Anerkennung von DDR-Schul- und Studienabschlüssen beantragen

If you are a graduate of a civilian college, technical or engineering school, an institute of the former GDR or a military technical school you can apply here for an informal equivalence check of your educational qualifications.

Graduates of civil high schools, technical schools, engineering schools or an institute of the former GDR can have the equivalence of their educational qualifications recognized. This applies to:

1. University degrees from the former GDR:
   If you have a civilian university degree with a diploma from the GDR, a notice can be issued certifying the equivalence of the degree after an equivalence test.
   
2. Engineering and technical college degrees from the former GDR:
   If you are a graduate of an engineering school diploma, a postgraduate diploma may be awarded. To be awarded a diploma degree with the suffix "FH" (universities of applied sciences), you must provide evidence of at least three years of relevant professional activity after completing your studies.
   
3. Social pedagogical technical college degrees in the educator sector of the former GDR:
   If you have a social pedagogical specialized school degree from the GDR, the equivalence can be checked. After examination, a decision will be issued that leads to a partial recognition of the degree in the respective field of activity of educators.
   
   Note: If you wish to obtain a full qualification as a state-recognized educator, you will need the partial recognition and an adaptation qualification at one of the adult education centers in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The part-time adaptation qualification usually lasts half a year and includes a 4-week internship. You complete the adaptation qualification with a colloquium.
   
4. University entrance qualifications from the former GDR:
   You have acquired preliminary education certificates in the former GDR. These corresponded to a general or subject-linked university entrance qualification there. You can prove that you have a general or subject-linked higher education entrance qualification to the same extent with a previous education certificate acquired in the GDR. If you wish to have your university entrance qualification recognized, you must submit an application. This will be processed within the framework of a case-by-case examination.
   
5. Teacher qualifications from the former GDR:
   If you have acquired teaching qualifications according to the law of the former GDR, these are considered to be proof of teaching qualification to the same extent. This applies to the following degrees:
   • Teacher of lower grades, acquired at an institute for teacher education as well as.
   • Diploma teacher, acquired at a university or university of teacher education.
     
6. Engineering educators from the former GDR:
   You have a degree from an institute for the education and training of engineering educators from the former GDR. With this, you can pursue an occupation in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as a teacher of specialized practice at public vocational schools.
   
   You have the right to use the professional title "Ingenieurpädagoge" or "-pädagogin".
   
7. Military technical school degrees of the former GDR:
   Depending on the specific training profile, you can have your degree obtained at a military technical school of the former GDR recognized by additional training as a degree in state-certified business administration or as a state-certified technician.
   
   The right to use the original job titles remains unaffected even without additional training.

• informal application,
• Original or officially certified copy of the diploma,
• Proof of name change to the final certificate (if done).

Additional special documents in case of:

1. University degrees of the former GDR:
   • officially certified copy of the certificate
     
2. Engineering and technical college degrees of the former GDR:
   • officially certified copy of the certificate
   • a personally signed description of the professional career after completion of studies, stating the form and duration of study
   • officially certified proof of at least three years of relevant professional activity after graduation; this can be, for example, the social security card of the former GDR, employment contracts or a certificate from the employer stating the content of the work.
     
3. Social pedagogical college degrees in the educator sector of the former GDR:
   • especially crèche educators: officially certified copy of the state recognition of the certificate.
   • if available: Proof of an adaptation qualification at an adult education center in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (for recognition of the full degree).
     
4. University entrance qualification from the former GDR:
   • no additional documents required for the above
     
5. Teacher qualifications of the former GDR:
   • no additional documents required for the above
     
6. Engineering educators:
   • no additional documents required for the above
     
7. Military technical school diplomas of the former GDR:
   • Original or officially certified copy of proof of additional training according to Annex XI of the resolution of the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of 15.04.1994 in the version of 09.03.2001 on the determination of the equivalence of educational qualifications (military technical college degrees).

You have:

• a civilian degree from a university of the former GDR or
• a civilian degree from a technical or engineering college or institute of the former GDR, or
• a social pedagogical technical school degree in the field of education of the former GDR or
• a university entrance qualification from the former GDR or
• a teaching qualification from the former GDR or
• a degree from an institute for the training and further education of engineering educators of the former GDR, or
• a degree from a military technical school of the former GDR.

The following costs apply for:

1. University degrees from the former GDR:
   • Determination of the equivalence of university degrees: 30.00 EUR
     
2. Engineering and technical college degrees of the former GDR:
   • Postgraduation of technical and engineering school degrees: 90.00 EUR
     
3. Social pedagogical specialized school diplomas in the educator area of the former GDR:
   • Determination of equivalence of social pedagogical educator degrees: 20,00 EUR
     
4. University entrance qualifications of the former GDR:
   • Determination of the equivalence of university entrance qualifications: 20,00 EUR
     
5. Teacher qualifications of the former GDR:
   • Determination of the equivalence of teacher qualifications: none
     
6. Engineering teacher degrees of the former GDR:
   • Determination of equivalence of engineering pedagogues: 20.00 EUR
     
7. Military technical school diplomas of the former GDR:
   • Determination of equivalence of military technical school degrees: 20,00 EUR

Submit an informal application with the necessary evidence. To do this, you must submit all the necessary documents and records to the relevant office in the original or as an officially certified copy.
The application will be checked for completeness and if something is missing, you will be asked to submit the missing evidence. After the final review of the application, a decision and in some cases a diploma certificate will be issued and sent to you. If applicable, a fee notice with all important payment information will be sent to you afterwards.

