Application

University entrance qualification

A German or international university entrance qualification (HZB) as required by Section 18 of the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act (NHG).

If you did not obtain your university entrance qualification in German, you will need to provide proof of your German language skills in addition to your university entrance qualification (more on this under “Upload documents”).

Completed apprenticeship

A successfully completed apprenticeship as a recognised occupational therapist, speech therapist, respiration and elocution instructor or physiotherapist.

If a comparable apprenticeship has been completed, a nominated professor for the field of study will decide on admission.

Applicants must:

• either pass the placement test
• or have successfully completed the university modules that form part of the cooperation with partner institutions.

Registering for the placement test

In order to take the written and oral placement test, you must submit an application with a two-page letter of motivation and your CV with a photo.

Please send your application to Katrin Babucke, either by email or by post.

The deadlines for applications are:

• 10 June for winter semester
• 1 November for summer semester

Requirements for the placement test

A. Before the placement test

When invited to the placement test, applicants receive a specialised English text which they are asked to study and use to self-assess their English language skills. The way in which the text is studied and its content will be part of the oral placement test.

B. Written placement test

This is a 3-hour written examination in which the following tasks are to be completed:

• identify the main ideas from an academic text in German and write your own opinion on the text you have read,
• analyse different perspectives of a given case based on a given question and design a possible approach for this case.

C. Oral placement test

The 30-minute oral examination focuses on English language skills, educational and professional background and motivation to study. To help us prepare, we use the text you submitted about your educational and professional background. The entire discussion is conducted in German.

Day of placement test

The placement test for winter semester 2025/26 will take place on 7 July 2025 in presence at the HAWK in Hildesheim. The persons interested will receive further information together with the invitation to the placement test.

Otherwise, the placement test usually takes place on the first Monday of June (application for winter semester) or on the first Monday of December (application for summer semester).

More detailed information on the date and times will be included in the invitation letter, which is sent out to candidates approximately 2 weeks after the application deadline.

Candidates will be sent certification indicating whether they have passed or failed the test approximately 2 weeks after they have taken it. Once you hear that you have passed, you can submit an online application immediately.

Applying through the HAWK Study Portal

Applications should be submitted online through the HAWK Study Portal (in German). The portal closes at 23:59 on the final day of the application period.

Enter the required application and enrolment information in the Study Portal.

Information sheet

You will find step-by-step instructions in the online application information sheet.

During the online application process, you upload your application documents to the HAWK Study Portal.

Mandatory documents: all applicants

• Proof of university entrance qualification
• CV in tabular form, including a passport photograph
• Proof of vocational training

Additional documents with regard to international university entrance qualifications

Translation of the university entrance qualification: If your university entrance qualification is not in German, you upload:

• a copy of the original qualification; and
• a sworn translation of the qualification in English or German

Proof of German language competence: If your university entrance qualification was not acquired in German, please upload one of the following proofs of German language proficiency:

• Level 4 TestDaF issued by the TestDaF Institute
• DSH (German Language Test for University Entrance) Level 2
• Goethe Certificate C2
• telc certificate in German C1 University
• DSD (German Language Diploma of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs) Level 2

If you do not yet have sufficient proficiency in German or are unsure whether your language skills are sufficient, please consult the International applicants page.

Additional documents for specific cases

• Certificate of exmatriculation (if you have previously studied elsewhere)
• Certification of military service, civilian service or voluntary service (if applicable)
• Copy of passport and residence permit (if you do not hold German citizenship)
• Explanation in writing of your motivation for studying (for second degree applicants)
• Evidence of other criteria to be considered

Application for advanced semesters

• Records of achievement to enable you to be assigned to the appropriate level

By enrolling, you accept your place on the programme. To do so, proceed as follows:

1. Letter of admission

Successful applicants will be sent a letter of admission by post. The letter of admission can also be viewed as a PDF on the HAWK Study Portal.

Your letter of admission will outline the enrolment process and specify two deadlines for applying for enrolment.

2. Apply for enrolment online

If you wish to take up your place, the first thing you need to do once you have received your letter of admission is apply to enrol online via the Study Portal – by the first deadline set out in your letter of admission.

3. Upload enrolment documents

Once you have completed the online enrolment process, upload these documents to the Study Portal within the second specified deadline:

• enrolment documents (see information in the portal)
• any other documents specified in the letter of admission

The HAWK can only enrol you once you have uploaded all the documents required for enrolment.

If you do not upload the required documents with your application for enrolment, your application for enrolment will not be considered!