Distance learning without Abitur: your way into study
Studying without a school-leaving certificate like the Abitur or Matura is not a special case. With vocational training, work experience or an aptitude test, several routes are open to you in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Here is how they work and how you find yours.
Studying without Abitur is possible
Studying without a matriculation certificate is less well known than the classic route, but possible in many cases. What counts is your vocational qualification.
Distance learning without the Abitur is possible for many people in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, even though this route is less well known than the classic one through a general higher education entrance qualification. Instead of a school-leaving certificate, what counts here is completed vocational training, work experience and often an access or aptitude test. The reason is simple: anyone who has proven themselves at work brings knowledge and study skills that a university can recognise.
Which route is open to you depends on three things: your country, your existing qualifications and the individual university. In Germany a master craftsman or Fachwirt title often opens full university access, while people with vocational qualifications study in a related field. In Austria the Studienberechtigungsprüfung (subject-specific entrance exam) and the Berufsreifeprüfung (full matriculation exam) lead to the goal; in Switzerland the main route runs through the universities of applied sciences and admission sur dossier.
This page sorts the most important access routes, shows the differences between the three countries and names the steps you can take to clarify your own path. Because the exact rules vary by university and federal state, treat this information as orientation and check your specific case directly with your chosen university at the end.
Five access routes without the Abitur
This is how you get into study even without a matriculation certificate. Which route fits depends on your prior education, your goal and the country.
| Route | Requirement | For which degree | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vocationally qualified | Completed vocational training and several years of, usually related, work experience | Bachelor in a related field, some further-education master's | DE, AT, CH |
| Master craftsman, technician, Fachwirt | Advanced vocational qualification at master or Fachwirt level | Bachelor and master, broad subject access | mainly DE |
| Aptitude / entrance exam | Passed test of study aptitude | Bachelor in the examined subject | DE, AT (Studienberechtigungsprüfung) |
| Trial study | Conditional admission, proof through results in the first semesters | Bachelor after passing the trial phase | mainly DE |
| Subject-linked entrance qualification | School-based or vocational proof for one subject area | Bachelor in the related field | DE |
Orientation, not a legal entitlement. Which routes are open and which proof counts is decided by each university within the respective national and state law. Check your case directly with your chosen university before you apply.
Without the Abitur in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
The basic idea is similar everywhere, but the concrete rules differ by country and university.
Germany
In Germany the state higher education laws govern access without the Abitur, so the details differ from one federal state to the next. People with vocational qualifications, a completed apprenticeship and usually two to three years of related work experience can apply for a related field of study, often after an aptitude test or a trial study period. Master craftspeople, technicians and Fachwirte usually hold general university access and may study across subjects. There is also the subject-linked entrance qualification for individual fields. Which proof counts exactly is decided by the university.
Austria
In Austria two established routes are open. The Studienberechtigungsprüfung (subject-specific entrance exam) opens access to a defined field of study and requires exams in several subjects. The Berufsreifeprüfung (full matriculation exam) instead grants a full higher education entrance qualification that applies across subjects. Universities of applied sciences additionally admit suitably qualified professionals through supplementary exams. The Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) is responsible, while the university decides on admission. Which subjects are tested and which experience is recognised depends on the field, so ask early.
Switzerland
In Switzerland the most common route runs through the universities of applied sciences. Access is usual with a vocational baccalaureate and a matching apprenticeship. Those without one can often be admitted sur dossier: the university reviews the entire prior and vocational education case by case, usually combined with a minimum age and work experience. Another route leads through the colleges of higher education (höhere Fachschulen), whose qualifications in turn ease further study. Universities remain harder to enter without the Matura. The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SBFI) and the universities provide information.
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.
Six steps to access without the Abitur
This order brings structure to your search. Work through it and you will know which route is realistic and what is still left to do.
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Take stock of where you stand
First sort out what you already bring: school qualification, vocational training, further qualifications such as a master craftsman or Fachwirt title and your years of work. Note your study goal and preferred subject too. Only this overview shows which access route is realistic for you and which proof you still lack. Without this stocktaking you are searching in the dark.
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Document your work experience cleanly
Work experience is the key to almost every route without the Abitur. Collect references, contracts and job descriptions that clearly show duration, scope and content. Make sure the practice fits your intended subject, because many universities require related experience. Complete documentation saves you follow-up questions later and speeds up admission.
