Recognition of Foreign Degrees and Qualifications in Bremen

If you would like to have your qualifications and educational certificates acquired abroad recognised in Germany, there are a number of things to consider.

Different authorities are responsible for the recognition of foreign qualifications, depending on the degree and occupational field.

If you don't know whether your qualifications can be recognised and which office is responsible for recognising your profession, you can get advice from the local advisory office for further education at the Bremen Chamber of Labour. You will receive initial information on procedures and addresses that are responsible for the recognition of your profession. The counselling is free of charge and confidential.
You can make an appointment for counselling at the Chamber of Labour

• via email: anerkennung@wae.bremen.de
• or by telephone: +49 (0) 421-36301-954.
• Further information: Recognition counselling of the State of Bremen at the Bremen Chamber of Labour

The counselling centre FAW Frauen Arbeits Welten gGmbH offers counselling, support and guidance in the recognition of foreign qualifications for women. You will receive help in finding the right contact person, filling out forms and compiling all the necessary documents. Counselling is free of charge and confidential.
You can make an appointment for counselling at the Counselling FAW women's working world

• via email: kontakt@faw-bremen.de
• or by telephone: +49 (0)421-16937-0.

School-leaving qualifications obtained abroad can be equated with a German school-leaving qualification under certain conditions. Whether a foreign qualification is equivalent to a German Hauptschulabschluss, Mittlerer Bildungsabschluss, general or subject-specific higher education entrance qualification is decided in Bremen by the Certificate Recognition Office (Zeugnisanerkennungsstelle) of the Senator for Children and Education.
If you would like to have your school-leaving certificate recognised for the purpose of taking up a university course, please contact the respective university directly.

• Access to higher education
  In principle, it is possible to study at German universities even with a foreign secondary school leaving certificate. The condition is that the school leaving certificate is considered a higher education qualification in the country in which it was obtained. You can find out how foreign educational qualifications are assessed for the purpose of studying in Germany in the anabin database. The final decision on admission to higher education is made by the universities you wish to attend.
• Recognition of academic achievements
  If you have already successfully completed your studies and exams in your previous place of residence, you can have them recognised in Germany in order to continue your studies. Generally, the universitys are responsible for this. Only in the case of university programmes that culminate in a state examination (human medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, law, pharmacy and others) are the respective state examination offices responsible for recognition.
• Access to further studies and doctoral studies
  Applicants who wish to complete their Master's degree at a German higher education institution must prove that their degree entitles them to enter a Master's programme in their country of origin and that it is comparable to a German Bachelor's degree. If you would like to do a doctorate at a German higher education institution with a foreign degree, you must also prove in this case that your degree entitles you to do a doctorate in your country of origin and that it is comparable to a German academic degree (university diploma, Magister, state examination or Master's degree). Admission to further studies or a doctorate is decided by the competent committee of the higher education institutions on the basis of the applicable study or doctoral regulations.

Official recognition of a professional qualification is only required if your profession belongs to the so-called regulated professions in Germany. This is the case if access to and practice of the profession are linked to a specific qualification or the job title is protected by law.

Even if you are practising a profession that is not regulated in Germany, recognition of the qualification can be useful. It can help future employers to better assess your qualifications. If you have completed a university degree, you can have your certificate evaluated by the Central Office for Foreign Education (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen, ZAB). You can also have degrees that lead to a non-regulated profession recognised. Information on the recognition procedures for all regulated and non-regulated professions can be found on the website Recognition in Germany.

All questions about applying for a job and many tips from Bremen University of Applied Sciences for international students. 12 Steps in English and German.