Anerkennung akademischer Grade, Titel und Bezeichnungen von Spätaussiedlern beantragen

If you are recognized as a late repatriate, you can apply for a conversion to the German degree that corresponds to your foreign degree. This also applies to your spouse and children.

The following applies to university degrees that you have obtained at a recognized university abroad:

You may use the degree awarded, such as "inzener-mechanik" or "ekonomist", without authorization in the form in which you obtained it. However, in the case of degrees obtained outside the European Union, you must add the university at which you obtained the degree.

You can present the academic degree in the following forms:

• Transcribed in Latin script
• use the abbreviation permitted or customary in the country of origin
• add a literal German translation in brackets.

If you are recognized as an ethnic German resettler, you can apply for a conversion to the German degree that corresponds to your foreign degree. This also applies to your spouse and children.

If the foreign degree is equivalent to the German degree, this conversion will take place.

The following documents must be enclosed with the application: (please do not send original certificates!)

• a) an officially certified copy of the original certificate of the award of the academic degree;
• b) an officially certified copy of the translation of the above-mentioned certificate by an interpreter sworn in at a German court; details of the college/university and the academic degree must also be translated into Latin script (in alphabetical order) in the case of Cyrillic script;
• c) an officially certified copy of the overview of subjects and grades (attachment to the diploma);
• d) an officially certified copy of the translation of the document under c) by an interpreter sworn in at a German court;
• e) an officially certified copy of the certificate of higher education entrance qualification or school leaving certificate entitling the applicant to study;
• f) an officially certified copy of the translation of the document under e) by an interpreter sworn in at a German court;
• g) an officially certified copy of the certificate pursuant to Section 15 (1) or (2) of the Federal Expellees Act;
• h) an officially certified copy of the declaration of name in accordance with § 94 of the Federal Expellees Act or the certificate from the registry office regarding the change of name;
• i) a personally signed declaration stating whether a permit application has already been submitted in Lower Saxony or another state of the Federal Republic of Germany at an earlier date;
• j) a curriculum vitae in tabular form;
• k) a current registration certificate of residence in the state of Lower Saxony. No copy of the confirmation of registration!

Official certifications and a registration certificate can be obtained from the municipal or city administration

• Degree from a recognized university in the resettlement area before entering Germany
• Equivalence of the degree with a German degree
• Main residence in Lower Saxony

You must submit an informal application. You must submit this together with the required documents to the responsible office.

Recognized ethnic German repatriates and their spouses and descendants who hold a certificate in accordance with § 15 BVFG may, upon application, be permitted to use a degree awarded before resettlement in the form of the corresponding domestic university degree, provided that it is equivalent. For this purpose, the documents submitted will be forwarded to experts from the Central Office for Foreign Education with a request for a professional opinion.

• Academic degrees, titles and designations Recognition for ethnic German repatriates
• If you are recognized as a late repatriate, you can apply for a conversion to the German degree that corresponds to your foreign degree. This also applies to your spouse and children.
• If the foreign degree is equivalent to the German degree, this conversion will take place.
• Responsible: Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture, Department 27

Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony, Department 27, Leibnizufer 9, 30169 Hanover