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Check aptitude test or trial study
If you lack formal university access, an aptitude test or a trial study period often leads to the goal. Clarify which option your chosen university offers, what is tested and how you can prepare. Some universities provide practice material or preparatory courses. Knowing the effort early lets you plan realistically and face the exam without a nasty surprise.
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Clarify directly with the university
The rules sit in national and state law and in the admission regulations, but the interpretation lies with the university. Contact the student advisory service or the admissions office early and describe your case concretely. That way you learn bindingly which route is open and which documents count. A written answer is worth more than any general brochure.
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Think about credit transfer
Those who study without the Abitur often bring a lot of practice, and some of it can be credited. Ask whether training, further qualifications or work experience count as study credit. This can shorten the programme by months and save costs. How much is possible is decided by the university case by case; a blanket all or nothing is a bad sign.
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Mind the deadlines
Entrance exams, application windows and the start of study have fixed dates, and they often lie further apart than expected. Note the deadlines of your chosen university and factor in preparation time for exams and documents. Start too late and you quickly lose half a year. Plan backwards from your desired start, then you keep enough buffer.
Once you have worked through these six steps, you know which route is realistic and whether any proof is still missing. In the end, the binding answer always comes from your chosen university.
Frequently asked questions about studying without the Abitur
The key questions about work experience, aptitude tests and access in the DACH region, answered concisely.
Can I do a bachelor's without the Abitur?
Often yes. Many universities admit people with vocational qualifications who have a completed apprenticeship and a few years of work experience to a bachelor's, sometimes directly, sometimes through an aptitude test or a trial study period. Master craftspeople, technicians and Fachwirte in Germany usually even hold general university access. Each country and university sets the exact rules itself, so it pays to ask directly.
What counts as related work experience?
It usually means work practice that fits the subject you want to study. Someone aiming for business administration gathers it in commercial roles, for example. Two to three full-time years after training are common. How much counts and whether it must be related is decided by the university. References, employment contracts and job descriptions document the experience cleanly.
What is an aptitude test?
An aptitude or university entrance test proves that you can cope with the studies academically, even without the Abitur. Depending on the university it examines general study skills and subject-related basics, in writing, orally or as a combination. Some universities instead offer a trial study period in which your first results serve as proof. The content and format are set by the university.
Can I do a master's without a bachelor's?
That is the exception. A master's usually requires a first university degree. Some further-education master's programmes, such as an MBA, admit applicants with a vocational qualification and several years of leadership experience, often with an aptitude test. Without any first degree, the usual route is a bachelor's first. Whether a programme allows an exception is stated in its admission regulations.
How does it work without the Matura in Austria?
In Austria two routes lead to the goal: the Studienberechtigungsprüfung (subject-specific entrance exam) opens access to a particular field of study, while the Berufsreifeprüfung (full matriculation exam) grants a full higher education entrance qualification. Universities of applied sciences also admit suitably qualified people with work experience through supplementary exams. Which exams apply depends on the field and the university. The BMBWF and the universities give binding information.
How without the Matura in Switzerland?
At universities of applied sciences, access with a vocational baccalaureate and a matching apprenticeship is common. Those without it can often be admitted sur dossier, meaning through a review of the entire prior education and work experience. Another route leads through the colleges of higher education (höhere Fachschulen). Universities are harder to enter without the Matura. The SBFI and the universities state the specific conditions.
Do I need proof in maths or English?
Depending on the subject, the university may require basic knowledge, for example mathematics for a technical or business degree and English for international programmes. It is shown through certificates, language qualifications or a test. If something is missing, many universities offer preparatory courses or bridging modules. What is required is stated in the admission regulations of the specific programme.
Is a degree without the Abitur equivalent?
Yes. The route into study changes nothing about the degree. Anyone admitted without the Abitur who completes a bachelor's or master's at a recognised university receives the same degree as everyone else. The certificate usually shows neither the access route nor the learning format. What matters is that the university and programme are recognised and accredited.
How long does the access route take?
That depends on the route. Anyone who already holds university access as a master craftsman or Fachwirt can often enrol directly. An aptitude or entrance exam takes a few weeks to months depending on preparation. A trial study period usually lasts one to two semesters before it fully counts. Plan the preparation and the university's deadlines in early.
Unsure which route without the Abitur fits you?
The fastest way to clarity is a conversation. In the free initial consultation, the Studienflüsterer looks at your prior education and your goal and shows you which access route is realistic, honestly and without obligation.