Application

University entrance qualification

A German or international university entrance qualification (HZB) as required by Section 18 of the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act (NHG).

If you did not obtain your university entrance qualification in German, you will need to provide proof of your German language skills in addition to your university entrance qualification (more on this under “Upload documents”).

Pre-study work placement

You are strongly recommended to undertake a pre-study work placement of several weeks in a social work sector, preferably the healthcare sector.

Selection criteria

The Social Work degree programme is admission-restricted. This means that if there are more applicants than places available on the programme, admission will be decided on the basis of the selection criteria.

The overview of selection criteria (in German) gives an indication of the scores that have been sufficient in previous years.

Communication of results

Successful applicants will be sent an offer via the hochschulstart.de portal.

Particular suitability

Demonstrating particular suitability improves your average grade and thus increases your chances of passing the selection process.

You can demonstrate particular suitability through a) vocational training and/or b) practical experience.

If you can demonstrate both a) and b), you will be credited for both. In the event of any doubt, the Dean of Studies will decide whether equivalent vocational training or work placements can be recognised.

a) Vocational training

Only vocational training programmes that have not led to a university entrance qualification will be taken into account.

Healthcare-related vocational training includes in particular

• ancillary medical staff,
• healthcare sector administrators,
• social and healthcare training programmes,
• emergency paramedics and
• paramedics.

Qualification as an emergency medical technician with evidence of at least 1,200 hours of emergency service is also recognised.

If you can demonstrate that you have completed healthcare-related vocational training, your average grade will be increased by 0.3.

b) Practical experience

The following occupations and word placements with a minimum duration of 800 hours are recognised as practical experience:

• Voluntary Social Year (FSJ) in the social and healthcare sector,
• unpaid or voluntary work in healthcare organisations, the emergency services or civil protection, including probationary periods,
• unpaid or voluntary work in services for people with disabilities,
• official assumption of responsibilities for someone who needs at least level 2 care (due to significant impairment of their independence),
• work placements in companies or public institutions in the healthcare sector,
• work placements in a healthcare context as part of attendance at specialised healthcare/social sciences technical colleges.

Demonstration of this type of experience will increase your average grade by 0.2.