Bachelor Studierende HSBA

Admission examinations for the Bachelor's degree programmes at HSBA

Bachelor

Entrance Examinations

If the required grades for admission to HSBA's Bachelor's degree programmes are not available, admission tests can be taken.

There are admission requirements for all the study programmes. These include good grades in mathematics and English (the equivalent to a 10 point average from two senior-grade school reports or a 9 point average in advanced courses from a school using the German education system). The Business Administration and Business Informatics programmes require an additional grade of 10 or 9 points in the German language.

If you do not fulfil the HSBA admission requirements, this does not mean that studying at HSBA is impossible. In this case you have the opportunity to take part in our entrance examinations. The entrance examinations regularly take place in the subjects Mathematics, German and English. On the following pages you can find further information on the different exams.

German Entrance Examination

With the German entrance examination we examine if the applicant has a good level of spelling proficiency and argumentative skills in German in order to be able to study at HSBA. This entrance examination only needs to be taken if the study courses Business Administration (German version), Business Informatics or Media Management are chosen.

The 90-minute test involves writing a discussion to test linguistic accuracy within the discussion.

Dates 2026

25.11.2026, 16.30 - 18.00

Register now

Dates 2027

21.01.2027, 14.30 - 16.00
25.02.2027, 14.30 - 16.00
15.04.2027, 14.30 - 16.00
13.05.2027, 14.30 - 16.00
03.06.2027, 14.30 - 16.00
01.07.2027, 14.30 - 16.00
05.08.2027, 14.30 - 16.00
09.09.2027, 14.30 - 16.00
14.10.2027, 14.30 - 16.00

Registration for the admission examination will open shortly.

As an alternative to our German entrance examination, applicants may also take the following external tests:

For native speakers:

  • DSH test (“German Language Test for University Admission”) with a minimum score of 470 points / DSH2 level. The DSH test is offered at many German universities. Please check whether external candidates are also admitted to the DSH test (in some cases, admission is only granted upon presentation of a certificate of enrolment).

For non-native speakers:

  • TestDaF (“Test of German as a Foreign Language”) with an average score of TDN 4 or higher. The TestDaF is administered by the TestDaF Institute at licensed test centres in Germany and worldwide.
  • The “German examination component” of the placement test at the Studienkolleg. The “German section of the examination” is modelled on the DSH in terms of scope, format and content.
  • German Language Diploma of the KMK Level Two (DSD II). The DSD II is offered by German schools abroad or by so-called DSD schools abroad.
  • Goethe Certificate from the Goethe Institute completed at least at B2 level.

Mathematics Entrance Examination

With the mathematics entrance examination, we examine if the applicant has a good understanding of mathematics in order to study successfully at HSBA. The examination takes 90 minutes and consists of the following topics:

  • Mathematical Equation Transformations
  • Solving Equations (Linear and Quadratic)
  • Solving Linear Systems of Equations (for example Gaussian Algorithm)
  • E-function, Logarithm Function, Trigonometric Functions (Basics)
  • Differential Calculation, in Particular Curve Discussions
  • Integral Calculus, in Particular Basic Area Calculations

HSBA offers applicants the possibility to take part in a mathematics preparation course in order to allow for an intensive preparation for the entrance examination. Please be aware that the course takes place in German.

Dates 2026

25.11.2026, 16.30 – 18.00

Register now


Dates 2027

21.01.2027, 14.30 – 16.00
25.02.2027, 14.30 – 16.00
15.04.2027, 14.30 – 16.00
13.05.2027, 14.30 – 16.00
03.06.2027, 14.30 – 16.00
01.07.2027, 14.30 – 16.00
05.08.2027, 14.30 – 16.00
09.09.2027, 14.30 – 16.00
14.10.2027, 14.30 – 16.00

Registration for the admission examination will open shortly.

English Entrance Examination

From 1 January 2027, HSBA will no longer offer its English admission test. The last HSBA English admission test will take place on 13 November 2026. Please register here:  

Registration

 

If your school grades in English are not sufficient, you can prove your English skills with an internationally recognised certificate (TOEFL, Cambridge, IELTS) instead.

Who needs to provide proof?

All dual bachelor's programmes at HSBA, including International Management (BSc) and Logistics Management (BSc), require a good knowledge of English at B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference. You can show this in one of two ways: through your school grades in English or with one of the certificates listed below.

Accepted Certificates

  • TOEFL: Internet-based test (TOEFL iBT) with at least 72 points
  • IELTS: ELTS Academic with an overall band score of at least 5.5
  • Cambridge:
    • First Certificate in English (FCE) Grade A
    • Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) Grade A, B or C
    • Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) Grade A, B or C

More Information on Each Certificate

  • TOEFL: Only the internet-based test (iBT) is accepted. Further information is available at www.toefl.org.
  • IELTS: You need the Academic version with an overall band score of at least 5.5. Further information is available at www.britishcouncil.de.
  • Cambridge: You can take the FCE, CAE or CPE. Further information is available at www.cambridgeesol.de.

Please keep in mind, that your certificate must not be older than two years on the date of registration.

Applicants whose higher education entrance qualification was obtained in an English-speaking country may not need to provide further proof. Please contact our Admission Team (info(at)hsba.de) to clarify.