Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

General questions

You have the Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (HZB) if your school-leaving certificate is recognized in Germany. If you meet all other application requirements, you are allowed to study at a German university.

Visit ANABIN to find out whether your school-leaving certificate meets the requirements. If it is not possible to start studying directly, you must attend the preparatory college.

Information on the accepted language certificates can be found here.

Please read the FAQ on the uni-assist website. If you have any further questions, please contact the Student Service Center (SSC).

No, you don't need an appointment. You can simply stop by during office hours.

Questions about the exam

One examination is offered each semester, i.e. two per year. A preparatory course is also offered each semester. You can find an overview here.

Information on registration can be found here. Only complete documents will be considered.

Yes, you do not have to take part in a preparatory course or apply for a place at h_da.

No. To register for the DSH, you do not need admission from Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences.

No. In order to register for the DSH, level C1 must be proven.

No. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences only offers the DSH.

No. Each preparatory course takes a whole semester, i.e. about three and a half months. Participation in the course is only possible from the start of the course.

Information on the examination results can be found here.

No. We cannot provide exam materials for practice purposes. You can find tips on useful materials for preparing for the exam here.

At h_da, you can submit the certificate at a later date, i.e. when you officially enrol (Immatrikulation). If you wish to apply to other universities, you must enquire about the conditions there.

Yes, DSH certificates from registered universities are recognized throughout Germany. You can find an overview of the registered universities here (see download area at the bottom right "List of DSH registrations").

Questions about the Preparatory German Course

Information on registration can be found here.

No. However, you do need a university entrance qualification (see above). Please also note that you can only apply via the uni-assist application portal. You can apply directly for a place in the course.

Registration for the summer semester is possible in the preceding winter semester and vice versa.

Deadline for the winter semester: 15 July (application possible from the beginning of May)

Deadline for the summer semester: 15 January (application possible from the beginning of November)

Places are allocated according to the time of receipt of the application.

Yes, as soon as you have paid the semester fee, you will receive the semester ticket.

You have two options:

1) You first register for the Preparatory German Course (and only that) via uni-assist. As soon as you take part in the preparatory course, you can then also apply for a degree program for the following semester via my.h-da.de.

2) You apply for a degree program before you have even attended the preparatory course (if you have a corresponding language certificate - requirements differ from those for mere enrolment in the preparatory course). If you receive conditional admission to a degree program, you can attend the preparatory course first and have your application transferred to the next semester. In this case, you do not have to reapply via uni-assist. For the transfer of yor application and any other questions regarding the application process, please contact the Student Service Center (SSC)

However, if you change your mind about your subject if or you decide to study at a different university, you will need to re-apply.

Yes, you can apply for a place in a hall of residence, but please note that places are limited. There may be waiting times.

See the link to BAföG in the info box on this page.

Generally, the study preparation course takes place at the Darmstadt campus. If circumctances do not allow for teaching to take place on campus (e.g. pandemic), the course may be offered online.

Can I take the course again?

If you do not pass the DSH or do not achieve a sufficient result, you can attend the course again once, i.e. twice in total.