Application and admission
This information only applies to applicants who wish to complete a Bachelor's or Master's degree at the Hochschule Bremen, not to exchange students.
The same general deadlines and conditions apply to international applicants as to applicants with a German higher education entrance qualification. You will find the possible further requirements for international applicants on this page.
If your school leaving certificate or Bachelor's degree was acquired abroad, please
first apply to uni-assist for the VDP pre-assessment documentation (Vorprüfungsdokumentation (VPD).
The VDP is a certificate issued by uni-assist. It contains the following information:
When you receive the VPD from uni-assist, you apply with it directly to HSB. If you use the application portal CampInO you must upload the VPD.
If the Bachelor's degree programme you wish to study is coordinated via Hochschulstart, you must register with Hochschulstart.de beforehand.
It will take uni-assist approximately four to six weeks to process your application. You should therefore plan ahead and request the VPD as early as possible.
If your educational certificates do not qualify you for direct university access, you must first complete a preparatory course (Studienkolleg), for example at Here Ahead.
If one of the following cases applies to you, do not apply for a pre-assessment documentation (VPD) from uni-assist.
Degree programmes: Find out about the degree programmes you can choose from at HSB.
Language skills: For many degree programmes, you have to prove that you have sufficient German language skills when applying.
Finances: Take care of how to finance your studies in good time.
Application: Find out about deadlines, admission requirements and necessary documents in good time.
Admission and enrolment: If your application was successful, you must formally accept your place and formally enrol.
Visa: Depending on which country you come from, you may need a visa to enter Germany and study here.
Health insurance: In order to apply for a visa and to be able to enrol at the HSB, you need to have proof of sufficient health insurance.
Living in Bremen: Start looking for accommodation in Bremen in good time.
Register at the Stadtamt: After you have found accommodation and moved to Bremen, you must register here. Only then can you apply for your residence permit, if necessary.
Starting your studies: Find out in good time about preliminary courses, your timetable, and other details
Here you will find a list of counselling services at the Hochschule Bremen:
Depending on your home country, you may need a visa to enter Germany.
To apply for a visa, you will need:
Apply for your visa as early as possible, as the processing of the application can take several months.
Please make sure that you apply for a visa for study purposes. A simple tourist visa is not sufficient.
Here you can find further information on visa applications:
Residence
Once you have arrived in Bremen, you must register with the City of Bremen.
Students from non-EU countries must then apply for a residence permit at the branch of the Foreign Nationals' Registration Office (Außenstelle des Ausländeramts) on the campus of the University of Bremen:
BSU Bremen Service University Bibliothekstraße
D-28359 Bremen
(Uni Bremen Central Area, Glass Hall Level 0)
If you live outside Bremen, the registration offices and foreign nationals' offices in your place of residence are responsible for you.
In order to enrol at the HSB, you need to have adequate health insurance. Since 01.01.2022, health insurance coverage must be proven by an electronic notification of a statutory health insurance company in the "Studentisches Meldeverfahren" (SMV) of the health insurance companies.
Students from EU countries and from countries with social security agreements
European students who are in possession of a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) are sufficiently insured. The health insurance of students from countries that have a social security agreement with Germany is also valid in Germany. Important: Health insurance coverage must be guaranteed throughout your studies.
When you arrive in Germany, contact any German statutory health insurance fund so that the necessary electronic notification is generated in the SMV.
If you are taking up a part-time job in Germany, you will need German health insurance cover.
Students whose home country is not part of the EU must take out insurance with a German health insurance company. Under certain circumstances, private health insurance from your home country may also be sufficient. You must clarify this with your insurance company.
After you arrived in Germany, an electronic notification must be generated by a German statutory health insurance fund.
Proof of health insurance for the visa application
You can already arrange for German health insurance and receive confirmation that you have it before you actually come to Germany. You can then use this confirmation to apply for your visa at a German representation in your home country.
Ask your German health insurance company when they need to submit the notification in the electronic notification procedure (SMV) to the university.
! Note
Foreign health or travel insurance policies that limit treatment costs, the scope of benefits or the duration cannot be recognised.
Are you older than 30?
As a rule, students who have reached the age of 30 can no longer be compulsorily insured in the student health insurance scheme (exceptions may be possible!). They can either continue to be insured voluntarily in the statutory health insurance or switch to a private health insurance. Please also trigger an electronic notification of a German statutory health insurance in the SMV.
The service number of HSB for the SMV procedure is H0001065
The generel health insurance number of HSB ist is 202 602 89
You will need a bank account in Germany for your stay in order to be able to transfer rent, semester fees and other payments easily – and free of charge. You can open an account at any bank of your choice.
Please bear in mind that you will have to pay a few high sums at the beginning of your stay (e.g. first rent, deposit for the room, liability and health insurance contribution). For your visa application, you must also provide proof that you can finance a whole year’s stay in Germany.
Student grants/Funding
Take a look at the overview of potential sources of funding. Pay attention to the application deadlines!
Also use the DAAD scholarship database in your search for suitable funding opportunities.
Check for possible funding opportunities in your home country.
Part-time job/work permit
Students who come from European Union countries do not need a work permit to work alongside their studies.
Non-EU/EEA Students. Under the new law, as of March 1, 2024, international students, including those in preparatory programs for university, have an increased annual working limit from 120 to 140 full days or 240 to 280 half days. Alternatively, they can work up to 20 hours per week.
If you want to work for a longer period, you need a special permit from the employment agency.
Information on part-time jobs for students and the legal requirement