: Apr 2026

:
Apr 2026
The IB has a special recognition agreement with Kultusministerkonferenz (KMK) for the DP and MYP. For more information, please see the KMK website.

Students who need a visa, such as those from countries outside of the EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) are typically required to have:

  • Proof of admission to a university,
  • Proof of German language proficiency for German-only and mixed-language study programs or proof of English language proficiency for English and mixed-language study programs,
  • authenticated academic records or transcripts,
  • A curriculum vitae (CV),
  • A student’s self-written motivation letter,
  • Proof of means of subsistence (Finanzierungsnachweis), and
  • Proof of health insurance.


Students typically need to apply to the nearest German consulate or embassy to receive a visa.

For more information, please check with the nearest German consulate or embassy and see the Schengen Visa website.

Students are typically required to follow the instructions of application of their chosen university. Students may need to apply in different ways depending on the method of application set by a university. Universities typically request applications to be made through the following:

  • Directly to the university
  • Through a third party such as Uni-Assist


In some cases, universities will require the recognition of a foreign qualification which is done at one of the state recognition offices (Zeugnisanerkennungsstellen).

For more information, please check with each university. Please also see the Anerkennung in Deutschland website.

University admission guidelines for applications made via uni-assist

Students applying through Uni-Assist may need to apply through the Vorprüfungsdokumentation (VPD) procedure. Students should consult the Uni-Assist website to confirm whether their chosen university uses the standard or the VPD procedure. To obtain a certificate issued by uni-assist on the Vorprüfungsdokumentation (VPD) please see the Uni-Assist website.

All students should send the required documentation to uni-assist at least 6 to 8 weeks before the university application deadline. Documents required will typically include:

  • IB Diploma results, and
  • all available school reports from the final two school years issued by the student’s school


When schools provide the school report, it is highly recommended that the report includes the full DP subject name and level to avoid delays and misunderstandings, e.g. “Mathematics: analysis and approaches SL” rather than “Maths”. In addition, all available school reports should be sent at least 6-8 weeks before the application deadline. The final school report should also be provided before the deadline.

School reports often do not contain all the information required. Where Uni-Assist finds that not all the information required has been provided in the school report, the school will need to provide a clarification letter. If a final report is not issued at all, or it will be issued after the deadline, or if the subject names are not written in full IB terminology, it is best to submit a clarification letter from the school with the application for VPD certificate.

Additionally, some universities require officially certified copies (not printouts) of the documents to be sent by post. If a university requires certified copies, a school stamp and the IB Coordinator’s signature must appear on each school report.

After the release of IB results, students must submit a contact form and upload a screenshot to inform uni-assist that the results are available for verification.

In case there is no guarantee that the VPD certificate will be issued before the university application deadline, applicants are advised to check with the university if the VPD certificate will be accepted at a later date in case all documents were submitted, and online verification was available before the deadline.

Applicants with an IB Diploma from an earlier exam session need to submit their official IB Diploma. The verification via IBIS alone will not be sufficient but can replace an officially certified copy of the IB Diploma.

Access more information on the application processing time. Access guidelines on assembling the university application.

Other sources of information
The IB has created a free resource to support you in your learning process about universities around the world, and how the admissions process works in various countries. For more information, please visit our webpage.

Furthermore, for the most authoritative information please see the Anerkennung in Deutschland website.

Each university decides on its own language requirements.

Students wishing to do a German-only or mixed-language study programmes are typically required to demonstrate their German proficiency through one of the following tests:

  • TestDaF
  • DSH II or III
  • Goethe-Zertifikat C2,
  • telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule
  • DSD II


Students wishing to do an English and mixed-language study programs are typically required to demonstrate their English proficiency through one of the following tests:

  • TOEFL
  • IELTS


Some universities accept English DP language courses as evidence of English language proficiency.

However, requirements, including the tests and grades accepted will vary between universities. Please check with each university directly.

Students intending to study at a German university need to send their IB Diploma Programme transcripts to different institutes, depending on the university they apply to, and the “Applicant Group” determined by their institute. An applicant group is defined as applicants that share a similar background such as a similar educational background or the same citizenship (domestic or international). Each institute defines its own applicant groups. Therefore, it is important to check which transcript destination the university and programme of choice require for each student and their specific situation.

Before graduation: A University Careers Counsellor (UCC) or Diploma Programme Coordinator (DPC) needs to send transcripts to the appropriate institute depending on the applicant group.

After graduation: Students need to submit a copy of their IB diploma certificate and final results certificate, by post, to the final destination (this could be any of the various destinations mentioned below) which is indicated in their application.

