In accordance with § 17 para. 5, of the Act on the Autonomy of Institutions of Higher Education in the Free State of Saxony (Sächsisches Hochschulfreiheitsgesetz – SächsHSFG), individuals without a German Abitur, but who have a vocational education and at least three years of work experience can apply to study their chosen degree program after passing a university entrance examination.

Requirements for taking a university entrance examination

1. Successful completion of at least two years of state-regulated vocational training. Vocational education is defined as:

• Training in a recognized vocation in accordance with the Vocational Training Act,
• Graduation from a vocational school (Berufsfachschule) or technical school (Fachschule), the entry requirements for which included a graduation certificate from middle school (Mittelschule) or a comparable recognized certificate,
• Completion of vocational training with the Facharbeiterbrief (skilled worker’s certificate) of the German Democratic Republic, or
• Completion of training in the mid- or upper-level of civil service

2. Proof of three years of work experience in your learned profession.

3. Participation in a consultation with the Central Student Information and Counseling Service at TU Dresden. The consultation must be undertaken with the Central Student Information and Counseling Service and can be carried out during office hours, by arranging an on-site appointment or via telephone. This offers you the opportunity to clear up any questions you may have about studying. You will not be evaluated during the consultation. Please fill out the form, which serves as proof that you attended the consultation, and bring it with you to your appointment. If you opt for a telephone consultation, we will send the form to you. You can find more information about the consultation here.

Applying for a university entrance examination

The application period for applying to participate in a university entrance examination begins on December 15 and ends on January 15 each year (cut-off period). After successfully passing the university entrance examination, you can apply for your desired degree program at TU Dresden. Admission restrictions (NC) or other enrollment requirements also apply to individuals who have passed the entrance examination.

Address:
TU Dresden
Admissions Office   
01062 Dresden

Application documents

• Application form for participation in a university entrance examination
• A copy of your vocational training certificate
• Proof of professional experience in your learned vocation certified by your employer (original copy)
• Proof of participation in a consultation with the Central Student Information and Counseling Service at TU Dresden
• Indication of which TU Dresden degree program you would like to enroll in (see application form)
• Indication of the foreign language in which the written examination is to be held (see application form)
• Signed CV in tabular form (word processed if possible)

Admission decision

TU Dresden’s Access Committee for University Entrance Examinations decides who may take the university entrance examination.

Content of the university entrance examination

The university entrance examination is split into the following sections:

1. German language
Four-hour written examination (essay) on a cultural, political, societal or economic topic. There are three topics for you to choose from.

2. Foreign language
Four-hour written examination relating to a text (reading comprehension and essay-style responses / you are expected to formulate statements in the foreign language).

3. Mathematics

Four-hour written examination with complex math problems that can originate from the areas of
                – Differential calculus and integral calculus
                – Analytic geometry and linear algebra
                – Stochastics.

4. > General subject corresponding to your intended course of study
Four-hour written examination

5. General knowledge related to your desired degree program

(only if you passed the written part of the examination; takes place around mid-June)
This is a 30–45 minute interview to determine whether the candidate has the general knowledge necessary for studying their chosen degree program at TU Dresden.

You will pass the overall university entrance examination if you pass all sections individually.

Crediting of examined assessments

Sections of the examination can be credited upon request, providing you submit similar graded certificates (for example from adult education centers (Volkshochschule) or other state-recognized educational institutions), which are equivalent to sections of the university entrance examination. TU Dresden’s Access Committee for University Entrance Examinations will make a decision on crediting by the first examination appointment.

Repeating the university entrance examination

If you fail the exam, you may retake it just once. If you passed some sections of the examination the first time around, you may have these credited towards the repeat examination upon request.  Repeat examinations can only be taken on one of the next two scheduled exam dates.
Candidates lose their right to repeat the examination if they miss the registration deadline, unless the candidate missed the deadline due to reasons beyond their control.
If you do not pass the repeat examination, the entrance examination is irrevocably failed.

Timeline for the university entrance examination

Proof of university entrance qualifications for all undergraduate degree programs

For enrollment, all degree programs require a copy of your TU Dresden university entrance examination certificate as well as proof that you attended the consultation with Central Student Information and Counseling Service. For degree programs with restricted admission (NC degree programs), these documents will be requested after you have been admitted to the program. Please visit this page for information on the selection process for NC degree programs for individuals with vocational qualifications

Applications for Medicine, Dentistry or Human Medicine

For the restricted admission degree programs of Medicine, Dentistry or Human Medicine, 0.5% of the available places are set aside for individuals with vocational qualifications as part of the NC selection process. Click here to open the application form for individuals with vocational qualifications You must submit this application form along with all required documents to TU Dresden by July 15 at the latest.

Consultation (mandatory)

The consultation must be undertaken with the Central Student Information and Counseling Service and can be carried out during office hours, by arranging an on-site appointment or via telephone. This offers you the opportunity to clear up any questions you may have about studying. You will not be evaluated during the consultation. You can find more information about complaints procedures here.

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Admissions Office

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Contact Information

Address work

Visiting address:

Fritz-Foerster-Bau, Ground Floor Mommsenstr. 6

01069 Dresden

Address postal

Postal address:

TUD Dresden University of Technology Admissions Office Helmholtzstr. 10

01069 Dresden

work Tel.

For security reasons, students are asked to only write to us from their TUD email address.

Office hours:

Tuesday:

13:00 - 15:30

personally in the office

Thursday:

13:00 - 15:30

personally in the office

Please note different opening hours for Medicine and Dental Medicine

Office hours by phone:

Tuesday:

09:00 - 11:00

Wednesday:

09:00 - 11:00

Friday:

09:00 - 11:00

Contact with the admissions office is always made via the Student Service Center.