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Application with non-German Degree

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 can find updated information on the new procedure right here. General information on VPD (preliminary review documentation) can be found at uni-assist.

In general, prospective students with a foreign university degree must apply for a VPD (Vorprüfungsdokumentation, preliminary review documentation) at uni-assist and then use this document to apply for a master’s 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:

University certificates that are part of your master's degree admission requirements

If applicable, additional country-specific documents, such as school reports or entrance examinations, which are part of your university entrance qualification

official translations of all certificates if issued in any language other than German or English

issued by sworn translators only or by an institution being entitled to 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.

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:

documents

explanation

valid VPD from uni-assist  
  • The VPD must be issued for Freie Universität Berlin

graduation certificate
(if you have completed your studies)
  • with a final grade
  • If you are applying for a higher subject-specific semester, this document is stringently required

official current transcript of records

with an overall grade 

if applicable, all school and university certificates relevant to your master's program admission that uni-assist has used for evaluation purposes

e.g., additional country-specific documents, such as school reports or entrance examinations, which are part of your university entrance qualification
if applicable, official transcript of records for the master’s program

only when applying for the higher subject-specific semesters

if applicable, official translations of all certificates if issued in any language other than German or English

issued by sworn translators only or by an institution being entitled to translations for official purposes

if applicable, APS certificate for applicants with certificates from China, India or Vietnam

In addition to the certificates to be submitted, certification from an Academic Evaluation Centre (Akademische Prüfstelle - APS) must also be provided. 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 applicable, current certificate of enrollment

in case you are currently enrolled or have been enrolled at a German university / college after completing your first degree

if applicable, proof of English knowledge

if required for the chosen master’s program

if applicable, proof of other language knowledge

if required for the chosen master’s program

if applicable, sufficient knowledge of German

if required for the chosen master's program

if applicable, additional study-related skills

if this is a selection criterion for the desired master’s program (please see the specific regulation on allocation of study placements)

if applicable, completed special application sheet and all documents supporting your hardship application

if you file a hardship application

if applicable, current proof of squad-membership issued by the professional association (Fachverband)

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

Please note that some master's programs require additional documents. Please refer to the following page for the program to find out about the respective admission requirements: https://www.fu-berlin.de/studium/studienangebot/master/index.html