Studying without "Abitur"

You are a master craftsperson or business administrator

If you have successfully completed advanced training (e.g. master craftsperson, technician, business administrator), you are generally qualified to study any subject at universities and universities of applied sciences. You can choose your preferred study subject regardless of your training and further qualifications. This applies to all federal states (as of April 2015).

The final grade of your examination is not relevant; a pass is sufficient. You do not have to gain any further professional experience after completing your advanced training program, but you can start directly into a degree program of your choice.

In addition, further qualifications that conclude with a comparable examination are regarded as equivalent to a master craftsperson's examination and therefore also guarantee unrestricted access to higher education.

The following are recognised as comparable examinations:
- an advanced training qualification in the skilled trades based on a course comprising at least 400 hours of instruction,
- a comparable qualification within the meaning of the Seaman's Act,
- a degree from a technical college,
- a degree on the basis of further training regulations under federal state law for professions in the healthcare sector and in the social care and socio-educational professions,
- other advanced training degrees which can be obtained after a course of at least 400 hours of instruction and which require the prior completion of vocational training.

Not all professions conclude their advanced training with the title of “Meister*in” (master craftsperson). Under the following link, you can find the advanced vocational training qualifications recognised as equivalent to the title of master craftsperson in accordance with Annex 1 to Paragraph 4 (2) of the State Ordinance on the Direct Higher Education Entrance Qualification of Vocationally Qualified Persons.

The Framework Agreement of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs on Specialised Schools (“Fachschulen”) regulates which Specialised Schools enable the acquisition of a higher education entrance qualification. Attending a Specialised School generally requires prior vocational training as a prerequisite for admission. In this respect, graduating from a Specialised School is a further vocational qualification and is therefore equated with a master craftsperson's qualification.

For an initial orientation, we provide you with an overview of recognised technical colleges alongside the respective job titles:
- Faculty of Agriculture:
Professional titles: State-certified agricultural business economist, state-certified economist (Staatlich geprüfte*r Agrarbetriebswirt*in, Staatlich geprüfte*r Wirtschafter*in)
- Faculty of Design:
Professional title: State-certified designer (Staatlich geprüfte*r Gestalter*in)
- Faculty of Technology:
Professional title: State-certified technician (Staatlich geprüfte*r Techniker*in)
- Faculty of Economics[1]: Professional title: State-certified business economist, state-certified home economics manager (Staatlich geprüfte*r Betriebswirt*in, staatlich geprüfte*r hauswirtschaftliche*r Betriebsleiter*in)
- Department of Social Affairs: Professional title: State-recognised educator, state-recognised curative education nurse, state-recognised curative educator (Staatlich anerkannte*r Erzieher*in, staatlich anerkannte*r Heilerziehungspfleger*in, staatlich anerkannte*r Heilpädagoge*in)

You can view the framework agreement on Specialised Schools here.
[1] Separate regulations apply for the study branch in Home Economics or Nutrition and Supply Management.

In order to be allowed to study at universities and (technical) colleges without further training, you must fulfil the following basic requirements:
- You have successfully completed vocational training. This is understood to mean a final grade of at least 2.5 or 10 points respectively, or better.

Since the reform of the Rhineland-Palatinate Higher Education Act, it is no longer necessary to gain two years’ professional experience following your vocational training in order to obtain a subject-specific higher education entrance qualification.

If this requirement is met, you may
- study at a university on a subject-specific basis,
- study at a (technical) university without any subject-specific restraints.

Subject-restricted study means that the content of your training must be related to your chosen study subject. In contrast, you are free to choose the subject you wish to study at a (technical) university and do not have to prove that its content is related to your professional training.