Transcript Destinations: 

  • Uni-Assist: is the central point of contact for applicants with international qualifications for approximately 170 German universities. On this page you can find all universities for which Uni-assist process transcripts. Important: Uni-Assist does not automatically verify all results which IBO makes available to them. Therefore, it is necessary for the applicant to contact them as soon as results have been released (at least 6-8 weeks before the application deadline) and upload IB results (unofficial) to their “My assist” account. Regardless of the verification of IB results, Uni-Assist still needs the reports from the last two school years, often also from the last two years of the middle school (MYP 4 and 5). For most universities, these are require as officially certified copies. 

  • Individual Institutes: over 400 universities accept transcripts directly. Please check the institute’s instructions clearly of where transcripts need to be submitted. Tip on IBIS search for institute name: Search for both the English and German name in the search box.

  • Hochschulstart.de (Hochschulstart Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung (Hochschulstart foundation for university admission): Central body that processes applications for over 700 local Numerus Clausus (NC) courses and medical related national NC courses (i.e. medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry and pharmacy). 

  • State Education Boards and State Recognition Offices: Some universities are not covered under Uni-Assist, and transcripts need to be sent to the state boards. However, most state boards require the transcripts for verification purposes.  You might be instructed by the institute to send the transcript both to Uni-Assist and to a state education board. 


:
Schools have no restrictions on what programmes can be taught and the DP can be taught in schools.

For more information, please check with the relevant state body.
By meeting the recognition requirements, DP graduates achieve a qualification equivalent to Abitur.

For more information, please see other sections on recognition of the DP.

The IB has an agreement with the Kultusministerkonferenz (KMK) on the recognition of the DP. A summary of this is as follows:
(Resolution of the Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of 10/03/1986, as amended on 24/03/2022)

  1. An 'International Baccalaureate Diploma/Diplôme du Baccalauréat International' issued in accordance with the regulations of the 'International Baccalaureate Organization/Office du Baccalauréat International' shall be recognized as a university entrance qualification if it has been obtained after attending at least twelve years of full-time education in ascending year groups, and if the following requirements are met:

  2. The six examination subjects taken for the 'International Baccalaureate Diploma/Diplôme du Baccalauréat International' (IB) must include the following subjects, referred to here by their official IB title:

  • two languages at level A or B (of which at least one advanced foreign language as 'Language A' or 'Language B HL' ),

  • one natural science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics),

  • mathematics (Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches or
    Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation

  • one social science (History, Geography, Economics, Psychology, Philosophy, Social Anthropology, Business Management, Global Politics).

The sixth compulsory subject may be one of the above or one of the following subjects, referred to here by their official IB title:

  • Art/Design, Music, Theatre Arts, Film, Literature and Performance, an additional modern foreign language, Latin, Classical Greek, General Chemistry, Applied Chemistry, Environmental Systems, Computer Science, Design Technology, World Religions, Sports Exercise and Health Science, Digital Society.

  1. At least one of the three DP subjects taken at Higher Level must be either a language subject, Mathematics or a natural science subject (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) according to number 1a), 1st to 3rd indent. This applies from exam year 2025. Up to and including the exam year 2024, the version of the agreement dated 24 March 2022 applies.

  2. All subjects must have been studied continuously as part of the 'IB Diploma Programme', i.e. in two ascending year groups.

  3. Pupils must have obtained at least IB grade 4 in the six compulsory subjects.

If an IB grade of 3 has been obtained in only one subject, this can be compensated for if a minimum IB grade of 5 and a minimum total of 24 points have been obtained in another subject of at least the same level of difficulty.

  1. German qualification holders attending an IB school abroad that does not offer German as a subject must provide proof of competence in German before starting higher education in Germany; the further details are governed by federal state provisions.

  2. If the conditions under paragraph 1 have not been met, in order for recognition as a university entrance qualification to be granted, the pupil must successfully pass an additional examination in accordance with the 'Framework Decree on the Recognition of Foreign University Entrance Qualifications, Preparatory Courses and the Assessment Test' (Resolution of the Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of 15/04/1994, as amended). Recognition as a subject-specific university entrance qualification is also possible on the basis of successful completion of a one-year higher education course in a country whose school leaving certificates qualify graduates for entrance to university in Germany directly or after successful completion of a one-year course of study.

  3. The average grade for an 'International Baccalaureate Diploma/Diplôme du Baccalauréat International' is calculated in the country in which the qualification is issued. This shall be subject to the procedure set out in the 'Agreement on Determining the Overall Grade for Foreign University Entrance Qualifications' (Resolution of the Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of 15/03/1991, as amended) together with the following IB-specific rules.

