The International Centre has created this site for prospective students, current students and doctoral researchers who have been affected by the war in Ukraine and its consequences. The information is intended to help you get an initial overview of what you need to do to study at Leipzig University. We have also included information on topics such as learning German, finding housing and financing your studies.
Since the situation is constantly changing, this information will be updated regularly.
Open day for prospective international and refugee students on 3 May 2024, 1 – 5 pm:
Are you interested in studying in Leipzig? You are welcome to attend the "Information day for prospective international and refugee students" and find out about all topics related to starting your studies and financing or take the opportunity to talk to students.
The German Academic Exchange Service provides an overview of support services offered by higher education institutions and partner organisations, including: Information about resuming/continuing studies, visa matters and residence permits
DAAD overview
Information for prospective students and prospective doctoral researchers
You can use Hochschulkompass or MyGuide to search for suitable degree programmes across the country, and filter according to categories like language of instruction, subject, and degree.
An overview of study opportunities in Saxony as well as information in Ukrainian and Russian about the higher education landscape in Saxony can be found at Pack-dein-Studium.
For more information about studying in Leipzig and the surrounding area, please visit "Support for refugees" by Studentenwerk Leipzig, where you can find details on offers by higher education institutions in Leipzig and the surrounding area for prospective refugee and international students.
The German Academic Exchange Service provides a general overview of support services offered by higher education institutions and partner organisations as well as information about resuming/continuing studies and about visa matters, residence permits and other related rules in Germany.
The course overview provides information about all degree programmes at our university and admission requirements. You will also find all of our university’s unrestricted degree programmes there. In the case of an unrestricted degree programme, the student’s own secondary school grades or other educational qualifications do not play a role. As a rule, it is likely that you will be admitted to the degree programme, provided that you can present a direct higher education entrance qualification for the programme in question and, if applicable, you meet further enrolment requirements. In any case, you will need to apply properly by the application deadline.
Many higher semesters of study are not subject to restrictions on admission either – this may be of interest to you if you have already completed at least three semesters of study.
To study in Germany, you need a higher education entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung, HZB). You can use the databases anabin or uni-assist e.V. to check whether your educational qualification is recognised in Germany and which higher education entrance qualification you can expect.
Please note the changes to the suggested assessment of the the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) UKR-BV07 for the certificate "Svidoctvo pro zdobuttja povnoji zahal'noji seredn'oji osvity", acquired from 2012 after eleven school years, which was extended as follows by a resolution of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder of 24 November 2022: This assessment proposal does not apply to the certificate "Svidoctvo pro zdobuttja povnoji zahal'noji seredn'oji osvity" obtained at a Fachkolleg or at a Kolleg.
If you were not able to complete secondary school or your current semester due to the current situation in Ukraine, please note the resolution of the Kultusministerkonferenz (Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder) of 9 February 2023: According to this, your educational certificates / degrees earned in 2022 will be recognised as such, even if it is not possible to demonstrate that you have acquired all of the certificates usually required.
Please also see the answer to the question: What can I do if I am missing necessary documents?
- You must demonstrate proficiency in German corresponding to the “German Language Exam for Admission to Higher Education” at level 2 (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang, DSH-2) or an equivalent recognised in the Framework Regulations for German Language Examinations for Studies at German Universities (see §2 and §8, section 2).
- At the start of your application it is sufficient to provide a certificate of German language proficiency at B2 level. Please note that you must provide a copy of a recognised certificate proving that your German is at a level in accordance with DSH-2 by no later than when you enrol.
- Exception: If you are applying for a degree programme in Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy or Veterinary Medicine, you must submit proof of proficiency in German equivalent to the DSH-2 by the end of the application period.
Please see the overview of accepted German certificates at Leipzig University as well as our information about learning German.
You can apply to study regardless of your residency status! However, please note the current residence regulations.
You can find information about application documents and deadlines here:
- Studienkolleg Sachsen
- Undergraduate programmes (bachelor’s, state examination, Diplom)
(Including information about applying for higher semesters of study) - Master’s programmes
- Doctorates
In addition to your school leaving and degree certificates, you must also submit proof of your language proficiency. As some programmes require additional documents, it is also important to check the subject-specific admission requirements. Please note that you will need to submit all documents in the original language and as a German or English translation.
If some or all of your certificates are incomplete/missing because you had to flee Ukraine, we follow the resolutions of the Kultusministerkonferenz (Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder) of 3 December 2015 and 9 February 2023.
If your application is incomplete because your documents have been destroyed or left behind as a result of the war, uni-assist will provide you with a self-disclosure form. Complete the form, entering information about your education and the missing documents. Uni-assist will check the information for plausibility and decide on your formal and academic eligibility on a case-by-case basis. Missing documents due to war or flight are not a reason for rejection or exclusion from studying at Leipzig University.
