Studying without “Abitur”

Applicants with prior professional training and experience who do not have an Abitur or an equivalent secondary school leaving certificate can take an entrance examination to gain admission to a bachelor’s degree program offered by the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences.The entrance examination is subject-specific. Successful candidates are only qualified for the bachelor’s degree program for which they have taken the examination.

Applicants with prior professional training who have succesfully passed certain advanced professional exams need not apply for the university entrance exam. To check if you belong to this group, please visit the CampusCenter web site of the Universität Hamburg.

General requirements for studying without a secondary school leaving certificate:

Prospective students wishing to take the entrance examination must have completed an apprenticeship and subsequently gained 3 years of professional experience. These requirements apply to all bachelor’s degree programs offered by the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences (except the BA in Socioeconomics).

Before submitting an application, consult the website of Universität Hamburg's Campus Center to find out about admission requirements and the application process. The website also offers academic orientation services.

Special requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Socioeconomics

The degree program in Socioeconomics has a long tradition of accepting students without standard qualifications. As early as 1948, the interdisciplinary precursor of today’s Bachelor of Arts in Socioeconomics established the practice of admitting professionals without the usual secondary school qualifications.

Prospective students of the program are required to take a special entrance examination. It takes place at the Department of Socioeconomics. Special admission requirements and application deadlines apply.

Consult the website of the Socioeconomics Academic Office to find out if you are eligible for the examination, how the examination works, and when it takes place.