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German Public Universities That Accept Students With a Lower CGPA

  • maurya2pi
  • 3 hours ago
  • 7 min read

Students with an average or below-average CGPA often assume that admission to a German public university is impossible. That is not necessarily true.

Several public universities offer master’s programmes with German-grade requirements of 2.7, 2.9, 3.0 or even 3.2. Other programmes do not publish a fixed minimum grade.



However, admission requirements in Germany are programme-specific. A university that offers one flexible programme may have much stricter requirements for another.

Applicants must therefore check their chosen programme’s grade requirement, relevant subject credits, language requirements, academic background and selection procedure before applying.

Understanding the German Grading System

The German grading system works in the opposite direction to many international grading systems:

  • 1.0: Excellent and the highest grade

  • 2.0: Good

  • 3.0: Satisfactory

  • 4.0: Lowest passing grade

  • 5.0: Fail

Therefore, a programme requiring 3.0 or better has a more flexible grade condition than one requiring 2.5 or better.

International applicants should not convert their CGPA using a random online table. Universities and uni-assist use the modified Bavarian formula, which considers:

  • The highest possible grade in the applicant’s grading system

  • The minimum grade required to pass the degree

  • The applicant’s final CGPA or percentage

The university’s official conversion is always final.


German Public Universities With Flexible Programme-Wise Grade Requirements

1. Philipps-Universität Marburg

Example programmes:

  • M.Sc. Data Science

  • M.Sc. Computer Science

  • M.Sc. Business Informatics

Published requirement: German grade 3.2 or better.

Marburg has one of the more flexible published grade requirements among German public universities. However, applicants must also meet strict subject-credit requirements.

For example, the Data Science programme requires extensive previous coursework in computer science and mathematics. The university states that these are hard admission requirements.

Official programme pages:


2. TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences

Example programmes:

  • M.Sc. Integrated Water Resources Management

  • M.Sc. Natural Resources Management and Development

Published requirement: German grade 3.0 or better.

Applicants must hold a relevant degree and demonstrate the required English proficiency and programme aptitude.

Although these programmes are listed without restricted admission, the faculty evaluates eligible applications through a selection process. Meeting the 3.0 requirement does not necessarily guarantee selection.

Official programme pages:


3. University of Siegen

Example programmes:

  • M.Sc. Mechanical Engineering

  • M.Sc. Digital Engineering – Mechanical Engineering

  • M.Sc. Materials Science and Engineering

  • M.Sc. Business and Industrial Engineering

Published requirement: German grade 3.0 or better.

The previous bachelor’s degree must be in a relevant field and should substantially match the corresponding bachelor’s curriculum at the University of Siegen.

Additional language, internship and subject requirements depend on the programme.

Official programme pages:


4. University of Freiburg

Example programmes:

  • M.Sc. Computer Science

  • M.Sc. Embedded Systems Engineering

  • M.Sc. Biology

Published requirement: German grade 2.9 or better.

Applicants must also satisfy the programme’s subject-specific and language requirements. Some programmes conduct a further selection process after checking basic eligibility.

Official programme pages:


5. University of Passau

Example programmes:

  • M.Sc. Artificial Intelligence Engineering

  • M.Sc. Computer Science

  • M.Sc. Mathematics

  • M.Sc. Information Systems

  • M.Sc. Business Administration

Published requirement: Generally, German grade 2.7 or better.

For Artificial Intelligence Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics, applicants who do not meet the 2.7 grade requirement may still qualify by proving that they were among the top 70% of their graduating cohort.

Information Systems accepts applicants with a grade of 2.7 or better or those among the top 50% of their cohort.

Applicants must still meet strict subject-credit requirements.

For example, Artificial Intelligence Engineering requires substantial previous coursework in computer science and mathematics. Information Systems requires relevant ECTS credits and may also require GMAT from applicants whose first degree was completed outside a Lisbon Convention country.

Official programme pages:


6. TU Dortmund University

Example programmes:

  • M.Sc. Data Science

  • M.Sc. Statistics

  • M.Sc. Econometrics

Published requirement: German grade 2.7 or better.

For Data Science, the university states that no exception can be made to the grade requirement.

Applicants must also satisfy detailed requirements in mathematics, statistics and computer science. B2 English, a self-assessment and programme-specific proof of technical aptitude are required.

The Data Science programme is not admission-restricted. Applicants who satisfy every admission condition are offered a place.

Official programme page:


7. University of Augsburg

Example programmes:

  • M.Sc. Data Science

  • M.Sc. Computer Science

  • M.Sc. Medical Information Sciences

Published requirement: German grade 2.7 or better.

International grades are converted using the modified Bavarian formula. The faculty also checks whether applicants have sufficient previous coursework in the required academic fields.

For Data Science, motivation letters and recommendation letters cannot compensate for missing grade or academic requirements.

Official programme pages:

8. University of Duisburg-Essen

Example programmes:

  • M.Sc. Medical Engineering

  • M.Sc. Environmental Toxicology

Published requirement: German grade 2.7 or better.

Medical Engineering requires relevant previous knowledge in medicine or medical technology.

Environmental Toxicology requires specified academic credits in areas such as biology, chemistry and environmental sciences, along with relevant practical laboratory experience.

Official programme pages:

9. Friedrich Schiller University Jena

Example programmes:

  • M.A. Indo-European Studies

  • M.A. Applied Ethics and Conflict Management

Published requirement: German grade 3.0 or better.

These are subject-specific humanities programmes. Applicants must meet the relevant academic and language requirements.

Indo-European Studies also requires proficiency in classical languages.

