Can I apply for a master's without a bachelor's degree if I have work experience?

Regular master's programmes: For consecutive master's programmes (those following on from a bachelor's), a bachelor's degree is required.

The exception ("Master ohne Bachelor"): Some states, including Berlin, allow entry to some master's programmes for working professionals (weiterbildend) without a bachelor's. General requirements:

• University entrance qualification (a school-leaving certificate or one gained through vocational qualifications).
• Several years of work experience relevant to the programme; how long depends on the state and programme.
• An aptitude test (Eignungsprüfung): You must show your knowledge is equivalent to a relevant bachelor's graduate; the test can be a written assignment, an exam or an interview.

This route mostly exists at HAWs and private universities, and usually in fee-paying programmes. In Berlin, for example, the Berlin School of Economics and Law (HWR) offers it in some programmes.

If you have a bachelor's from abroad: If your degree is recognised, you don't need this route; you can apply the regular way. You can check whether your degree is recognised in anabin or with the ZAB.

Another option: If you have work experience, you can also do a distance or part-time bachelor's while working; some programmes credit prior professional knowledge.

First step: Write to the academic adviser of the programme you're interested in and ask whether a "Master ohne ersten Hochschulabschluss" is possible.