Academic degrees, titles and professional titles from foreign educational institutions

Do you have an academic degree from a foreign educational institution, e.g. licencjat, inzener, kandidat-nauk, that you would like to use in Germany?

Should this have been regularly awarded by a recognised university, then subject to certain requirements, you do not require a permit. In this instance, you must use the form in which the degree was awarded and specify the institute of higher education that awarded it. If your degree does not comprise Latin characters, you may transliterate it into Latin script (transliteration). You can also add the literal German translation in parentheses. You can also claim the foreign title in shortened form (with note specifying the origin), should this also be permitted or usual in the country of origin.

You do not need to stipulate the institute of higher education that awarded the degree if you acquired the degree

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

However, you must take note of the equivalence agreements concluded with other countries and the resolution passed by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs on 26 June 2014 concerning the use of foreign academic degrees. The equivalence agreements and the resolution passed by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs contain special regulations that work in your favour. This applies in particular to certain PhD grades from Russia, Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada and the USA.

You are not permitted to convert or transcribe the foreign degree into the corresponding German degree. Exceptions (approvals) are possible in case of degrees acquired by late repatriates, their spouses and descendants subject to certain requirements.