For the summer semester 2026, there will be a change in the application procedure for applicants with foreign qualifications. Freie Universität Berlin is now a VPD university. You will find all relevant information on the current application procedure on this page.

*Further information on the VPD-procedure at uni-assist can be found here: https://www.uni-assist.de/en/how-to-apply/plan-your-application/vpd/

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In general, prospective students with a foreign university entrance qualification must apply for a VPD (Vorprüfungsdokumentation, preliminary review documentation) at uni-assist and then use this document to apply for a undergraduate program at Freie Universität Berlin within the application deadlines using the FU application portal. Freie Universität Berlin only accepts applications, that are received via the application portal of Freie Universität Berlin and contain a valid VPD which is issued for Freie Universität Berlin.

Exeptions

Check the FAQ to see who is exempt from the VPD requirement.

Application procedure

1. Submit an online application for the VPD at uni-assist (open year-round)

When? Possible at any time, ideally before the application deadlines due to the long processing time, but earlier than one year before applying at FU Berlin

Please select “Freie Universität Berlin” as your university and your desired degree. Do not select a specific degree program and always select the first semester, even if you want to start your studies in a higher semester.

The VPD can be applied all year round. If the portal for the desired semester is not yet open at uni-assist, simply select the current semester.

Uni-assist usually needs four to six weeks to process the VPD application, and even longer during peak periods. We therefore strongly recommend that you submit your VPD application to uni-assist as early as possible and, if necessary, well before the application deadlines of Freie Universität Berlin, as otherwise you may not be informed in time about missing documents and may not be able to submit your application to Freie Universität Berlin by the deadline. The decisive factor for meeting the application deadline is the complete receipt of your application documents, including the VPD, in the application portal of Freie Universität Berlin, not the date on which the VPD was created or applied for at uni-assist.

A fee is charged for the VPD through uni-assist. Your application for a VPD will only be processed by uni-assist after the fee has been received by uni-assist.

Fill out the online application carefully and attach all required documents (see table below).

Please also note the information on specific countries provided by uni-assist.

Relevant documents for applying for the VPD at uni-assist:

For the VPD application, uni-assist requires the following documents from all applicants:
all school leaving and university certificates	which are part of your university entrance qualification
official translations of all certificates if issued in any language other than English or German	issued either by a sworn translator or by an institution authorized to provide translations for official purposes

For the VPD application, uni-assist requires the following document if you belong to the specified applicant group:

APS certificate

Applicants with certificates from China, India or Vietnam have to submit a certification from an Academic Evaluation Centre (Akademische Prüfstelle - APS) in addition to the required documents. Academic Evaluation Centres are service institutions of the Cultural Affairs Section of the German Embassies in cooperation with the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD). For India, an application through the Academic Evaluation Centres India is required.

If necessary, uni-assist may request additional documents from you in order to issue the VPD.

2. Create an application account in the FU Berlin application portal

When? Within the application deadlines of Freie Universität Berlin

First, you must sign up in order to complete the online applications for Freie Universität Berlin. The personal data you provide during sign-up will be transferred to the online applications.

If you want to apply for a degree program that participates in the Dialogue-Oriented Service Procedure (DoSV), you need to register at the Hochschulstart website first. During registration, you enter your personal data and create a user account. You will then receive an applicant ID (BID) and an applicant authentication number (BAN), which you need to fill out the online application in the application portal of Freie Universität Berlin.

3. Upload the application documents in the Application portal of Freie Universität Berlin

When? Within the application deadlines of Freie Universität Berlin

Once you have logged into the Application portal of Freie Uniersität Berlin, you can create an application within the application period in the via the "Start Application" button and submit it online via the "Submit" button.

Upload all required documents to the application portal of Freie Universität Berlin, including your VPD, which you received from uni-assist.

Relevant documents for the application in the application portal of Freie Universität Berlin:

The following document is required when applying via the Freie Universität Berlin application portal if you do not belong to one of the exempt groups:
valid VPD from uni-assist	The VPD must be issued for Freie Universität Berlin.

The following documents are also required when applying via the Freie Universität Berlin application portal if you belong to one of the applicant groups listed:
APS certificate for applicants with certificates from China, India or Vietnam	certificate from Academic Evaluation Centre (Akademische Prüfstelle - APS) Academic Evaluation Centres are service institutions of the Cultural Affairs Section of the German Embassies in cooperation with the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD). For India, an application through the Academic Evaluation Centres India is required.
sufficient knowledge of German depending on the requested study course	required proof
applications for a second course of study	the degree certificate of your first degree program with overall grade, if you have already completed a degree program in an EU/EEA member state a short written statement justifying your decision to pursue a second course of study in relation to all components of the desired degree program
application for teaching degrees with Berlin Senate recognition / adaptation course	notification of recognition of teacher qualification by the Senate Department for Education, Youth, and Family consultation protocol of the DSE (Dahlem School of Education), which you will receive when you visit the office hours of the DSE
application for the higher semester	current certificate of enrollment with indication of course of study and semester of study
applicants are enrolled at the Freie Universität Berlin and have completed the Studienkolleg (preparatory course) of Freie Universität Berlin this year	current certificate of enrollment at Freie Universität VPD/assessment exam (if available) This applicant group is exempted from the VPD requirement
applicants who are enrolled in a core/major subject at Freie Universität Berlin and only wish to change the module/minor subject	Current certificate of enrollment from Freie Universität Berlin VPD/examination report from uni-assist (if available) This applicant group is exempted from the VPD requirement
selection of a degree program with special foreign language requirements	appropriate foreign language skills have to be submitted for enrollment

The following documents are also required when applying via the Freie Universität Berlin application portal if you belong to the specified applicant groups and are a German citizen or a citizen of an EU member state as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway:
applicants submitting a special request (Härtefall, Antrag auf Verbesserung der Durchschnittsnote, Antrag auf Verbesserung der Wartezeit)	a completed special applications form supporting documents
preferential admission	your service certificate or official proof of your period of service your earlier notice of admission at FU Berlin
applicants belonging to an Olympiakader, Perspektivkader, Ergänzungskader, Nachwuchskader 1, Nachwuchskader 2 or Paralympicskader squad, built on federal level, belonging to a federal association of the DOSB and catered by an Olympic Traning Center (OSP) in Berlin or Brandenburg	current proof of squad-membership issued by the professional association (Fachverband)
online application in the context of the quota for underage applicants - If you are a minor at the time of the application deadline (15.01./15.07.) living in Berlin or Brandenburg with a person who has custody of you	In case of admission, you have to submit  a registration certificate proving the afore-stated for enrollment. Therefore, we recommend that you apply for the registration certificate immediately after submitting your application.