Germany relaxes admission requirements for UK qualification students applying to its universities

From 2022, only three A levels will be required for admission, replacing the three A level and one AS (or equivalent), whilst Mathematics is no longer mandatory for learners applying to degrees within the Arts, Humanities and Law. In addition, a wider range of individual subjects will now be eligible for the third A level compared to the current criteria. Anabin also reconfirms that Pearson Edexcel International A levels are recognised for university admission and evaluated according to the same basic and subject-specific rules as UK A levels.

We believe these new admission requirements open up more possibilities for students and will build on the existing popularity of Germany as a higher education destination for Pearson Edexcel learners in the coming years.

Read the original announcement (in German)

Below are the key points of the original announcement:

New basic and subject-specific A level requirements for German universities

1. Basic requirements

Three general, independent subjects at A level with a minimum grade of C:

• Two subjects from: a Language, History, Geography, Social studies / Politics, Economics, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science according to List A: General A level subjects that meet the basic requirements (subject 1 and subject 2, possibly Compartment 3).
• One further general education subject, independent of the two subjects chosen above, according to List A or according to List B: General A Level subjects that meet the basic requirements (Subject 3).

* Lists A and B are available in English and German when selecting ‘General Certificate of Education – Advanced level’ under the England, Wales, Nordirland section of the Anabin website.

2. Subject-specific requirements

Art degrees

• No subject-specific requirements

Humanities and Law degrees

• One A level from: Language, History, Geography, Social Studies/Politics, Economics

Social and Economic degrees

• One A level from: History, Geography, Social Studies / Politics, Economics, and
• One A level from: Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science

Natural Science degrees

• Two A levels from: Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science

Mathematical and technical degrees

• One A level in Mathematics, and
• One A level from: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science

Medical degrees, including Pharmacy

• Three A levels from: Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science

Degree programs outside of these subject areas

• The admitting university decides subject-specific requirements

3. Additional requirements:  preliminary results notifications

Candidate Statement of Provisional Results (and related terms) from recognised examination bodies can be taken into account. The final certificates from the examination offices must be submitted to the responsible university office at the beginning of the 2nd semester or no later than one year after the examination date.

International A level recognition

International Advanced levels remain accepted for university entry in Germany provided they are certificated from the following examination bodies:

• Cambridge Assessment International Education (formerly Cambridge International Examinations)
• OxfordAQA
• Pearson (Edexcel)

Further reading

Additional guidance for UK curriculum learners applying to German universities can be found below:

DAAD – Recognition of UK qualifications in Germany
Uni-assist – Notes on documents required in Germany

We hope you find this update useful. If you have questions relating to the progression of Pearson students, please contact us at progression@pearson.com.