Studying without A-levels in Bavaria
Do you want to...
... advance in your career?
... take on more responsibility?
... become a manager?
... reorient yourself?
... or simply learn something new?
No matter what your motivation is - studying at the Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences will open up new opportunities for you!
Your path to studying at HSWT without a high school diploma
Find out about our range of degree programmes and find out which one suits your professional qualifications and goals.
Check your requirements together with the subject advisory service and clarify your options.
Find out about deadlines, documents and forms on the HSWT application page.
Online via our application portal.
“I find the food and nutrition sector incredibly interesting, and it’s great that HSWT offers courses that don’t require A-levels. This means that prospective students who opted for vocational training after leaving school can still pursue professional development and specialise in their chosen field.”
What are the requirements for studying at HSWT without a high school diploma?
In Bavaria, there are basically two routes into higher education for people with professional qualifications:
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1. general university entrance qualification (general higher education entrance qualification)
People with professional qualifications in Bavaria can obtain general university admission with the following qualifications:
- Master craftsman examination
- State-certified technician
- Degree from a recognised technical college
- Degree from a recognised technical academy
With this admission, you can apply for any Bachelor's degree programme at the HSWT. In this case, a counselling interview at the University of applied sciences is also required before the start of the course.
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2. subject-specific university entrance qualification (subject-specific higher education entrance qualification)
Subject-specific university admission is possible if you:
- have successfully completed at least two years of vocational qualification
- have subsequently worked full-time for at least three years as a rule
- and your training and professional experience match the desired degree programme
In this case, your suitability to study at HSWT will be determined as part of a trial study programme . A prior counselling interview is also mandatory here.
Formal authorisation is not the same as professional suitability
A common misconception about studying without an Abitur is that if you are formally authorised to study, you are automatically optimally prepared in terms of your subject. This is not always the case.
Mathematics, physics and chemistry play an important role in the first semesters of many degree programmes at HSWT. These basics are a prerequisite for the degree programme. A master's degree or many years of professional experience can provide formal access, but do not automatically replace all the technical requirements for a successful degree programme.
Why the counselling interview is mandatory at HSWT
Applicants at HSWT without a high school diploma are required to attend a counselling interview with the relevant subject advisory service. This is not just a formality, but a key step before applying.
The counselling interview covers, among other things
- Content and requirements of the desired degree programme
- Assessment of your subject requirements
- Advice on preparation and starting your degree programme
- Information on alternatives or sensible educational pathways
- Evidence and documents for the application
How to prepare yourself sensibly for studying without a high school diploma
Those who have not studied for a long time or come from a strongly practice-orientated career usually benefit from targeted preparation before starting their studies. This is particularly important for degree programmes with a mathematical or scientific basis.
Sensible preparation can be, for example
- Reviewing school basics
- Online self-tests
- Subject-specific preliminary courses
- longer preparation phases instead of just short crash courses
- Targeted consultation with the subject advisory service
“I wanted to develop my career, broaden my knowledge and gain new perspectives. I’d heard about HSWT through friends and family and liked the smaller, more personal atmosphere. Thanks to my training and work experience, I was able to start without a sixth-form qualification. I was really glad about that, as catching up on my sixth-form qualifications would have taken too long.”
Trial study programme at the HSWT: What does that mean?
If you are admitted via training and professional experience (subject-specific higher education entrance qualification), you will start your studies at HSWT as part of a trial programme. This is deemed to have been passed if at least 30 credit points are achieved within the first two semesters.
The trial course is designed to show whether you are up to the technical requirements of the chosen degree programme. It is therefore not only important that you are formally admitted, but above all that you realistically assess whether your previous knowledge is a good fit for the degree programme.
Studying at HSWT without A-levels - an overview of the facts
✓ It is possibleto study at the HSWT without an Abitur.
✓ In Bavaria, there is general and subject-specific university access for People with professional qualifications.
✓ General university admission is possible with a master craftsman, technician, business administrator or equivalent advanced training.
✓ With at least two years of training plus, as a rule, three years of relevant professional experience, subject-specific university admission is possible.
✓ A counselling interview is always required before applying to the HSWT.
✓ Good preparation significantly improves the chances of a successful start to your studies.
FAQ: Studying at the HSWT without Abitur
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Can I study at HSWT without a high school diploma?
Yes, it is possible to study at Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences without a high school diploma if you fulfil the requirements for general or subject-specific university admission as a person with professional qualifications.
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Which qualifications count for general university admission?
These include, in particular, master craftsman examinations, equivalent advanced vocational training examinations and qualifications from technical colleges and specialised academies. A counselling interview is required before starting the course.
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Can I study with training and work experience without a high school diploma?
Yes, under certain conditions. As a rule, you need at least two years of vocational qualification, at least three years of full-time work experience and a related degree programme. At the HSWT, a mandatory counselling interview is also required before applying.
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Are professional qualifications sufficient for technical degree programmes?
A professional qualification can provide formal access to a degree programme, but does not automatically replace the academic basis. Particularly in technical, scientific and engineering degree programmes, knowledge of mathematics and scientific subjects is often important for a successful start to your studies. It should therefore also be clarified in the counselling interview whether there is a need for additional preparation.
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Is a trial study programme at the HSWT necessary?
A trial study programme is relevant for subject-specific university admission. This is deemed to have been passed if at least 30 credit points out of a possible 60 ECTS are achieved within two semesters.
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Is the counselling interview mandatory before the application?
Yes, the counselling interview is obligatory before the study programme and must be documented for the application.
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Where can I find applications and forms?
On the HSWT application page you will find the procedure, documents, deadlines and the forms for the mandatory counselling interview.