The average grade (N) is calculated based on the total number of points (P) obtained in the 'International Baccalaureate Diploma/Diplôme du Baccalauréat International', and on a maximum score (Pmax) of 42 and a minimum score (Pmin) of 24. Any bonus points obtained are included in the calculation. Total scores between 42 (Pmax) and 45 (highest possible IB score when including the maximum available 3 bonus points) are deemed equivalent to the German grade 1.0.
The conversion is performed using the following formula:
N=1+3Pmax-P
   Pmax-Pmin
where
N=average grade to be calculated 
P=total score received for IB diploma 
Pmax=42 points (IB total score without bonus points) 
Pmin=24 points (lower benchmark) 
N =  1.0 (for 42≤P≤45) 

  1. The IBO shall regularly update the Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs about any changes to the final examination (requirements, content, organization), and shall give the German Schools Inspectorate the opportunity to inspect the work being done by the schools. If there is a need for consultation, or at the request of one of the federal states, the Advisory Committee of the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) shall assess whether the criteria for recognition of the IB are still met.

  2. This resolution shall enter into force on the date of its adoption by the Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs.

The unofficial English translation of the agreements can be found here. The German version of the updated agreements can be found on the KMK website under Beschlüsse der Kultusministerkonferenz > IB-Diploma.
This 1991 article “Das Internationale Bakkalaureat - Wegbereiter einer weltweiten Erziehung und Bildung” by Elisabeth Fox traces the origins of the IB and its early development, the experimental period of the 70s and university recognition and an account of the IB curriculum. For more information, please see the V&R website.
The IB has created a free resource to support you in your learning process about universities around the world, and how the admissions process works in various countries. For more information, please visit our webpage.
 
DP Online
In line with the KMK Recognition agreement and the German legislation on compulsory schooling and school attendance, the on-line Diploma Programme (presently delivered as a pilot) and DP courses delivered to a student solely on-line, are not currently recognized by the German authorities. Therefore, IB Diplomas that contain on-line DP courses are not eligible to access universities in Germany. Schools are strongly advised to communicate this information to the students interested in studying in Germany during the DP subject selection process.

This does not apply to DP courses, normally taught in school, where adjustments have been made due to COVID-19 related restrictions, which are accepted.

DP Mathematics
All DP Mathematics courses (Mathematics: analysis and approaches and Mathematics: applications and interpretation) are recognized by the German authorities and provide access to university admissions, provided that all the standard requirements, as outlined in the KMK Recognition agreement, are met. Please note that DP Mathematics courses at HL provide unrestricted access to admissions for all university programmes, while the DP Mathematics courses at SL provide a subject-specific access, unless they are accompanied by an optional 16-hour module on vectors that needs to be taught to all DP Mathematics SL students at the school, based on the signed Agreement for schools, should the school wish for their students to take advantage of this opportunity. Students who plan to apply to university programmes that do not require Mathematics at HL, are eligible to access university admissions without the additional module, provided that all other requirements are met. Schools are encouraged to consider this information before committing to teaching the additional module and signing the Agreement. The module resources, as well as the template of the Agreement for schools, are published on the Programme Resource Centre (PRC) in the DP university admissions section.
 

Additional recognition notes
All DP subjects must have been studied continuously as part of the Diploma Programme, i. e. in two ascending year groups. IB Diplomas with anticipated exams are not accepted. Subject changes, as well as subject level changes, during the course of the programme, are not recognized.

Language selection:

  • Language ab initio only accepted as the 6th subject
  • One of the languages must be an advanced foreign language as Language A or Language B HL
  • For students who are unable to receive instruction in their mother tongue at their school, a corresponding School-supported self-taught course is recognized as Language A: Literature SL
  • Some universities will accept DP German language courses as an evidence of German language proficiency and some will not. Please check with each university directly.  


School-based grade transcripts must include full DP subject names, e.g. Mathematics: analysis and approaches SL instead of DP Maths AA SL

German authorities and organizations that process university application, such as uni-assist or DAAD, may request the applicant’s IB World School for an additional letter in case the school-based grade transcripts do not provide all the required information. 
 


:
Schools have no restrictions on what programmes can be taught and DP Courses can be taught in schools.

For more information, please check with the relevant state body.

:
Schools have no restrictions on what programmes can be taught and the CP can be taught in schools.

For more information, please check with the relevant state body.

:
Schools have no restrictions on what programmes can be taught and the MYP can be taught in schools.

For more information, please check with the relevant state body.
Kultusministerkonferenz (KMK) has determined that the MYP results may be equivalent to mittlere Schulabschluss.
  • For students in IB schools in Germany, this can be achieved with or without MYP Certificates through eAssessment.
  • For students in IB schools outside of Germany, this must be achieved with MYP Certificates through eAssessment.

The unofficial English translation of the agreement can be found here. The German version of the updated agreements can be found on the KMK website under Beschlüsse der Kultusministerkonferenz > IB-Diploma.
On a case-by-case basis, a student can achieve recognition of the MYP results through the local office for recognition of foreign qualifications (Zeugnisanerkennungsstelle).

For more information, please check with the relevant state body.

:
Schools have no restrictions on what programmes can be taught and the PYP can be taught in schools.

For more information, please check with the relevant state body.