Plausibility Check Procedure for Refugees Applying without Proof of Higher Education Entrance Eligibility (HZB)

For prospective students who had to flee their home country and cannot provide proof of HZB, uni-assist e. V. (University Application Service for International Students) issues a so-called “replacement certificate” (Ersatzbescheinigung). You must submit a replacement certificate to take part in the Plausibility Check. To apply for a replacement certificate:

1. Complete the PDF Self-Disclosure Form or Self-Disclosure Form (Iran).
2. Complete the PDF Application for preliminary examination documentation from the University Application Service for International Students for applicants with foreign proof of education.
3. Send uni-assist the completed forms together with all available academic transcripts/records. If you have no transcripts or records, send only the completed forms. The address is: uni-assist e.V., 11507 Berlin.

You can apply for a free review of your documents by uni-assist via the online portal at https://pgm.uni-assist.de/?language=en. If you need a confirmation of advising for the fee exemption, please contact Academic Advising for Refugees.

After reviewing your documents, uni-assist issues a replacement certificate. You can then complete the Registration Form and upload your replacement certificate as well as proof of German skills to Level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

After submitting their replacement certificate and proof of German skills to Level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, prospective students are invited to an interview with the Academic Advising for Refugees at the Center for Academic Advising and Psychological Counseling (ZSPB) of Universität Hamburg to establish the plausibility of their foreign educational background.

Following this interview, the Center’s advisors review the plausibility of the information about educational background in accordance with anabin (data bank for recognition and acceptance of foreign educational certificates) or in consultation with the Central Office for Foreign Education (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen, ZAB). If the information is plausible, you may take part in an assessment examination.

The academic aptitude test TestAS verifies the plausibility of the information about educational background. You must take TestAS in German. You may repeat TestAS once upon request. TestAS results can earn you bonus points in later applications at Universität Hamburg. You must submit your TestAS results to Universität Hamburg by 1 June at the latest. TestAS results determine subsequent procedures:

Information and advising on the Plausibility Check Procedure is available all year round. Please take note of the following dates and deadlines:

1. Until 28 February: Registration to Plausibility Check Procedure with uni-assist replacement certificate
2. Until 31 March: Plausibility review
3. April: TestAS
4. May: Communication of TestAS results
5. According to TestAS results:
   1. Admission and enrollment in trial studies, commencement of studies in October
   2. 1 August–30 September Application to the Studienkolleg

You register for the Plausibility Check via the Registration Form. To register, you must provide a uni-assist replacement certificate and a German language certificate. Once we have received your registration, we review whether you can apply directly to Universität Hamburg or Studienkolleg Hamburg with your replacement certificate, or if you have to go through the Plausibility Check. To admit you to the Plausibility Check, we must receive your replacement certificate by 28 February at the latest.