International University of Applied Sciences

IU is based in Germany; we have one campus in Berlin and another in Bad Honnef. Check out the Our University page for more information. 

All our current study programmes are state-accredited and approved by the German Science Council and the state of Thuringia, and are in line with the European ECTS accreditation framework (the Bologna process).  

IU is also able to independently accredit new programmes in accordance with the legally defined quality standards of the German government, as we have been given the status of system accreditation.  

IU International is certified by FIBAA, assuring the quality of teaching and material. We are also listed on the European Quality Assurance Register (EQAR). 

You can find more detailed information on the IU Accreditations & Rankings page. 

All of the degree programmes we offer are planned and monitored under strict conditions and adhere to both German academic standards and international ones, in line with the principles of the Bologna Process. This ensures that our degrees and the ECTS points are graduates earn are internationally recognised. 

Some countries and professions might require additional accreditation processes. To assist you in such a case, we will be happy to issue a copy of the Europass Diploma Supplement, in English. 

IU has an extensive network of corporate partners and collaborations, enabling an exchange of knowledge and contacts which benefit our students. Check out Our Network of Partners page for more. 

IU has a large university network of partner institutions across the world. One of these university partners is London South Bank University (LSBU). Students at IU have coordinated dual degree programmes with LSBU, meaning you have the opportunity to acquire a British degree in addition to your German degree from IU. Find out more here. 

IU’s admission requirements depend on the study programme you are interested in. You can find the exact requirements for each programme listed on the page of each respective study programme, but if you’re looking for a general outline of our admission requirements, you can find it under the question “What documents do I need to prepare for my admission?” In this FAQ.  

Once you’ve chosen the study programme you want to take, and checked that you meet the application requirements, the next step is submitting your online application. 

It’s quick and easy to do: here’s a video that takes you through the process. At the end of your online application, a study contract will be made available for you to download. At this point, just sign and upload your study contract via your uploads page. You’ll get a link to it along with your contract. 

Once your signed contract is uploaded, you’ll need to upload your admission documents. Our admissions team will then check them to determine whether you are indeed eligible to start your desired study programme.  

If some documents are still required, admissions will let you know by email. If all documents are complete and you are eligible for the desired study programme, you will be registered and will receive an email with the next steps.  

Once your starting date arrives, you will receive credentials to log in to your virtual campus and can begin your studies. Good luck! 

For more detailed information about the application process please click here.

Relevant documents that are needed for admission to a Bachelor's or Master’s programme can be found on our website in the respective page of your desired study programme. 

In general, you will need to provide the following before you start your studies: 

• Study contract signed (this will be made available for download at the end of your Online Application Form) 
• University entrance qualification (this can be an upper secondary school certificate or a Bachelor’s degree, depending on the programme)* 
• Upper secondary school transcript of records (with courses and grades) 
• Proof of English proficiency (for detailed information, see next question of this section) 
• For certain Master or MBA programs: proof of work experience 

And the following needs to be provided within the first three months of your studies: 

• CV (in tabluar form) 
• National ID (with your photo) 
• Certified copies of your application documents – the originals and the translations*  

*The admissions documents must be provided in English or German, if they were not issued in one of these two languages, a translation is required. If you need to translate your documents, we can help refer you to our trusted translation partners M21 Global. You can find more details here. 

If you translate your documents via M21 Global, there’s no need to provide a certified copy of the translation, as this is done by them. You’ll only need to certify the original language version of your documents.

Depending on your personal circumstances, you might be required to provide proof of your English language proficiency. Your skills would need to match the B2 level of the Common European Framework (CEF). 

We accept the following English language skills certificates*: 

• TOEFL (minimum 80 points)* or 
• IELTS (minimum Level 6)* or
• ELLT or 
• Duolingo English Test (minimum 95 points)* or 
• Cambridge Certificate (minimum Grade B)* 

Is English your native language, or have you graduated from an English-speaking school or university? Then you do not need to prove your English language proficiency. 

Get in touch with our study advisors for more details. 

Your application is complete as soon as your study contract and admission documents are uploaded and approved. The sooner our admissions team receives your application documents, the quicker your admission is reviewed.  

IU offers you the flexibility to submit your documents whenever you’re ready, but we strongly encourage you to finish this step as early as possible.   

Some of our Master and MBA programmes require work experience in a relevant field under certain circumstances. This must have been achieved after completion of your bachelor. Admission requirements for each course are available on course pages.  

Online: 
We guarantee IU online students maximum flexibility, so you can choose your own starting date in your application. On that day, we will send you the access data you need to begin.   

On Campus:  
We offer 2 to 4 intake dates per year, depending on the programme, but you can apply at any time. However, our on-campus programmes have fixed starting times. See the course pages for more.  

IU International University of Applied Sciences is a German accredited university, which means we as an institution are bound by state regulations. To find out more about our accreditations, rankings, and degree recognitions, please visit our Accreditations & Rankings page. 

In case you don’t meet admission requirements, our study advisory team will provide you with the relevant requirements you will ultimately need to meet in order to be admitted. This may include, for example, completing free admission courses before starting your study programme – or choosing a different programme. 

In total, we can recognise up to 50% of the ECTS points for your course of study. 

For more details about our recognition process, read our guide to recognition. 

Some of our Master’s level study programmes require specific academic experience in a certain field, in order for you to start the programme.  

However, if you do not have that experience, but you meet all the other admission requirements, we offer you the possibility to take admission courses that cover that required knowledge. You’ll have one year to complete them successfully, and they are free of charge. 

Once you’ve successfully completed the courses, you’ll need to inform us, and we will then register you for your desired Master’s programme. 

By signing the contract, you formally acknowledge and accept our terms of service. For us to successfully enrol you to study at IU, the first step is for us to be sure that you know and understand what you’re signing up for. 

Simply click here and fill out the online application form. 

For a detailed breakdown of the application process, see the question How does the application process work? on this page.

You can send both documents after the start of your studies, within the first 3 months. However, we recommend uploading them together with the rest of your application documents. 

Once you’ve submitted your signed contract and your application documents, our admissions team will check your application and get back to you within 5 business days.  

No, you don’t have to go to your local German embassy. Any official with a notarized seal can certify your documents – it can be a notary or a local government office- 

Depending on the admission requirements, you might have to take an entrance exam or an admission course to start your programme. 

If you start your studies through the Online Degree Saver Programme, the entrance exam is included in the first half of your studies. Once you finish the first half successfully, you’ll also pass the entrance exam. 

Our admissions team will let you know if you need to take an entrance exam; you can send your documents for a pre-check (it’s free of charge) or simply start the application process, upload your documents and wait for a reply. 

Depending on the country you come from, you might need to meet an additional entry requirement, like completing an admission course. These requirements are determined by the German ministry of education, and as a state accredited university, we are committed to its demands. 

We’re happy to perform a pre-check for your application documents, and let you know if you need to provide anything beyond what’s stated in the admission requirements of your desired study programme. 

For more details, get in touch with our study advisors. 

No, you will not need to have an interview. If you meet the admission requirements, you’ll be admitted to your desired programme. 

But, if you have any questions and would like to speak to someone, you’re more than welcome to talk to one of our study advisors. 

In order to prove that your grades meet the required level for starting a Master’s degree. A transcript of records is a detailed list of all of the modules or classes you have taken at a university at an undergraduate level (BA degree).