Information for Refugees

Regardless of their residential status, refugees can study at German universities if they meet the regular admission requirements. People with foreign education certificates must provide:

• Proof of university entrance qualification
  (certified and translated school-leaving certificates; if avainable university degree)
• Adequate German language skills
• Proof of health insurance

As an international applicant you have to send your application to uni-assist - instead of sending your application directly to the University of Kassel. Uni-assist checks whether your international school-leaving certificates (and university diplomas) meet the formal requirements for studying at a German university. Two scenarios are possible for an admission:

• Scenario 1
  If your higher education entrance qualifications are recognised as equal to a German secondary school leaving certificate (Abitur), you get a direct admission. After you have passed the German Language Examination for University Students (DSH) or the TestDAF you can start your studies.
• Scenario 2
  If your higher education entrance qualifications are not fully accepted, you might get an indirect admission. In this case you need to attend the one-year preparatory course (Studienkolleg) and pass the university entrance examination (Prüfung zur Feststellung der Hochschulreife).

You can use ANABIN database to check whether your certificates entitle you to a direct or indirect admission to a German university.

Find here further information about the application process with foreign certificates.

Important note: The free application procedure for refugees via uni-assist is no longer offered.
All applicants with international certificates must now pay the regular handling fees.

International student applications to the University of Kassel and many other German universities are processed by uni-assist. 

In addition to your digital application you must send important documents by post.

Required documents are:

• A fully completed and signed application form
• Certificates that entitle you to study at a university in your home country
• Certificates and transcripts from your previous university course - if you have studied before
• Proof(s) of German language proficiency

Uni-assist requires these certificates in form of certified photocopies, in English language or certified translations into German, instead of the original documents.

Please note that the admission requirements vary for each study course. Additional documents, e.g. proof of English language skills, a motivation letter or a letter of reference, may be necessary for certain courses. Make sure that you are well informed about the individual admission requirements for each course.
 

Please send your application documents to the following address:

uni-assist e.V.
11507 Berlin
Germany

Additional links:

• Uni-assist
• Guideline "uni-assist explained step by step"
• Studying in Kassel

As a refugee you may not be able to submit any or all of the required documents to prove your university entrance qualification. In this case, there is the possibility to submit a filled out self-disclosure form via uni-assist in order to apply for studies.

If you do not fulfil the formal requirements yet for a study programme, participation in the guest lecture programme or enrolment at KIRON may be an option.

For most university courses and related specialised literature a high German level is necessary and must be proven (except for completely English-taught Master`s programs). Passing one of the following language examinations, entitles you to study at the University of Kassel: DSH 2, TestDaF 4*4, Goethe certificate C2, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule.

An application is possible from B2-level on (B1 level for Studienkolleg). Before classes start (> enrolment) you must submit the missing proofs of laguague efficiency.

The Language Centre (ISZ) of the University of Kassel offers the DSH exam and preparatory language courses. If you have a B2 level and can prove that you have attended 800 German lessons, you can attend a 13-week preparation course for the DSH examination. If you have already passed the C1 level exam and can prove that you have attended 1000 German lessons, you can directly take the DSH examination. Please note that access to the DSH examination at the University of Kassel is only possible with an indirect admission to study – i.e. after you have successfully applied via uni-assist.

Due to the very high demand for the DSH courses at the University of Kassel, we recommend you considering other DSH examination centres and dates elsewhere in Germany as well. Find detailed information about the individual courses and entry requirements on the website of the German Language Examination for University Students (DSH).  

If you are interested in the TestDAF examination as an alternative to the DSH exam, you can find information about the examination centres and dates on the websites of the TestDAF institute. We recommend likewise to register early for the TestDAF examination.

Further information on the language requirements for studying at the University of Kassel can be found on the website language requirements.

The University of Kassel does not charge tuition fees. However, a semester contribution must be paid, which currently costs 293.45 € (winter term 2020/21). This fee includes the semester ticket. For students in difficult finacial situations, there is a possibility to get the semester ticket fee refunded. For more information (in German):

https://www.uni-kassel.de/uni/studium/im-studium/semesterbeitrag/

https://asta.studierende-kassel.de/service/mobilitaet/semesterticket/semesterticket-rueckerstattung/

Find a summary about the living expenses in Germany on the websites of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Under certain preconditions it is possible to obtain financial support by the Federal Law on Support for Education and Training – known as BAföG – for university studies. This is also an option for DSH and preparatory courses (Studienkolleg).

