How to apply

How to get started

How to get enrolled in your study programme

1. Your online application

Open our online application form, select your study programme and the starting date of your choice and upload your documents (certificates, CV, etc.) – straight away or at a later time.

For more information reach out to our Study Advisory Team or watch our explanatory video.

2. Your study contract

Once you’ve sent off your online application form, we will send you a non-binding study contract to sign. You can upload this before one of our study advisors will be in touch to discuss your eligibility and choice of course.

If you don’t quite meet our admission requirements, your contract will be terminated and you will not be charged any application fees.

3. Getting started

Once we have the required documents and they have been approved, you will be enrolled in your study programme. On the starting date of your studies, we will send you your log-in details via email, and you can access our online campus platform and get learning right away.

If you’re joining us on campus, our admissions team will support you through the visa process if necessary and get you prepared for life on our Berlin or Bad Honnef campuses.

Entry requirements - All you need to know

Die Frist mit der Technologie zu schlagen

Admission requirements

In order to meet the IU admission requirements, you’ll need to first choose your study programme, as the requirements differ depending on your programme and its ECTS credits model.

Some programmes require previous professional experience, while others require a previous degree in a relevant field or a secondary school diploma. When looking at the study programme page you’re interested in, scroll over to or click on the “Admission” section. That’s where you’ll find in-depth information on the academic requirements you need to fulfil when applying.

If you don’t meet some of the admission criteria – don’t worry! You can contact our Study Advisory Team, who will offer solutions on a case-by-case basis, and help you apply to the right Bachelor or Master study programme for you.

Here’s a list of what you’ll need to start your studies with IU.

Bachelor study programmes entry requirements

Bachelor study programmes

Academic criteria: a general secondary school diploma and/or
a subject-related higher education entrance qualification
English language skills: At IU, we teach in English to prepare you for the international market.
We therefore ask for proof of your English language skills*. If English is your native language or you graduated from an English-speaking school/university, you don’t need to prove your English skills. Proof includes:
Speexx B2.2 Certificate (complimentary when signing up with IU)
TOEFL (minimum 80 points) or
IELTS (minimum Level 6) or
Duolingo English-Test (minimum 95 points) or
Cambridge Certificate (minimum Grade B) or
Equivalent proof*
*Proof must be provided before the start of the study and must not be older than 2 years.

DISCOVER BACHELOR PROGRAMMES

Earn a high school diploma and a Bachelor’s degree – at the same time!

Don’t have a high school diploma? Have one but your grade average doesn’t meet our admission requirements? We have a solution for you!

With the High School Diploma Study Pathway, you can earn a high school diploma and start your online Bachelor’s degree at IU – at the same time.

Visit our High School Diploma Study Pathway page for more details.

Do you want to get started? Test 1 month for free!

Take the opportunity to find out whether an online study programme with IU International University of Applied Sciences is the right fit for you. You can test your desired study programme during your free trial –completely free of charge and with no strings attached. Simply apply for your online study programme and unlock your access. Happy learning!

DISCOVER BACHELOR PROGRAMMES DISCOVER MASTER PROGRAMMES

Master and MBA study programmes entry requirements

Master study programmes

In order to study for a Master’s degree at IU International University of Applied Sciences, you need to have completed an undergraduate degree – for example, a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent diploma. Certificates for degrees completed outside Germany must be sent along with a copy that has been translated into German or English. Some Master’s degree programmes also have special entry requirements.

Please note that some study programmes have special entry requirements (e.g. previous degree in a specific field, requisite work experience or previous knowledge in certain subject areas). You can find up-to-date information about entry requirements on our website by visiting the study programme of your choice and looking under “entry requirements”.

