The information provided on this page is for German applicants who hold an international university entrance qualification and for German or international applicants with an OIB or AbiBac qualification.
Do you have a qualification that isn’t included here? Separate information on applying is provided for citizens from countries within the EU/
German applicants who took the Abitur abroad usually need to submit a document which recognizes their qualification as equivalent to a qualification issued in Germany. In Baden-Württemberg, the Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart is responsible for recognizing qualifications. We also accept qualifications that have been certified by a Department of Evaluation and Recognition for Certificates of Education in another Land.
It is important that the document confirms that your international qualification is equivalent to a German university entrance qualification. It must also include a converted grade and the date of the qualification.
Don’t forget to include copies of your international university entrance qualification and the document that recognizes your qualification as equivalent to a German qualification with your application. Please note that we can only accept international documents if they have been either issued in German or English language or translated into one of these two languages. In case the documents you would like to submit have been issued in another language, you need to submit a translation of the relevant documents in German or English in addition to the copy of the original certificate.
If your university entrance qualification is not sufficient for admission to a program at the University of Mannheim, this must be clearly indicated in the document that recognizes your qualification as equivalent to a German qualification. If this applies to you, we will enroll you at the Studienkolleg Heidelberg if your application to the University of Mannheim is successful.
Common International University Entrance Qualifications
You can find information on the common international university entrance qualifications below. If your qualification is not included here and you are looking for advice, please contact the Admissions Office.
International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)
In order for the IB to be recognized as a university entrance qualification, it has to fulfill certain criteria. The Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany has published information on recognizing the IB diploma. You can use this information to check whether your qualification is considered equivalent to a German university entrance qualification.
Agreement on the Recognition of the “International Baccalaureate Diploma / Diplôme du Baccalauréat International (15 June 2023) – valid from 2025
Agreement on the Recognition of the “International Baccalaureate Diploma / Diplôme du Baccalauréat International (24 March 2022) – valid until 2024
If you do not have your IB diploma by the application deadline, you can apply using your provisional transcript of grades.
If your IB diploma or transcript of records is not issued completely in English (e.g. name of the courses are stated in another language), please submit a certified translation into English of it in addition to the original documents.
German applicants who hold an International Baccalaureate need to submit their IB diploma and a document from a Department of Evaluation and Recognition for Certificates of Education (for example the Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart) which recognizes the IB as a university entrance qualification (see above). If you only have a transcript of grades you need to upload a provisional recognition of your IB.
The European Baccalaureate
The European Baccalaureate is accepted as a university entrance qualification in Germany. Upon request, the European Schools can issue a letter containing an average grade based on the German grading system. This letter must be submitted with your European Baccalaureate diploma.
A document from the Regierungspräsidium which recognizes your qualification as equivalent to a German qualification is therefore not required.
AbiBac and Baccalaureat Franco-Allemand
Both the AbiBac and the Baccalaureat Franco-Allemand are degrees that are fully recognized in both countries as university entrance qualifications without having to apply for equivalence first.
When applying, you must submit all documents concerning the university entrance qualification, i.e.
- the respective diploma with individual grades – the “Releve de notes” or the table of grades
- as well as the certificate of the German Abitur. This is either integrated into the certificate or is issued as a separate document. It is important that it confirms the equivalence to the German university entrance qualification (individually for the applicant) and shows the German average grade.
A document from the Regierungspräsidium which recognizes your qualification as equivalent to a German qualification is not required.
Please note that we can only accept international documents if they have been either issued in German or English language or translated into one of these two languages. In case the documents you would like to submit have been issued in another language, you need to submit a translation of the relevant documents in German or English in addition to the copy of the original certificate.
Option Internationale du Baccalauréat (OIB) / Baccalauréat Français International (BFI)
You need to submit your OIB / BFI diploma with the relevé des notes and confirmation from the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany (KMK) that you have obtained a German university entrance qualification which also indicates your average grade.
A document from the Regierungspräsidium which recognizes your qualification as equivalent to a German qualification is not required.
Please note that we can only accept international documents if they have been either issued in German or English language or translated into one of these two languages. In case the documents you would like to submit have been issued in another language, you need to submit a translation of the relevant documents in German or English in addition to the copy of the original certificate.