What is anabin?
The term “ANABIN” stands for “Anerkennung und Bewertung ausländischer Bildungsnachweise,” which translates to “Recognition and Evaluation of Foreign Educational Certificates.” It is maintained by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany (KMK).
What anabin database is used for?
Anabin serves as a valuable resource for individuals who have obtained educational qualifications from outside of Germany and wish to have their degrees and certificates recognized in Germany. Anabin database (anabin datenbank) provides information about the recognition status of foreign universities, degrees, and other educational qualifications. It categorizes institutions and qualifications into different groups based on their recognition status and the level of equivalence to German qualifications.
Anabin is a German database used for the recognition of foreign educational qualifications. Do you want to study or work in Germany and if are you a non European citizen? You need to check if your academic institute/qualification is recognized in Germany. Step by step process to check the status of your university on anabin database is explained in this blog (123XXX).
Anabin categories
If you are applying for further education in Germany, you can check what catagery your degree fall under as per anabin database. If your degree is recognized, it can greatly enhance your chances of pursuing further studies or seeking employment opportunities in Germany.
H+ category
This anabin category means “Hochschulabschlüsse mit uneingeschränkter Zeugnisbewertung”. Which translates to “university degrees with unconditional certificate evaluation”. This category indicates degrees that are recognized as equivalent to German higher education qualifications. Graduates with qualifications listed under H+ category are generally eligible for admission to further studies or employment opportunities in Germany without the need for further assessment.
H- category
H- category means “Hochschulabschlüsse ohne Zeugnisbewertung” which translates to “university degrees without certificate evaluation”. This category includes degrees that have not been recognized as equivalent to German higher education qualifications. Qualifications listed under H- may not fulfill the requirements for admission to certain academic programs or jobs in Germany.
H+/- category
This category means “Hochschulabschlüsse mit unterschiedlicher Zeugnisbewertung” that translates to “university degrees with varying certificate evaluation”. This category includes degrees with mixed recognition status, indicating that some programs from a particular institution may be recognized (H+) while others are not (H-).
Difference between anabin and uni-assist for Germany
Both anabin and uni-assist are resources used for assessing foreign educational qualifications in Germany, but they serve different purposes. Anabin is an online database that provides information about the recognition status of universities and degrees from various countries, helping individuals determine if their qualifications are equivalent to German standards. Uni-assist, on the other hand, is an organization that assists international students with the application process for various universities in Germany, including verifying and evaluating their educational documents as a part of the application process. Basically uni-assist check and summarize your documents, convert your grade into german GPA, and forward your application to respective universities. More information about uni-assist and it’s application process is explained in this blog (123XXX).
Important to note
It’s important to note that ANABIN provides information about the recognition status but does not issue formal recognition itself. Depending on the intended use of the recognized qualifications (such as pursuing further studies or seeking employment), individuals may need to follow additional steps for formal recognition, which can vary based on the institution or authority involved.
Additionally, Top Universities in Germany guidance and the visa process can be challenging. Our partner, German Aspirants Consultancy, offers expert guidance and support to secure your student visa, ensuring a smooth transition to Germany. As the best visa consultancy for Germany, explore their services here.