Why an advanced vocational qualification opens the door
The Meister (master craftsman), the state-certified technician and the Fachwirt are qualifications of advanced vocational education. Anyone who has completed one of these usually holds general university access in Germany. That means you may in principle study any subject, not only one from your own field, and you mostly need neither the Abitur nor an additional aptitude test. This puts you in a better position for access than vocationally qualified people who bring only an apprenticeship and take the subject-related route.
The reason lies in the structure of vocational education: Meister and Fachwirt qualifications sit at an advancement level that the German Qualifications Framework places on a par with the bachelor's. So they prove not only subject knowledge but also the ability to learn independently and carry responsibility. That is exactly what a university expects of new students, which is why access for this group is clearly regulated.
What stays important: the exact rules lie with the federal states and the individual universities. General university access is the normal case, but individual programmes can set extra conditions, such as an advisory meeting or basic knowledge in a subject. So check your case directly with your chosen university before you apply.
From the qualification certificate to enrolment
The route is shorter than many think. In practice, your qualification certificate usually suffices as proof of the higher education entrance qualification. You apply with it like any other prospective student, often for the next semester start. Because many distance universities even offer several start dates a year and admit without a numerus clausus, the entry is especially flexible for working people. For the other routes without a school-leaving certificate, see our overview of distance learning without the Abitur.
A second advantage lies in credit transfer. Anyone bringing a Meister or Fachwirt has often learned content that overlaps with the modules of a related programme. Many universities credit such prior achievements and thereby shorten the programme by one or more semesters. This saves time and cost. How much is possible is decided by the university case by case and usually module by module; a blanket promise covering very many semesters is more of a warning sign.
Whether a bachelor's or a further-education master's suits you in the end depends on your goal. A master's usually requires a first university degree, but some MBA programmes also admit applicants with an advanced qualification and leadership experience. Which degree fits you is best clarified early, before you commit to one route.
Advanced qualifications in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
The clear access via Meister and Fachwirt is mainly a German feature. In Austria and Switzerland the routes look different.
Germany
Master craftspeople, state-certified technicians and Fachwirte usually hold general university access and may study across subjects, mostly without an extra exam. The details are governed by the state higher education laws, and individual programmes can set extra conditions. The university decides in the specific case.
Austria
A master craftsman exam or a Werkmeister qualification opens routes, often combined with the Studienberechtigungsprüfung for one field of study. Anyone wanting a full entrance qualification uses the Berufsreifeprüfung. Universities of applied sciences also admit suitably qualified people through supplementary exams. The BMBWF and the universities provide information.
Switzerland
Advanced vocational education with a federal diploma, a federal certificate or a college of higher education qualification is its own educational route. For a university of applied sciences, admission sur dossier is often possible, with the university reviewing the individual case. The SBFI and the universities state the conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study with a Meister but without the Abitur?
In Germany usually yes. Master craftspeople, state-certified technicians and Fachwirte there mostly hold general university access and may study across subjects, often without an additional aptitude test. The exact rules are set by the federal states and the individual universities. Individual programmes can set extra conditions, so it pays to ask directly.
Do I still need an entrance exam?
Usually not. Because the advanced qualification already counts as a higher education entrance qualification, Meister and Fachwirte are as a rule exempt from the otherwise common aptitude or entrance exam. Individual programmes require an advisory meeting or basic knowledge in a subject. What is required is stated in the admission regulations of the specific programme.
Can I have my Meister or Fachwirt credited?
Often yes, if the content overlaps with the studies. Many universities credit a Meister or Fachwirt in part towards a related programme and shorten it as a result. How much is possible is decided by the university case by case and usually module by module. A blanket promise covering very many semesters is more of a warning sign than a good offer.
Does this apply in Austria and Switzerland too?
Not in the same form. The broad university access via Meister and Fachwirt is mainly a German feature. In Austria the Studienberechtigungsprüfung or the Berufsreifeprüfung often leads to the goal; in Switzerland it is advanced vocational education and admission sur dossier at the universities of applied sciences. The BMBWF, the SBFI and the universities give binding information.
Bachelor or straight to a master's with an advanced qualification?
As a rule the bachelor's first. A master's usually requires a first university degree. Some further-education master's programmes, such as an MBA, do however admit applicants with an advanced qualification and several years of leadership experience, often with an aptitude test. Whether a programme allows this exception is stated in its admission regulations.
The information on this page is general in nature and is meant as orientation. It does not replace an official credit transfer or recognition decision by the relevant university and is not legal advice. The universities and the responsible bodies decide: the ZAB in Germany, the BMBWF in Austria and the SBFI in Switzerland. Always check your specific case directly with the university before you enrol.