with a university entrance exam
Depending on the course of study, this examination covers various subjects such as mathematics, German, English and natural sciences. Depending on the university, other subjects may also be examined. To prepare for the exam, there are various preparation courses, books and sample tasks that are made available to you. Costs of around EUR 200 are incurred for the entire test.
- State-recognized vocational training plus professional experience and university entrance exam
There are generally higher hurdles for studying without a high school diploma or qualified vocational training.
Admission to the course requires a degree in a state-recognized training occupation and at least two years of professional experience in a field related to the desired course of study. In addition, a separate university entrance examination must be passed, as explained in the second section.
It is important to note that the admission requirements for studying without an Abitur can vary depending on the university and federal state.
If you are still not sure whether you can be admitted to a degree program, then send us your documents. We will check them for you without obligation and give you feedback.
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