Official programme pages:

10. Bielefeld University

Example programme:

  • German-Italian History Programme – GloC

Published requirement: German grade 3.0 or better.

Applicants need a relevant first degree in History, the required English proficiency and a successful mandatory interview.

Official programme page:


Programmes With No Fixed Minimum GPA or No NC

A programme without a published minimum grade can be worth considering. However, “no minimum GPA” does not necessarily mean easy admission.


BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg

M.Sc. Artificial Intelligence

BTU states that the Artificial Intelligence programme has no minimum GPA requirement.

However, the admission committee still checks the applicant’s previous degree and academic content. Work experience and short certificate courses are not considered in the admission decision.

M.Sc. Urban Design

The Urban Design programme has no fixed GPA or NC.

Applications are assessed using the complete profile, including:

  • Previous degree

  • Academic grades

  • Motivation letter

  • CV

  • Portfolio

M.Sc. Mathematical Data Science

This programme is offered without admission limits.

However, the previous degree must contain mathematics coursework comparable to BTU’s Mathematics or Business Mathematics bachelor’s programmes.

The correct conclusion is not that BTU accepts every applicant with a low CGPA. The better conclusion is that certain BTU programmes do not use a fixed grade cut-off and may evaluate academic suitability in other ways.


TU Berlin

M.Sc. Computer Science is an open-admission programme and does not publish a fixed minimum grade on its programme page.

However, the subject-matching requirements are extremely strict. TU Berlin states that fewer than 5% of applicants in recent admission periods fulfilled the required academic conditions.

Applicants need specific credits in:

  • Theoretical computer science

  • Computer engineering or information technology

  • Methodological and practical computer science

  • Mathematics

  • Additional computer science subjects

This is an important example of why “no GPA requirement” does not mean “easy admission.”

TU Darmstadt

M.Sc. Materials Science is admission-free and does not have a limited number of seats.

The programme summary does not publish a fixed grade requirement. However, applicants need:

  • A related STEM bachelor’s degree

  • C1 English proficiency

  • Completion of the programme’s online self-assessment

  • Academic knowledge comparable to TU Darmstadt’s Materials Science bachelor’s programme

The university may conduct an oral entrance examination to determine academic equivalence.


TU Clausthal

TU Clausthal frequently appears on lists of universities that accept students with a lower CGPA. However, it should not be presented as having a university-wide low-grade admission policy.

Master’s admission requirements are programme-specific.

For example, the M.Sc. Intelligent Manufacturing page publishes its English-language requirement and directs applicants to the general and programme-specific admission regulations.

Applicants should therefore review the regulations for their chosen programme instead of assuming that TU Clausthal automatically accepts every applicant with a lower CGPA.


What Does NC Mean?

NC stands for Numerus Clausus. It means that the programme has a limited number of places because it may receive more eligible applications than available seats.

An NC is not necessarily a permanent minimum grade.

For some programmes, the university checks whether applicants meet the basic requirements and then ranks eligible applications. Depending on the selection rules, the ranking may consider:

  • Bachelor’s grade

  • Relevant subject grades

  • Aptitude-test results

  • Work experience

  • Interviews

  • Motivation letter

  • Portfolio or research experience

The effective admission cut-off may therefore change for every intake.

Applicants should understand the difference between three admission systems.

Fixed Minimum Grade

The programme requires a specific grade, such as 2.7 or better.

Applicants with a weaker converted grade are normally ineligible unless the regulations provide an alternative, such as a graduating-cohort ranking.

Open Admission or No NC

Applicants who meet every formal and academic requirement can generally be admitted.

There may be no competition for a limited number of seats, but curriculum matching and subject-credit requirements can still be strict.

NC or Competitive Selection

Meeting the minimum eligibility conditions only places the applicant in the selection pool.

Final admission depends on the number and quality of applications received. Grades or other selection criteria may create a different effective cut-off for each intake.


How to Shortlist German Universities With a Lower CGPA

Before applying, check the following for every programme:

  • Official German-grade conversion

  • Required bachelor’s field

  • Relevant subject and ECTS requirements

  • NC or open-admission status

  • Programme selection procedure

  • English or German-language requirements

  • Acceptance of a Medium of Instruction certificate

  • IELTS or TOEFL requirements

  • GRE, GMAT or GATE requirements

  • Interviews or aptitude assessments

  • Work-experience requirements

  • Portfolio, thesis or research-paper requirements

  • Application procedure for international students

  • Application deadline for the relevant intake

A flexible grade requirement cannot compensate for an unrelated bachelor’s degree, missing subject credits or insufficient language proof.


Final Takeaway

Applicants with a lower CGPA still have realistic opportunities at German public universities.

Programmes with grade requirements between 2.7 and 3.2, graduating-cohort alternatives, open admission or holistic selection can be worth considering.

However, a flexible grade requirement is only one part of the admission decision. Missing subject credits, an unrelated bachelor’s degree, insufficient language proof or failure to satisfy programme-specific requirements can still result in rejection.

The safest approach is to evaluate every option programme by programme.


Need Help Shortlisting German Public Universities?

Glovels specialises in applications to German public universities.

Our team helps students:

  • Evaluate their academic profiles

  • Understand programme-wise requirements

  • Check subject and ECTS eligibility

  • Identify realistic public-university options

  • Prepare a balanced university shortlist

Visit our Instagram page to see our previous admits to German public universities.

Instagram: @glovelsofficial

Admission information was checked against official university sources available in July 2026. Universities may change their admission requirements and selection procedures. Applicants should always verify the latest official programme regulations before applying.

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