Recognition of GDR educational qualifications

Prerequisites

They have:

• a civil degree from a university in the former GDR,
• a civil degree from a technical college, engineering school or institute of the former GDR,
• a social education college degree in the field of education in the former GDR,
• a university entrance qualification from the former GDR,
• a teaching qualification from the former GDR,
• a degree from an institute for the training and further education of engineering educators in the former GDR or
• a degree from a military technical school in the former GDR.

Documents required

The list shown is only a guideline. We recommend that you contact the relevant authority in the new federal state in advance.

• informal application,
• Original or officially certified copy of the diploma,
• Proof of name change on the final certificate (if done)

Additional special documents for:

• University degrees from the former GDR:
  • officially certified copy of the certificate

• Engineering and technical college degrees from the former GDR:
  • officially certified copy of the certificate
  • a personally signed description of the professional career after completion of the studies, stating the type and duration of the studies
  • officially certified proof of at least three years of relevant professional activity after completing the degree; this could be, for example, the social security card from the former GDR, employment contracts or a certificate from the employer stating the content of the work.

• Social pedagogical vocational school qualifications in the educator sector of the former GDR:
  • especially nursery teachers: officially certified copy of the state recognition of the certificate
  • if available: proof of adaptation qualification at an adult education centre in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (for recognition of the full qualification).

• Military technical college qualifications from the former GDR:
  • Original or officially certified copy of the proof of additional training in accordance with Annex XI of the resolution of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of 15 April 1994 in the version of 9 March 2001 on the determination of the equivalence of educational qualifications (military technical college qualifications)

Deadlines

There are no deadlines to be observed.

Procedure

Submit an informal application with the necessary evidence. To do so, you must submit all required documents and papers in the original or as an officially certified copy to the responsible authority.
The application will be checked for completeness and if something is missing, you will be asked to submit the missing documents. After the final review of the application, a notice and, in some cases, a diploma certificate will be issued and sent to you. If necessary, a fee notice with all important payment information will be sent to you afterwards.

Processing time

The processing time can be requested from the relevant authority in the new federal state.

Fees

The costs can be requested from the relevant authority in the new federal state.

Legal basis

Article 37 (1) Unification Treaty (EinigVtr)

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/einigvtr/art_37.html