Anerkennung akademischer Grade, Titel und Bezeichnungen

Legal information on the use of foreign academic degrees, titles and designations can be obtained from the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture (MWFK).

Do you have an academic degree from a foreign university, e.g. licencjat, inzener, kandidat-nauk, which you would like to use in Germany? If it has been duly awarded by a recognized university, you can use it without permission under the conditions specified in the State Higher Education Act. You must then use it in the form in which it was awarded and state the university that awarded it. If your degree was not awarded in Latin script, you may transliterate it into Latin script (transliteration). You can also add the literal German translation in brackets. You may also use the foreign degree in abbreviated form (with a suffix of origin) if the use of the abbreviated form is permitted or customary in the country of origin.

You may omit the name of the awarding university if you have obtained the degree:

• within the European Union (EU)
• within the European Economic Area (EEA)
• from the European University Institute Florence
• from the Pontifical Universities

However, equivalence agreements concluded with other countries and the resolution of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany on the awarding of foreign academic degrees dated June 26, 2014 must be observed. Equivalence agreements and the resolution of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs contain favorable special regulations. This applies in particular to certain doctoral degrees from Russia, Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada and the USA.

A conversion or transcription of the foreign degree into the corresponding domestic degree is excluded. Exceptions (approvals) are possible under certain conditions for university degrees of ethnic German repatriates, their spouses and descendants.

• officially certified copy of the original foreign diploma or award certificate
• Officially certified copy of the translation of the diploma or certificate
• Copy of the identity card or passport (in proceedings according to § 10 BVFG)
• In the event of a change of name: corresponding proof, e.g. copy of marriage certificate, declaration of change of name

Degree from a recognized university abroad

none

You do not require state approval or confirmation for the use of foreign degrees, titles or job titles.

However, you may need written information about the use of your degree and the relevant legal basis, e.g. for submission to

• Residents' registration and registry offices,
• professional chambers and
• professional associations.

In this case, you can submit an informal application to the Ministry of Science and submit the required documents.

depending on the individual case

In connection with foreign university degrees, the Ministry of Science deals exclusively with questions of degree classification (exception: degrees awarded to persons entitled under the Federal Expellees Act). The Ministry of Science does not carry out assessments, comparisons or assignments to corresponding German higher education qualifications or degrees.

• Clarify legal questions regarding the use of foreign university degrees, titles and job titles
• Provide written information on degrees and legal basis for submission to authorities
• Responsible: Ministry of Science, Research and Culture (MWFK)
• No applications required
  (except for written information à informal)
• No conversion or transcription of foreign degrees into domestic degrees
  (possible exceptions for ethnic German repatriates, their spouses and descendants)
• Decision on administrative offenses

Ministry of Science, Research and Culture of the State of Brandenburg (MWFK)

Department 2 "Science and Research", Division 23

E-mail: service@mwfk.brandenburg.de
Fax: +49 331 866-4998