Plain-English definitions
Germany study & Ausbildung glossary
The German terms you'll meet on your journey — APS, blocked account, Ausbildung, Chancenkarte, uni-assist and more — explained simply and with official sources, for applicants from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.
Documents
Documents terms
anabin database
Germany's database rating foreign institutions and degrees.
ReadAPS (Akademische Prüfstelle)
Academic verification certificate required for some countries — not all.
ReadHEC attestation (Pakistan)
Pakistan's higher-education body that attests degrees.
ReadIBCC attestation (Pakistan)
Pakistan's board that attests school certificates for use abroad.
ReadPreliminary review (VPD)
uni-assist's preliminary documentation of your qualifications.
ReadRecognition of qualifications (Anerkennung)
Official recognition of your foreign qualification in Germany.
ReadStatement of comparability (Zeugnisbewertung)
An official assessment of what your foreign degree equals in Germany.
ReadMoney
Money terms
Blocked account (Sperrkonto)
A frozen bank account proving you can fund your first year.
ReadHealth insurance (Krankenversicherung)
Mandatory health insurance you need for the visa and to enrol.
ReadSemester contribution (Semesterbeitrag)
A small compulsory fee each semester at public universities.
ReadAusbildung
Ausbildung terms
Ausbildung
Paid vocational training that leads to a recognised German qualification.
ReadDual training (Duale Ausbildung)
The 'dual' model: part company work, part vocational school.
ReadTraining contract (Ausbildungsvertrag)
The signed contract with a German employer that anchors your visa.
ReadTraining salary (Ausbildungsvergütung)
The monthly salary paid to Ausbildung trainees.
ReadVocational school (Berufsschule)
The school where Ausbildung trainees learn the theory.
ReadVisa
Visa terms
City registration (Anmeldung)
Registering your address after you arrive in Germany.
ReadEU Blue Card
A work-and-residence permit for graduates with a qualifying job offer.
ReadOpportunity Card (Chancenkarte)
A points-based visa to come and look for work in Germany.
ReadPermanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis)
Germany's permanent settlement permit.
ReadResidence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis)
The temporary residence permit you get after arriving.
ReadSkilled Immigration Act
The law that widened Germany's routes for skilled workers.
ReadStudy
Study terms
Assessment exam (Feststellungsprüfung)
The exam that ends a Studienkolleg and grants university access.
ReadStudienkolleg
A foundation year for students whose school leaving certificate isn't yet enough.
Readuni-assist
A central service that checks and forwards international applications.
ReadUniversity entrance qualification (HZB)
Proof that your qualifications allow German university entry.
ReadLanguage
Language terms
CEFR levels (A1–C2)
The A1–C2 scale that describes your language ability.
ReadDSH
A university-run German exam for admission to German-taught programmes.
ReadGoethe-Zertifikat
German certificates from the Goethe-Institut, A1 to C2.
Readtelc certificate
A widely accepted German certificate, common for Ausbildung and visas.
ReadTestDaF
A standardised German exam accepted for university admission.
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