Does the university help international students secure a company contract for dual studies?

Hi!

Yes, some universities provide substantial support with finding a partner company. It is important, however, to distinguish between access to vacancies, application support and actual placement. The university can introduce you to companies and prepare you for the selection process, but the company ultimately decides whether to offer you a contract.

Two doors, two decisions

A dual degree normally involves two separate decisions. The university checks whether you meet the academic and language requirements. The company assesses your application and decides whether you receive the employment or training contract required for the practical phases. University support does not replace this company selection.

How private universities may support you

• IU International University: IU offers comparatively active support. Applicants can view vacancies from practice partners in the application portal, receive application and interview training and stay in contact with a personal study adviser. IU may also coordinate interviews, obtain feedback and assist with the contract. This applies, for example, to the dual Business Administration – Logistics Management (B.A.). You must nevertheless be selected by the company. International applicants to IU’s dual programmes must provide German at B2 level.
• FHDW: After successfully completing the university’s selection process, applicants receive access to its partner-company network. The Talent Service provides application training, reviews application documents and supports contact with potential practice partners. The company still conducts its own selection and no placement is guaranteed.
• HSBA: Here the process is more company-led. You search the university’s study-position board and apply directly to a partner company. HSBA provides applicant coaching and can support approaches to companies that do not yet cooperate with the university. Once a company selects you, it registers you with HSBA.

HSBA currently offers two dual Bachelor’s programmes taught entirely in English: International Management (B.Sc.) and Logistics Management (B.Sc.). German is not a formal university admission requirement for these programmes. HSBA nevertheless points out that most partner companies expect good German for the practical part.

Support for international applicants

A public example is the DHBW in Baden-Württemberg. Applicants normally apply directly to a cooperating company, while the university provides company lists and an online applicant pool. The DHBW Heidenheim also runs a one-year Bridge Year for international applicants who already have a recognised university entrance qualification but speak little or no German. It combines language preparation with application training and support in applying for a company contract. Participation does not guarantee a contract.

The language issue

The language requirements of the university and the company must be considered separately. A programme may be taught in English while the interview, team meetings and daily work at the practice partner take place in German. For German-taught dual programmes, B2 is a common minimum at university level, but individual companies may expect stronger German.

If your German is still below B2, active matching support alone will therefore not necessarily solve the problem. An English-taught dual programme may be possible, but the choice is limited and the company may still require German. A preparatory language programme can be the more realistic route into a German-taught dual degree.

What this means for an application from abroad

The decisive point is how the individual university organises the company search. Some allow you to apply before securing a practice partner and then provide active matching support. Others expect you to apply directly to listed partner companies and submit the signed contract before enrolment. It is therefore relevant whether the university offers actual matching or only a vacancy board, whether applicants can use this support while still living abroad and by what date the company agreement must be in place.

If you are from outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland, recognition of your school-leaving qualification and the applicable visa or residence requirements must also be clarified separately. Neither university matching nor a company offer automatically settles these questions.

You can compare programmes by subject, language and study format in our study finder and save suitable options to your bookmarks. For help narrowing down the options, you can also ask Sophie, our virtual study adviser.

Which subject are you interested in, and what is your current German level? That determines whether an English-taught dual programme is realistic or whether language preparation should come first.