Academic criteria: Completed degree from a public or officially recognised university/higher education institution*.
For 60-ECTS programmes, you will need to have already acquired 240 ECTS credits.
For 120-ECTS programmes, you will need to have 180 ECTS credits.
At least a “satisfactory” or Grade C equivalent earned in your previous education.
*For some master programmes, you will need to have achieved your undergraduate studies in a relevant field, gain one year of professional work experience, or previous knowledge in certain subject areas before reaching 50% of your ECTS. You can take a look at the dedicated page of your desired programme for more information.
Work experience as credit points: If you do not meet the minimum required ECTS credits from your undergraduate degree in order to be accepted to your desired study programme, but have relevant work experience in the field, you can have your work experience recognised as credit points.
For each year of proven work experience in the field, you’re recognised as having earned 30 ECTS credits. This option is only available for up to two years of experience (60 ECTS credits).
Please note – the work experience you use in order to bridge the ECTS credits requirements is not considered to be official ECTS credits, and is only relevant for your specific study programme at IU.
Applying for a Master’s Programme with a Non-Subject Related Undergraduate Degree
For some Master’s programmes, having a subject-related undergraduate degree, or one with a focus on a specific topic, is required.
However, in some cases, even if you do not meet this requirement, you can still apply. In order to be successfully enrolled as a student in the programme, you will have to not only successfully complete 50% of your courses in 50% of your study contract duration, but also complete 2 specific, mandatory courses during this time period.
In addition, the rest of the general admission requirements must be met.
To find out more about how this process works, please get in touch with our Study Advisory Team.
English language skills: At IU, we teach in English to prepare you for the international market.
We therefore ask for proof of your English language skills*. If English is your native language or you graduated from an English-speaking school/university, you don’t need to prove your English skills. Proof includes:
Speexx B2.2 Certificate (complimentary when signing up with IU)
TOEFL (minimum 80 points) or
IELTS (minimum Level 6) or
Duolingo English-Test (minimum 95 points) or
Cambridge Certificate (minimum Grade B) or
Equivalent proof*
*Proof must be provided before the start of the study and must not be older than 2 years.

DISCOVER MASTER PROGRAMMES

MBA study programmes

Academic criteria: Completed degree from a public or officially recognised university/higher education institution.
At least a “satisfactory” or Grade C equivalent earned in your previous degree.
Your undergraduate studies must amount to 210 ECTS credits to begin a 60-ECTS MBA.
Your undergraduate studies must amount to 180 ECTS to begin a 90-ECTS MBA.
Professional experience: You will need to have at least one year of professional work experience before starting an MBA programme (achieved after previous studies).
For MBA programmes, you will also need to have completed a second year of professional work experience before graduating.
If your first degree is not specialised in a business-related field, you may still be admitted to our programme if your professional work experience is in business management. Admission to MBA programmes will then be decided on an individual basis following an interview with our academic staff.
English language skills: At IU, we teach in English to prepare you for the international market.
We therefore ask for proof of your English language skills*. If English is your native language or you graduated from an English-speaking school/university, you don’t need to prove your English skills. Proof includes:
Speexx B2.2 Certificate (complimentary when signing up with IU)
TOEFL (minimum 80 points) or
IELTS (minimum Level 6) or
Duolingo English-Test (minimum 95 points) or
Cambridge Certificate (minimum Grade B) or
Equivalent proof*
*Proof must be provided before the start of the study and must not be older than 2 years.

Discover MBA programmes

Technical requirements

As most – or all – of your studies will be carried out online, you’ll need some basic technological tools in order to study at IU Online University of Applied Sciences. These include a reliable Wi-Fi connection, a laptop or a PC and, for exams – an external webcam or a webcam mobile app on your smartphone or tablet.

We’ve prepared a list of the minimum specification requirements you’ll need, in order to ensure a smooth and enjoyable studying experience. The list covers the operating systems, browser and webcam models we recommend all of our students use.

If you have any questions regarding these technical requirements, please get in touch with our Study Advisory Team.

Minimum computer and webcam specifications required

Operating Systems (OS): Microsoft: All operating systems from Microsoft Windows 7 onwards
Macintosh: All operating systems from Mac OS X version 10.5 onwards
Computer Hardware: Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo processor 2.0 GHz or faster
Memory: 1 GB RAM memory or more, 5 GB free hard disk space or more
Internet connection: Download speed of at least 3 Mbit/s or more (test your speed here)
Browser: Mozilla Firefox (latest version)
Browser Plug-ins: Adobe Flash Player (latest version)
Other: Adobe Acrobat Reader (latest version)
Sound card (with loudspeakers or headphones and a microphone)
Webcam recommendations: Please note: Using your laptop’s integrated camera is not allowed during exams.
Either use an external webcam, which is connected to your laptop/PC or
Connect a mobile device, for example your smartphone or tablet, via an app to your laptop/PC and use that as an alternative for the external webcam. We recommend apps like “DroidCam” (for Android devices) or “iVCam” (for iOS devices)
Feel free to use any webcam model that you find best. But if you’re looking for a recommendation, you can consider one of the following options:
LOGITECH C270
MICROSOFT LifeCam HD-3000
TRUST 16428 SpotLight Webcam Pro
Webcam use and positioning: The camera should be placed so that the keyboard, your hands and your face are visible from the side. You will be able to see your live image in your laptop, as is seen by the proctor platform. This will help you to adjust the camera position.
We recommend that you position your camera so that you are still visible if you slightly move/change positions during the exam.

Personal counselling

Have any questions?

Visit our FAQ page or get in touch with our Study Advisors. You can also find information about the application process under our Become a Student page.