Definition: An entrance examination is a special examination for prospective students at a university. Passing the entrance examination allows access to a course of study, even if you do not have a university entrance qualification (Abitur or Fachabitur, Matura in Austria).
The “classic” path does not always have to be the only one and certainly not the best – this also applies to the path to university.
Over the last decade, the demand for studying without a high school diploma has steadily increased. More and more people are finding their way to university via second or third educational opportunities and realizing their dream of an academic qualification.
Two Ways to Study Without a High School Diploma
A basic requirement for starting a course of study without a subject-specific or (technical) university entrance qualification is a completed vocational training . From this point on, you can start your course of study
- either through a recognized advanced training examination
- or take up a guest studentship with an entrance examination.
You can find out more about the recognized advanced training examination on our page about studying without a high school diploma . You can find out exactly what the entrance examination is all about below.
What is the entrance exam and how can I take it?
The entrance examination consists of two short written tests and proves the candidate’s ability to study. It is linked to a temporary guest student status, which leads to a regular course of study after the entrance examination has been passed (exception: Bachelor of Therapy and Nursing Sciences).
At the HFH · Hamburger Fern-Hochschule, registration for the entrance examination is done using the registration form for the respective degree program . An exception is the Bachelor’s degree program in Therapy and Nursing Sciences, for which there is a separate registration form for the entrance examination . There are also no temporary guest students in this degree program.
Registration is possible at any time of the year. Studies or guest students begin on January 1st or April 1st in the spring semester or on July 1st or October 1st in the fall semester (depending on the course). Examinations take place quarterly.
For which study programs is an entrance examination possible?
The entrance examination can be taken in almost all bachelor’s degree programs at the HFH. Here is an overview:
- vocational education
- Business Administration (also dual)
- Data Science
- Digital Engineering
- health and social management
- mechanical engineering
- mechatronics
- nursing management
- psychology
- social work
- Therapy and Nursing Sciences (a separate procedure applies here)
- business informatics
- industrial engineering
- business psychology
What requirements do I have to meet?
The prerequisites for admission to the entrance examination are completed vocational training and at least two years of professional experience. However, it is also possible to have periods of child-rearing, care work, and military, alternative or voluntary service of up to one year counted towards the period of professional activity.
The following documents must be available for registration:
- Registration form for the desired course of study – there you will find the option to register as a guest student with an entrance examination under the heading “What admission requirements do I meet?”
- certified training certificate
- certified proof of professional activity (e.g. employer’s certificate, employment reference, etc.)
- if applicable, certified proof of child-rearing time, care work, military, alternative or voluntary service
Note on certified documents: Only official certifications are accepted . However, it is also possible to present the originals at one of our regional study centers and have them certified there free of charge for in-house use.
What does the entrance examination look like?
Depending on which course of study you want to register for, the entrance examination will look different.
In all of the above-mentioned bachelor’s degree programs, except for therapy and nursing sciences, the entrance examination consists of two exams in two subject-related modules. You can find an overview of which modules in which degree programs are relevant for the entrance examination on our page about studying without a high school diploma .
In the Therapy and Nursing Sciences degree program , the entrance exam consists of two papers. In each of the 120 minutes, the candidates must first discuss a topic of public life and then work on several tasks related to a specialist article. These two papers therefore not only serve to demonstrate methodological skills such as academic reading and writing, as well as the ability to discuss and analyze in the context of complex relationships. They also serve as evidence of subject-specific prior knowledge and basic knowledge of central topics of public life and specialist discourse.
In the other Bachelor’s degree programs, you will be enrolled as a guest student upon admission to the entrance examination. You will receive the study materials for the relevant modules of the first semester and can get started: With study materials, exercises and additional materials, you will acquire the knowledge you need to pass the exams at the end of your guest studentship. After passing the entrance examination, the guest studentship will then be converted into a regular course of study from the following semester.
What if I don’t pass the entrance exam?
The exams can be repeated up to two times, meaning a total of three exam attempts are possible. This applies to all HFH bachelor’s degree programs.
The guest student status can last up to two semesters, which means you have one year to take both parts of the entrance exam. If you are unable to attend one of the quarterly exam dates or would like to postpone an exam for other reasons, you will be offered additional exam dates.
Does the entrance examination cost anything?
There are no additional costs for the entrance examination as part of a guest studentship; these are included in the regular tuition fees.
The separate entrance examination for the Therapy and Nursing Sciences degree program costs 143 EUR.