To enrol at the BHH, two things matter:

1. Apply to one of our partner companies or to a company that offers the appropriate vocational training profession. With the company you conclude both a vocational training contract and a study contract. The company then registers you with the BHH and the enrolment process starts.

Good to know: The timing at which companies search for suitable applicants varies considerably. It is best to enquire early and directly with those responsible at the companies.

2. You also need a higher education entrance qualification, i.e. the Abitur or the full subject-restricted higher education entrance qualification — either already obtained or shortly before completion. As part of enrolment, you submit your school-leaving certificate as proof.

You will find all further enrolment requirements in §3 of the BHH enrolment regulations.

Good to know: You may have to apply to a suitable company even before you complete your school-leaving qualification.

Did you not complete your school-leaving qualification at a German-language school?

Foreign qualifications may be recognised as equivalent and thereby entitle you to study. Whether your foreign school-leaving qualification entitles you to study in Germany can be checked here.

As part of the enrolment process, the BHH checks whether higher education access is possible with a foreign school certificate.

For any questions, please contact our student counselling service directly — we will be happy to help.

If you did not complete your school-leaving qualification at a German-language school, you need evidence of German language skills at the C1 level. The accepted forms of evidence can be found in the appendix of the enrolment regulations.

Recognition

If you have already successfully completed one or more modules similar to BHH modules in a previous degree programme, you can have these examinations recognised. It is important that the relevant BHH module does not differ substantially from the module you have completed.

To have your achievements recognised, submit an application via the student portal no later than six weeks after the start of the semester. Please remember to attach all available evidence (certificate, module description, etc.) to the application for recognition.

Once the examination board has made a decision on recognition, the module including the credit points already obtained and the grade will be credited to you.

Credit transfer

You can submit an application for credit transfer (also via the student portal) if you would like to have competencies acquired outside higher education credited towards a university module. In addition to the application, suitable evidence is required.

You can find further information in the current statutes on the recognition of academic and examination performance and on the crediting of qualifications acquired outside higher education for the degree programmes of Berufliche Hochschule Hamburg (BHH).

In addition, the Business Administration – Management of SMEs degree programme provides for a flat-rate credit transfer for studies. Upon completing their dual vocational training, SME students receive credit for two training-related modules (Training-related Module I: Organisation and safety in training companies and Training-related Module II: Sustainability, environmental protection and the digitalised working world in the training company).

For the recognition of these modules, you upload the application for credit transfer together with your journeyman's certificate (Gesellenbrief) and your school-leaving certificate from the vocational school in the student portal. Under this link you will find vocational training professions for which a flat-rate recognition has already been agreed by the relevant examination board. For these professions, proof of the vocational training qualification is sufficient (without a separate application).

If your vocational training profession is not yet on the list, you submit an application for credit transfer of your vocational training via the student portal, attaching the vocational school certificate and the journeyman's certificate.

You can find more information on credit transfer for the BWL-SME degree programme in the programme-specific provisions.

A coaching service supports learners individually throughout their integrated study and vocational training. The Educational Pathway Coaching offers learners the opportunity, in at least two one-to-one conversations with trained coaches, to reflect on their experiences at the three places of learning. The topics are chosen by the participants themselves. They can include questions such as: how do I deal with the challenges of integrated study and vocational training? What role do I want to take on in my vocational training and working life, and what do I need for that? What resources do I have to manage the demands well?

In addition, the Educational Pathway Coaching supports learners as needed with their educational pathway decision, i.e. the decision on how they would like to continue their integrated study and vocational training after 18 months.

Goals of the Educational Pathway Coaching

Our Educational Pathway Coaching pursues the goal of supporting and strengthening learners on their academic and professional path in the best possible way. We help learners gain clarity about their individual educational pathway and make informed decisions for their future. A special focus is on strengthening reflection and decision-making skills, which are closely linked to the learners' practical experience. We teach methods of self-reflection that can be applied in coaching sessions and also used independently.

The support in the Educational Pathway Coaching follows a systemic approach. We consider the individual challenges of the learners in the context of their entire educational and life pathway and help them develop sustainable solutions for their personal and professional future.

Existing counselling and support services in the context of vocational training, e.g. from companies, vocational schools, or Berufliche Hochschule Hamburg, are not altered by the Educational Pathway Coaching. The Educational Pathway Coaching is a supplement to existing services.

Contact: Dr Lisa Vogt, Officer for cross-location coaching and counselling services
Email: lisa.vogt@bhh.hamburg.de

The term "students in special life situations" refers to students who are on maternity leave or parental leave, students with children, and students caring for relatives. Students with disabilities or chronic illnesses are entitled to compensation for disadvantages — see Compensation for disadvantages.

Students in special life situations have various options for dealing with challenges relating to lectures and examinations at the BHH.

The enrolment regulations allow students to take a leave of absence in certain life situations (cf. §§8, 9 ImmaO). Due to the BHH's special study model, a leave of absence will generally last one year (cf. Leave of absence).

For examinations, students in special life situations can additionally apply for measures that enable them to take their exams without being disadvantaged due to parenthood or caring for relatives, §§10, 12 StuPrO). Such measures can include, for example, an extension of the processing time, a change to the form of examination or the examination location. Other measures are also possible. The respective examination board chair decides on the application.

Pregnant students are exempted from participating in lectures and exams in accordance with the provisions of the Maternity Protection Act once the pregnancy has been notified. After the end of the protection period, the student can, upon application, make up missed exams or repeat the academic year. Students on parental leave under the Federal Parental Allowance and Parental Leave Act (BEEG) are likewise exempted from participating in lectures and exams upon application.

Our Student Services (studierendenservice@bhh.hamburg.de) and Examinations Office (pruefungsmanagement@bhh.hamurg.de) at the BHH are happy to help with the formalities of your applications.

If you require further counselling, please feel free to contact the BHH student counselling service at studienberatung@bhh.hamburg.de or the Equal Opportunities Officers at gleichstellung-w@bhh.hamburg.de.

To enrol at the BHH, two things matter:

1. Apply to one of our partner companies or to a company that offers the appropriate vocational training profession. With the company you conclude both a vocational training contract and a study contract. The company then registers you with the BHH and the enrolment process starts.

Good to know: The timing at which companies search for suitable applicants varies considerably. It is best to enquire early and directly with those responsible at the companies.

2. You also need a higher education entrance qualification, i.e. the Abitur or the full subject-restricted higher education entrance qualification — either already obtained or shortly before completion. As part of enrolment, you submit your school-leaving certificate as proof.

You will find all further enrolment requirements in §3 of the BHH enrolment regulations.

Good to know: You may have to apply to a suitable company even before you complete your school-leaving qualification.

Did you not complete your school-leaving qualification at a German-language school?

Foreign qualifications may be recognised as equivalent and thereby entitle you to study. Whether your foreign school-leaving qualification entitles you to study in Germany can be checked here.

As part of the enrolment process, the BHH checks whether higher education access is possible with a foreign school certificate.

For any questions, please contact our student counselling service directly — we will be happy to help.

If you did not complete your school-leaving qualification at a German-language school, you need evidence of German language skills at the C1 level. The accepted forms of evidence can be found in the appendix of the enrolment regulations.