How to study in Germany after UEC
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Updated on: March 2023
TL;DR: The Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) isn’t recognized as a valid pre-university qualification in Germany. But don’t worry—students with the UEC can still study in Germany. We recommend German Educare’s University Preparation Programme, which allows students to start their Bachelor’s degree at a partner German university without needing another pre-university qualification.
The Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) is becoming more popular in Malaysia, especially among students from Chinese independent schools. More and more students are choosing to take the UEC because it opens doors to universities in Malaysia and many other countries around the world. The UEC is recognized by universities in places like Taiwan, China, Hong Kong and Singapore, making it an attractive option for students who want to study abroad.
However, in Germany, the UEC is not considered a valid pre-university qualification for university admission. This means that students who complete the UEC will not be able to directly apply for a Bachelor’s degree in Germany.
So how to study in Germany after UEC?
There are 3 options for students with a UEC who want to study in Germany:
- take another pre-university qualification
- pursue your Master’s degree in Germany
- join German Educare’s University Preparation Programme
Since the UEC isn’t recognized in Germany, students can take another pre-university qualification that is accepted. Some of the recognized qualifications include STPM, A Level, and the International Baccalaureate (IB). Many students choose to sit for the SPM exam during their 11th year of schooling. Afterward, they can either continue to A Level (skipping the UEC exam) or register for A Level as a private candidate.
Another option is to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Malaysia or another country, and then pursue a Master’s degree in Germany. To do this, students need a recognised Bachelor’s degree, but the good news is that Master’s programmes in Germany are tuition-free—even for international students! Many Master’s programmes are also taught in English, so students don’t need to know German to apply. That said, learning German is still a good idea to help with daily life and to communicate with locals and other international students.
The third option, available starting in January 2025, is joining German Educare’s University Preparation Programme. Through our partnership with a German university, UEC students can complete the programme, learn German for 9 months, and then move to Germany to start their Bachelor’s degree. This is a great pathway for students who want to go straight to university in Germany after completing the UEC.