High school diploma recognition

Direct admission to undergraduate studies at German universities is possible with an international degree like the HSD. However you need to fulfill a few requirements.

Conditions for direct admission

It is obligatory for your High School Diploma to be acquired after continuous attendance of the classes 9 to 12 at a US High School and to comprise a total of 16 “academic units” in the forms 9 to 12:

  • 4 units (3 units are sufficient for 11 forms) English with a minimum grade C: English IV or Honors or AP English
  • 2 units Second Language
  • 3 units Social Studies
  • 5 units in total Mathematics and Science:
    – 2 or 3 units Mathematics with a minimum grade of C: Algebra II or Trigonometry and Precalculus,
    – 2 or 3 units Science with a minimum grade of C: Biology, Chemistry or Physics
  • 2 academic units free to choose.

A GED (general equivalency diploma) issued by individual states in the US is not accepted in lieu of HSD

Additional tests for direct admission (AP or SAT/ACT)

An Advanced Placement Test (AP)

Mathematical subjects, Technology, Natural Sciences, Medicine or Pharmacy
The following subject areas must be covered by your AP tests:

  • Mathematics (Calculus AB or BC)
  • 1 natural science subject (Biology, Chemistry or two half AP tests in Physics C)
  • 1 language (French, Spanish, Latin, German, English Literature or English Language and Composition)
  • 1 further subject (e.g. European History, American

History, Computer Science or two half AP tests respectively in Macroeconomics and Microeconomics)

Humanities, Social Sciences, Jurisprudence or Economics
The following subject areas must be covered by your AP tests:

  • English (English Literature or English Language and Composition)
  • 1 further foreign language (French, Spanish, Latin, German)
  • 1 mathematical/natural science subject (Calculus AB or BC, Biology, Chemistry or two half AP tests in Physics C)
  • 1 further subject (e.g. European History, American History, Computer Science or two half AP tests respectively in Macroeconomics and Microeconomics)

SAT – ONLY until April 2019:
SAT with at least 1360 points in the two parts “Math” and “Evidence-Based Reading and Writing” and proof of a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CumGPA) of 3.0

ACT – ONLY until April 2019:

Under certain conditions the American College Test (ACT) can give direct admission to all subjects.

General remarks

Admission follows three criteria in this order: academic requirements, language requirements, availability of places. This text only covers the first step. Please check with the chosen University! German nationality does not imply language proficiency. Ranking of applicants is usually done based on non-weighted GPA.

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