Restrictive Admissions, Aptitude Assessment Procedures, TestAS

Restrictive Admissions

In many fields of study the number of applicants is greater than the number of available spots. Such fields have restrictive admissions (numerus clausus). In fields of study with restrictive admission spots for (non-EU) international applicants are allocated according to a quota (5% international students in all fields of study with restrictive admissions). Often the proportion of study spots to applicants is so unfavorable that only especially well qualified applicants have a chance of being admitted.

Several fields of study also have restrictive admissions for higher semesters. At the present time, this is true of the following fields: medicine, pharmacy and dentistry. Free spots are offered first to students already enrolled in the field in question at other universities in the Federal Republic of Germany or in another EU country who wish to continue their studies in Freiburg. Applicants who apply for admission to a higher semester on the basis of credit earned in a foreign country (outside of the EU) or who wish to have credits transferred from a field of study other than that which they are applying for in Freiburg may only seldom count on being granted admission to a higher semester.

Aptitutude Assessment Procedures

In several subject the university introduced aptitude assessment procedures (written tests). Also applicants form non-EU-countries are obliged to take part in these tests (Please note: EU citizens also have to take part in the selection procedures). The assessment tests take place end of july for the winter semester / end of january for the summer semester in the following departments:

Anglistik (Englisch Lehramt, Englische Philologie Magister Artium, English and American Studies Bachelor of Arts), Angewandte Politikwissenschaft und Interdisziplinäre Grundlagen der Politikwissenschaft Bachelor of Arts and Sport (Sport Lehramt, Sporttherapie und Sportwissenschaft Bachelor of Arts, Sportwissenschaft Magister Artium)

Further information is provided on the homepages of the respective departments. Please take note that you might be obliged to register for the test online and that you might not receive a special invitation.

TestAS – Scholastic Aptitude Test for International Applicants

During the selection procedures the University of Freiburg will apply TestAS for applicants from non-EU countries. Every non-EU citizen who wishes to apply for an initial degree program (“grundständiges Studium”, this means that your goal is a bachelor or state examination at the University of Freiburg) can improve their chances of acceptance to the program by taking TestAS.

What, when, where?

TestAS is a standardized test which determines whether international applicants possess the intellectual abilities which are required for a course of study at a German university. The test is conducted in German and includes four subtests: 1. solving quantitative problems, 2. inferring relations, 3. completing patterns, 4. continuing numerical series. When registering, candidates choose one of the four Subject Specific Modules:

• Humanities,Cultural Studies and Social Sciences (new as from 2009)
• Mathematics, Information Technology and Natural Sciences (new as from 2009)
• Engineering
• Economics.

TestAS will be offered on March 28^th, 2009 at numerous TestDaF centers worldwide and in Germany and is free of charge. You must register online between January 5^th and February 20^th, 2009 at www.testas.de. The site also includes a list of all test centers. In Freiburg you can attend TestAS at the Sprachlehrinstitut (SLI) of the University.

Advantages for your application for admission to the University of Freiburg:

• Regardless of your score on TestAS, the fact that you participated will be taken into account as an important criterion in your application, because it shows your motivation to be accepted at the University of Freiburg. A good score on the test is a chance to demonstrate to the International Student Admissions Office that you are fit for a course of study.

• You will also gain valuable insights into the requirements of a course of study in Germany and how to evaluate yourself and your abilities. In addition, you will receive comprehensive feedback after the test, showing you where you stand in comparison to other applicants.

Important information:

• Information on application and admission procedures at the University of Freiburg is available on this website.

• For information on TestAS and on the test centers, please visit www.testas.de. You can also register for TestAs on this website.

• Taking TestAS is voluntary for international applicants of the University of Freiburg. After completing the test, you can decide for yourself whether or not you wish your score to be submitted to the University of Freiburg.

• Applicants to the University of Freiburg are recommended not to take part in the language screening (onDaF, online-test Deutsch als Fremdsprache). Other universities potentially have different policies in this regard.

• The test may not be used to fulfill general prerequisites for admission to studies at the University of Freiburg such as evidence of German language skills or higher education admission qualification.

• Applicants for master programs or short-term studies (free movers, exchange students) as well as doctoral candidates do not have to participate in TestAS.

We are looking forward to receiving you as students at the University of Freiburg and wish you the best of luck for your application. If you have further questions, feel free to contact the staff of the International Students Admissions Office.