Before applying, we recommend that you attend a personal consultation during our office hours.
International applicants need to apply via the uni-assist e.V. by the relevant deadline. Applications submitted via uni-assist are digital only (no paper documents necessary!). You submit your documents by uploading them to the uni-assist application portal. Please follow our step-by-step guide.
Our handout contains all necessary information for applying for a higher semester on a medical degree programme (medicine, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, dentistry).
If you would like to apply for a higher semester of study on a non-medical degree programme, you can find more information in our checklist for applying for higher semesters of study. Many higher semesters of study on non-medical degree programmes are not subject to restrictions on admission – this may be of interest to you if you have already completed at least three semesters of study.
In the case of an unrestricted degree programme, your secondary school grades or other educational qualifications are not important. As a rule, it is likely that you will be admitted to the degree programme, provided that you can present a direct higher education entrance qualification for the specific programme and, if applicable, you meet further enrolment requirements. In any case, you will need to apply properly by the application deadline.
Under certain conditions, it is possible to spend one to two semesters studying at Leipzig University as a so-called “free mover”. Free movers are exchange students from a university abroad who have organised their stay here by themselves. There is no exchange or cooperation agreement between their home university and the university abroad.
It is important that you:
- are enrolled at a foreign university on a degree programme which is comparable to your chosen degree programme at our university. You will only be admitted if we have sufficient capacity in your chosen degree programme;
- meet the academic admission requirements for studying at German universities;
- have the necessary language skills. You must provide the respective language certificate by no later than when you enrol:
- degrees taught in German: German language skills at B2 level (CEFR)
- degrees taught in English: English language skills at B2 level (CEFR).
Our website has more information about applying and the documents you will need to apply as a free mover.
Doctoral researchers have two options: You can do your doctorate individually or participate in a structured doctoral programme.
All information about these two paths, the application steps and scholarships can be found on the International Centre website.
Further information for doctoral researchers can also be found in the guide for international doctoral candidates.
- Unfortunately, Leipzig University does not offer free preparatory German language courses at the moment. If that changes in 2024, we will publish the new courses on our website. Please feel free to contact us by email if you have an questions.
- For information on how to access basic German courses, you can also contact the Welcome Center of the City of Leipzig.
- An overview of German language courses can be found on the City of Leipzig website as well.
- Via the Digital Campus of the Society for Academic Study Preparation and Test Development (Gesellschaft für Akademische Studienvorbereitung und Testentwicklung e. V. (g.a.s.t.)) you can, among other things, take online German courses and test your language level.
Yes, the auditor status – which is known as Gasthörerschaft in German – lets you attend lectures at our university without enrolling as a student. However, this does not entitle you to take exams.
Find out more about auditor status for refugees.
- Information about on first steps in Leipzig:
City of Leipzig website - Point of contact for initial orientation and for questions after you have arrived:
Welcome Centre Leipzig website - Overview of advisory services:
City of Leipzig website - Information, support and networking opportunities provided by Leipzig citizens:
Leipzig helps Ukraine - City map with support services and points of contact:
Afeefa Leipzig
- Support services offered by our university, student initiatives, and networking opportunities:
Leipzig University website for refugees - Leipzig University has set up a website which both collects and shares information about support programmes for Ukrainians.
- A social network for refugee and local scientists, academics and students facilitating initial exchange:
Chance for Science
- The City of Leipzig provides information about the reception centre for refugees.
- Volunteers at the Kontaktstelle Wohnen provide support in finding housing in Leipzig.
- The network "Leipzig helps Ukraine" offers an overview of private accommodation exchanges.
With a letter of admission from our university or a certificate of enrolment, you can apply at the Studentenwerk Leipzig for a place in a hall of residence. Please note that there are a lot of requests at the moment.
If you hold or have applied for a residence permit in accordance with Section 24 (1) of the Residence Act, you may, under certain conditions, receive state support for your studies in accordance with the Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz (BAföG, Federal Training Assistance Act).
You can also apply for a scholarship. There are many different foundations that provide financial or immaterial support to students and doctoral candidates during their studies. All scholarship opportunities are compiled in the DAAD database.
For information on financing options for your studies in general, please contact the Social Counselling Service of the Studentenwerk Leipzig.
Information for students who are already enrolled and doctoral researchers
Take advantage of the advisory services offered by the International Centre for questions in regard to continuing your studies or mobility scholarships.
The Studentenwerk Leipzig’s social counselling service offers advice on issues related to financing and housing. Affected students can contact the psychosocial counselling service run by the Studentenwerk Leipzig for support in coping with the recent events. Students in financial difficulties can apply for one-time and flexible financial assistance from the association Hilfe für ausländische Studierende in Leipzig e.V..