The highest amount of support under BAföG for students is 861€ per month (winter semester 20/21). Finacial support for pupils (in DSH and preparatory courses) is slightly lower. Refugees who have completed their asylum procedure are eligible for BAföG, as long as they apply properly and meet all requirements. If you have any questions, please contact our colleagues at the student services organisation (Studierendenwerk).

Applicants who are still in the asylum procedure can request the continued payment of asylum seekers benefits (Asylbewerberleistungen) at the funding angency (e.g. social office).

The Hessen State Ministry for Higher Education, Research, Science and the Arts (HMWK) awards HessenFonds scholarships for highly qualified students, PhD candidates and researchers with a refugee background. HessenFonds funding is also available to highly qualified researchers (including PhD students) who are threatened by persecution in their home countries (researchers at risk).

Application is now open for a scholarship starting in April 2025.
Please hand in your complete documents by the internal deadline: November 24th.2024. Applicants must not have been registered in Germany for more than four years at the time the beginning of funding and the permanent stay in Germany should not be more than five years. If the asylum application occurred before 01.04.2021 an application is not possible. In general, residence titles according to §25 1 or 2, §24 1 or §22 are eligible. Follow up applications are only possible in exceptional cases and must be justified separately (e.g. cases of hardship, special achievements during the funding year).

Amount of funding:

The HessenFonds scholarship provides the following financial funding, initially for two terms:

• Students: EUR 300 per month
• PhD candidates: EUR 1.200 per month
• Researcher: EUR 2.300 per month

Application procedure:

Students should send an email to Mrs. Berit Hupke with their complete application documents till the internal application deadline 24.11.2024: refugees.welcome[at]uni-kassel[dot]de. Doctoral candidates and researchers should send their complete application documents to Mrs Lisa Büchele: lisa.buechele@uni-kassel.de

We recommend a personal consultation before applying. The University of Kassel checks the requirements and nominates especially qualified candidates to the ministry. It is not possible to apply to the ministry directly.

Announcement:

• Call for application for refugee students, PhDs and scientists
• Call for application for scientists and PhDs at risk

Application documents:

• Application form for refugee students
• Recommendation form for refugee students
• Application form for refugee Ph.Ds
• Application form for refugee scientists
• Application form for persecuted Ph.Ds
• Application form for persecuted researchers

With this scholarship offer, the DAAD is primarily targeting Iranian researchers who already have a research or doctoral position at German universities or non-university research institutions. PhD students, postdocs, and university teachers from all disciplines can apply for three to nine months of funding between May 2023 and January 2024. Applications can be submitted now via the DAAD online portal until February 28, 2023.

Further important information on the application requirements as well as on the application procedure can be found in the announcement of the "Bridging Scholarships Iran" or - in case of queries - under the e-mail address: iran-bridge-scholarships@daad.de.

In addition to BAföG, scholarships are a way of financing studies for particularly engaged students with good or very good grades. We prepared an overview of the main funding institutions for you. Furthermore numerous smaller foundations exist. Also take a look at the DAAD scholarship database, where you can find the most suitable scholarship depending on your country of origin, student status and area of specialisation. You can also find further information on scholarships on the Career Service website.

Party-affiliated foundations:

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (SPD)

Heinrich Böll Stiftung (Grüne)

Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung (LINKE)

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (CDU)

Hans-Seidel-Stiftung (CSU)

Friedrich Naumann Stiftung (FDP)

Hans-Böckler-Stiftung (DGB)

Religious foundations:

Evangelisches Studienwerk (protestant)

Cusanuswerk (catholic)

Avicenna Studienwerk (islamic)

Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich Studienwerk (jewish)
 

Other foundations and scholarships:

Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes

Stiftung der deutschen Wirtschaft

Aufstiegsstipendium des BMBF

Deutschlandstipendium Universität Kassel

Stipet-Abschlussstipendien für internationale Studierende
 

Further information:

Finanzierungsberatung des Studierendenwerks Kassel

Studieren in Deutschland

Datenbank Stipendienlotse

DAAD-Stipendienfinder

The student services organisation Kassel offers advice on BAföG and other types of student financing, housing and social services. They also offer free psychological counselling and legal advice.

The student council AStA also offers various counselling services.