Bundesportal | Applying for recognition of the International Baccalaureate Diploma/Diplôme du Baccalauréat International as a university entrance qualification

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Publisher

Hesse

Last update or date of publication

April 9, 2025

Contact

The government service telephone number 115 – your point of contact for questions related to the federal, state and local.

Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 18:00 (and beyond these times in some regions).

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If you have obtained an IB diploma at an international school and wish to study in Hessen, you can apply for recognition of your IB diploma as a university entrance qualification. Once the requirements have been successfully checked, you will be issued with a certificate valid in Hessen.

With full recognition of your IB diploma as a university entrance qualification, you can study all subjects at all universities and colleges in Hessen. For this purpose, the number of points you have achieved in the IB program will also be converted into the German grading system.

IB diploma (original or certified copy) OR release of IB results via IBIS
IB interim reports from grades 11 and 12 with level information
Grade 10 report card before the start of the IB
Curriculum vitae in tabular form (with complete school history)
Copy of the front and back of your identity card OR copy of your passport and a current registration certificate

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Preconditions

You have your first place of residence in Hesse or wish to study at a non-state university which has its headquarters or place of study in Hesse.

or place of study in Hessen.

An IB diploma can be recognized as a university entrance qualification if it has been obtained after attending at least twelve ascending grades at schools with full-time teaching.

The requirements for the recognition of the IB can be found in the "Agreement on the recognition of the 'International Baccalaureate Diploma/Diplôme du Baccalauréat International'" of the KMK in the currently valid version, which is linked under "Basis(s) for action".

Please note: As a German citizen with an IB diploma who has not studied German at a school abroad with an IB program, you must provide proof of sufficient German language skills before commencing studies in Germany. The respective state ministries of science or the host universities can provide you with information on this.

Hints

Further information on the recognition of IB diplomas in Hesse can be found on the website of the Hessian Ministry of Culture, Education and Opportunities

70 Euro administrative fee for successful recognition of the IB diploma as a university entrance qualification
In case of rejection, no fees will be charged

Basis for legal action

Agreement on the recognition of the "International Baccalaureate Diploma/ Diplôme du Baccalauréat International" (Resolution of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of 10.03.1986 in the version of 15.06.2023)

§ Section 54 (2) sentences 3 and 4 of the Hessian Higher Education Act in the version dated December 18, 2017 (GVBl. p. 482)

Legal Remedies

An action may be brought against the decision within one month of its notification before the competent administrative court in Hesse in writing or for the record of the clerk of the court registry. The action must identify the plaintiff, the state of Hesse, represented by the Hessian Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs, as the defendant, and the subject matter of the dispute. It should contain a specific request. The facts serving as grounds should be stated. The original or a copy of the relevant decision should be attached.

Procedure

As soon as all the necessary documents have been submitted, the staff at the Hessian Ministry of Culture, Education and Opportunities will check whether the requirements for recognition of your IB diploma, as decided by the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs, have been met.
If all requirements are met, a letter of recognition and a notification of costs will be issued.
After you have sent us a certified copy of the IB diploma by post or have released the IB results via IBIS, the letter of recognition and the notification of costs will also be sent to you by post.
Please transfer the administrative fee of 70 euros afterwards.
If the requirements for recognition are not met, you will receive a notification by post informing you of this, explaining the reasons why recognition is not possible and giving you alternatives as to how you can obtain a university entrance qualification.

Deadlines

There are no deadlines for recognition. The issued university entrance qualification is valid indefinitely.

Processing time

1-5 days (provided the required documents are complete).

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