Your application to the TU Ilmenau with a foreign certificate - requirements, deadlines and processes

APPLICATION PERIODS

Bachelor studies

  • Winter semester: February 16 to July 15 (Current change: Extended until July 15, 2026)
  • Summer semester: No application for summer semester for all bachelor programs

Master studies

  • Winter semester: February 16 to May 15
  • Summer semester: August 1 to November 15

Note: No application for the summer semester for the following Master's programs:

  • Communication and Signal Processing
  • International Business Economics
  • Micro- and Nanotechnologies
  • Media and Communication Science

APPLICATION PROCESS

How does the application process work?

Enrollment at the university is a requirement for starting a degree program (subject or preparation course). Enrollment at the university takes place

  • by enrollment as a student in a course of study (subject studies) or
  • by enrollment as a collegiate student in the Academic Preparation Course (Preliminary Studies).
     

A change of program at the same university does not affect enrollment at that university. Only a transfer to the new degree program will occur. Re-registration for the following semester refers to enrollment at the university and not to a specific degree program.
 

The Enrollment Regulations of TU Ilmenau regulate the procedure of admission to the study program and to the other courses offered by the university, re-registration, change of study program and part-time study of students as well as the procedure for admission as secondary students and guest students at TU Ilmenau.

Important notes

Certified translations are required for documents not written in German or English.

There is no fixed processing time for an application. The duration varies depending on the number of applications received at the same time. Please allow an average of:
Bachelor’s degree: 4 to 6 weeks; Master’s degree: 6 to 8 weeks. Longer processing times are possible.

The issuing of a visa takes normally about 3 months. In some countries you can expect a much longer visa process. Please take this into account when applying!

TU Ilmenau charges a fee of € 75 for each application submitted with non-European certificates. You will find the payment information on the applicant portal just before submitting your application. Further processing will only take place once the fee has been credited to our account.

Enrollment only becomes legally valid upon receipt of the semester contribution!

LANGUAGE SKILLS

When applying for a degree program, the university requires the submission of a recognized language certificate as proof of knowledge of the teaching language of the degree program. German or English are the teaching languages offered at TU Ilmenau. Information on language certificates can be found here.

The minimum language levels required for application are B1 (Bachelor's application) and B2 (Master's application). These language levels lead to conditional admission. An application with C1 language level leads to direct admission if all other requirements are met.

Language skills must always be demonstrated with a recognized language certificate.

APPLICATION FOR BACHELOR'S PROGRAM

  • Certificate of higher education entrance qualification (Abitur, Matura, (Higher) secondary school certificate)
  • Proof of the university entrance examination in the home country (if applicable)
  • Proof of previous academic achievements at other universities (if applicable)
  • Proof of German language skills (at least B1)

Please scan the documents in their original form and, if necessary, include a certified translation in German or English.

Examination of your documentation

The TU Ilmenau will evaluate whether your secondary school leaving certificate (Baccalauréat, Matura, Higher Secondary School Certificate, etc.) can also be recognized in Germany or whether further study preparation (other than language courses) is necessary for studying at the university.

Your language certificate will be reviewed after your school or academic qualifications have been evaluated.

This can result in three options for admission:

Direct admission

You already have a C1 language certificate
(see here) and your school-leaving certificate is fully valid as a university entrance qualification.

You will receive direct admission to the Bachelor's degree program.

Conditional admission with language requirement

Your secondary school leaving certificate meets the requirements for direct admission to the Bachelor's degree program, but you have not yet reached the required C1 language level.

You will be granted admission on condition that you provide proof of one of the accepted C1 language certificates (see here) by the start of the degree program.

TU Ilmenau offers an academic preparation course (APC-language course). Here you can develop your language skills up to C1 for a fee and start your degree course at TU Ilmenau after passing the exam.

Alternatively, you are free to choose another language course provider. The condition of your admission is considered fulfilled as soon as you can provide proof of a corresponding C1 certificate.

Conditional admission to the Studienkolleg

School-leaving certificates from some countries are not equivalent to the German Abitur. If this is the case, you will receive conditional admission to the Studienkolleg.

You will then attend the Thuringian State Studienkolleg in Nordhausen and prepare for your studies in Ilmenau within a year (foundation course). The Studienkolleg curriculum includes language courses up to C1 level.

Alternatively, you can register at a private Studienkolleg. The courses there are subject to a fee.

ONLINE APPLICATION

 

MASTER'S PROGRAM

Please note that admission to a Master's degree program at TU Ilmenau is only possible in the same or a similar subject area as your Bachelor's degree.

  • University entrance certificate (Abitur, Matura (Higher) Secondary School Certificate...)
  • Listing of all academic achievements at other universities to date
  • Bachelor certificate
  • Certificate of your language skills (at least B2) in the teaching language of the Master's program

Please scan the documents in their original form and, if necessary, include a certified translation in German or English.

Examination of your documentation

TU Ilmenau will first check whether your secondary school leaving certificate (baccalauréat, Matura, Higher Secondary School Certificate, etc.), your Bachelor's degree, and your language certificate have all been submitted in full. Your documents will then be forwarded to the department responsible for your chosen Master's program. Based on your transcript of records, the scope and content of your Bachelor's degree will be evaluated to determine your suitability for the program (= aptitude test for the Master's program, specific to the degree program). It is important that your Bachelor's degree fulfills the subject-specific requirements for your Master's degree program.

This can result in three options for admission:

Direct admission

You are already in hold of a C1 language certificate
(see here) and also meet the subject-specific requirements for the Master's degree course.

You will receive direct admission to the Master's program.

Direct admission with obligations

You are already in hold of a C1 language certificate
(see here), but you do not yet fully meet the subject requirements for the Master's degree program.

In this case, obligations may be imposed during the admission process. These are subjects that you will have to complete during your Master's degree course in addition to the Master's curriculum. Your study time will therefore probably be extended by one or two semesters.

Conditional admission with language requirement

You meet the subject requirements for the Master's degree program, but have not yet reached the required C1 language level (see here). You will be admitted on the condition that you provide proof of one of the accepted C1 language certificates by the start of the degree program.

TU Ilmenau offers an academic preparation course (APC-language course). Here you can develop your language skills up to C1 for a fee and start your degree course at TU Ilmenau after passing the exam.

Alternatively, you are free to choose another language course provider. The condition of your admission is considered fulfilled as soon as you can provide proof of a corresponding C1 certificate.

ONLINE APPLICATION