Your responsible office is for:

1. University degrees from the former GDR:
   • Ministry of Science, Culture, Federal and European Affairs M-V, Department 300
     
2. Engineering and technical college degrees from the former GDR:
   • Ministry of Science, Culture, Federal and European Affairs M-V, Department 300
     
3. Social pedagogical technical college degrees in the educator sector of the former GDR:
   • Ministry of Education and Child Day Promotion M-V, Department 221
     
4. University entrance qualifications of the former GDR:
   • Ministry of Education and Child Day Promotion M-V, Department 230
     
5. Teacher qualifications of the former GDR:
   • Ministry of Education and Child Day Care M-V, Department 230
     
6. Engineering teacher degrees of the former GDR:
   • Ministry of Education and Child Day Support M-V, Department 230.
     
7. Military technical school diplomas of the former GDR:
   • Ministry of Education and Child Day Support M-V, Department 230

The average processing time is 1-4 weeks.

• none

An action against these notices may be brought before the Administrative Court in Schwerin or the Administrative Court in Greifswald within one month of notification, depending on the place of residence.

The equivalence of educational qualifications from the former GDR can be determined as follows:

Responsibility at the Ministry of Science, Culture, Federal and European Affairs M-V - Department 300:

• University graduates of the former GDR:
  If you have a civilian university degree with a diploma from the GDR, a notice can be issued certifying the equivalence of the degree after an equivalence test.
  
• Engineering and technical school graduates from the former GDR:
  If you are a graduate of civilian technical and engineering school degrees, a postgraduate degree may be awarded. To be awarded the diploma degree with the suffix "FH" (universities of applied sciences), you must provide evidence of at least three years of relevant professional activity after completing your studies.

Responsibility at the Ministry of Education and Child Day Care M-V - Department 221:

• Social pedagogical technical college and institute graduates of the former GDR:
  If you have a social pedagogical technical school degree from the GDR, a notice can be issued after an equivalence test, which leads to a partial recognition of the degree in the respective field of activity of educators.
  Note: If you wish to obtain a full qualification as a state-recognized educator, you will need the partial recognition and an adaptation qualification at one of the adult education centers in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The part-time adaptation qualification usually lasts half a year and includes a 4-week internship. You complete the adaptation qualification with a colloquium.

Responsibility at the Ministry of Education and Child Day Care M-V - Department 230:

• University Entrance Qualifications:
  You have acquired preliminary educational qualifications in the former GDR. These corresponded there to a general or specialized university entrance qualification. You can prove that you have a general or subject-linked higher education entrance qualification with a previous education certificate acquired in the GDR to the same extent. If you wish to have your university entrance qualification recognized, you must submit an application. This will be processed within the framework of a case-by-case examination.
  
• Teachers' qualifications:
  If you have acquired teaching qualifications according to the law of the former GDR, these are considered to be proof of teaching qualification to the same extent. This applies to the following degrees
  • Teacher of lower grades, acquired at an institute for teacher education as well as
  • Diploma teacher, acquired at a university or university of teacher education.
    
• Engineering educators:
  You have a degree from an institute for the training and further education of engineering educators from the former GDR. With this, you can pursue an occupation in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as a teacher of specialized practice at public vocational schools.
  
  You have the right to use the professional title "Ingenieurpädagoge" or "-pädagogin".
  
• military technical school degrees:
  Depending on the specific training profile, you can have your degree acquired at a military technical school of the former GDR recognized by means of additional training in accordance with Annex XI of the resolution of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of April 15, 1994, as amended on March 9, 2001, on the determination of the equivalence of educational qualifications (military technical school degrees) as a degree in state-certified business administration or as a state-certified technician.
  
  The right to use the original job title remains unaffected even without additional training.

Your responsible office is in case of:

1. University degrees from the former GDR:
   • Ministry of Science, Culture, Federal and European Affairs M-V, Department 300
     
2. Engineering and technical college degrees from the former GDR:
   • Ministry of Science, Culture, Federal and European Affairs M-V, Department 300
     
3. Social pedagogical technical college degrees in the educator sector of the former GDR:
   • Ministry of Education and Child Day Promotion M-V, Department 221
     
4. University entrance qualifications of the former GDR:
   • Ministry of Education and Child Day Promotion M-V, Department 230
     
5. Teacher qualifications of the former GDR:
   • Ministry of Education and Child Day Care M-V, Department 230
     
6. Engineering teacher degrees of the former GDR:
   • Ministry of Education and Child Day Support M-V, Department 230.
     
7. Military technical school diplomas of the former GDR:
   • Ministry of Education and Child Day Support M-V, Department 230

• Forms/online services available: No
• Written form required: No
• Informal application possible: Yes
• Personal appearance required: No