Ready for GSU: entry requirements and physical fitness

Entry requirements for Bachelor’s degrees and Bachelor’s degrees in teacher training

In order to be admitted to a degree programme at the German Sport University Cologne, applicants must meet certain entry requirements for the respective degree programmes.

The basic requirements for admission to a Bachelor’s degree programme are

  • proof of university entrance qualification (e.g. A-levels) and
  • proof of particular aptitude for a sports degree, i.e. passing the aptitude test.

Please refer to the list below for details of other qualifications that may be accepted.

 

Note for international applicants:
Proof of German language proficiency at C1 level must also be submitted (this does not apply to native speakers and/or those who have completed their education in Germany and/or applicants from Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland and the German-speaking Community of Belgium).

The following certificates are accepted:

  • telc C1 Hochschule
  • DSH-2
  • TestDaF TN4
  • DSD II

 

 

Entry requirements for (international) Master’s applicants

Applications for our Master’s programmes are made via our online application portal, mySpoho, which is only available during the application period. The documents listed below must be uploaded. The legal basis for the Master’s admission procedure is set out in the Admission Regulations.

 

1. Bachelor’s degree documents

According to the Admission Regulations for Master’s programmes at Spoho, applicants must provide evidence that they have successfully completed a relevant academic degree programme of at least six semesters or have obtained a first professional qualification. The following documents must be uploaded during the application process:

Original Bachelor’s degree certificate stating the award of the Bachelor’s degree

Original Bachelor’s degree certificate/transcript of records listing all courses completed

Certified translations of the aforementioned documents, if these are not already available in German or English

 

Important: At least one of the above-mentioned documents must state the final grade, GPA or total marks. If this is not the case, an official letter from the issuing university must be enclosed in addition to these documents, stating the final grade, GPA or total number of credits. Furthermore, the grading scale of the respective university must be evident from the documents. Conversion to the German grading system is carried out at Spoho.

2. Proof of English/German language proficiency

Applicants for an English-taught Master’s programme must demonstrate a specific level of English proficiency by uploading one of the following test certificates (valid indefinitely): TOEFL iBT (≥ 95 points), IELTS Academic (≥ 7.0) or Cambridge Certificate C1 in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). ‘Best Score’ or ‘One Skill Retake’ certificates will not be accepted. The certificate must be uploaded by 31 May 2026. Native English speakers and graduates of entirely English-taught Bachelor’s programmes completed at a university in an EU Member State or a country where English is the official language are not required to provide this proof. They must upload a signed personal letter stating that they are native speakers, or a document from their home university confirming that the language of instruction was English throughout. (The latter may also be demonstrated by the Bachelor’s degree certificate, provided the language of instruction is mentioned therein.)

International applicants for a German-taught Master’s programme must demonstrate specific German language proficiency by uploading one of the following test certificates: DSH-2, TestDaF TN4, Telc C1 Hochschule. The certificate must not be more than two years old and must be valid until the end of the application deadline (for non-EU applicants) or the late submission deadline.

3. CV and personal statement

Please note that if you are applying for multiple programmes, you must upload a CV and personal statement for each programme you are applying for, and these must always be in the language of instruction for that programme. In your letter of motivation, you should outline, amongst other things, your interest in the main subject areas of the Master’s programme, your reasons for wishing to undertake the programme and your medium-term career goals.

In your letter of motivation, you should outline your interest in the main subject areas of the Master’s programme, your reasons for wishing to undertake the programme and your medium-term career goals.

 

4. Optional: Evidence/certificates/transcripts relating to academic and (sports) practical qualifications

e.g. publications, projects, employment references, internship evaluations, certificates of attendance