Application Process

Technical Requirements/Notes for Your Online Application:

You will use the MoveOn application portal for the entire process related to studying abroad (registration, application, communication, uploading documents, etc.—before, during, and after your stay).

Always use the same email address you provided during the application process. Technical issues will arise if you use different email addresses for registration, the application, and other actions.

The MoveOn online application portal has been optimized for Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome. We cannot guarantee that the application will function properly with other browsers.

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the application PDF. Adobe Acrobat Reader should be installed before you begin the application process. Cookies and JavaScript must also be enabled in your browser for the application process. Please also check whether your Windows is activated when you submit your application. Windows licenses may have expired over the New Year. This could result in errors when saving or submitting your application.

You cannot submit your application until all fields have been correctly filled out, uploaded, and marked green.

After you submit your application through the portal, you will NOT receive a confirmation email.

Successfully submitted applications are always available for download as a PDF in the portal, even after you log in again.

including your personal information and a list of your preferred partner universities (based on your area of focus for IB and BW students); you may list
up to 5 preferred partner universities in order of priority

Resume with a photo in the language of instruction at the respective partner university

A letter of motivation for each preferred partner university, written in the language of instruction at that university

For bachelor’s students:
A German-language transcript of grades, including the grade point average, for bachelor’s or master’s students at htw saar (available for download from Student Services)

For Master’s students:
A copy of the Bachelor’s degree certificate for Master’s students or a transcript showing grades at the end of the Bachelor’s program, if you wish to apply to study abroad at the Master’s level.

Students in English-language degree programs may, of course, submit an English-language transcript.

Proof of foreign language proficiency at the B2 level is required in the form of a current, certified language certificate. 

For every exchange program at htw saar’s partner universities, you must include a B2 language certificate for the language(s) of instruction of the exchange program with your application materials by January 15. Check the Outgoing Exchange database for the specific “Language Requirements” of the partner universities.

In most cases, the national DAAD language certificate is sufficient, but some partner universities require an internationally recognized language test (such as TOEFL). 
You can find details on this under the respective partner university in the Outgoing Exchange database (OutEx). You may only apply to partner universities for which the language certificate you submit is valid.

A high school diploma listing the language(s) at the B2 level is NOT sufficient proof of foreign language proficiency (with the exception of French for France—see point 3 below).

1. DAAD LANGUAGE CERTIFICATE  

How do I obtain a DAAD language certificate?
Your DAAD language certificate must be current and no older than 2 years at the time of application.

Important note regarding the DAAD language certificate:
If you already have an internationally recognized language certificate, such as a current TOEFL (valid for only 2 years) or a Cambridge Certificate B2 First or higher (valid for life) at a minimum of B2, or the IELTS at a minimum of B2 level (or the equivalent for French—DELF, Spanish—DELE, etc.), you do not need to obtain a separate DAAD language certificate at the B2 level if you are (also) applying to partner universities that require a DAAD language certificate.

1a. For students in the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (WiWi): DAAD Language Certificate in English

English-language degree programs in International Business and International Management:
You will receive a substitute certificate for the DAAD English language certificate from your faculty. You must include
this substitute certificate with your application by January 15 instead of the DAAD language certificate.
As an IB or IM student, how do I obtain this substitute certificate?
Register via this link in the online form.

All other degree programs in the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration: DAAD English
Language Certificate To receive the DAAD English Language Certificate, you must take a placement test.
The test consists of two parts: an oral and a written section.
The oral test dates are in November, on Mondays between 8:45 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. at the CRB.
The written test dates are on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, between 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at the CRB.
Please make a note of these dates.
How can I register for the placement test?
Step 1. Register using this link in the online form
. Step 2. Additionally, sign up for an exam date on the registration lists at the WiWi Faculty Office.
Spots are assigned on a “first come, first served” basis.

1b. For students in the AuB, IngWi, and SoWi faculties: DAAD English

Language Certificate To obtain a DAAD English language certificate, students from the AuB, IngWi, and SoWi faculties must contact the relevant language instructors at htw saar via the following link by November 16, 2026, at the latest: https://moodle.htwsaar.de/course/view.php?id=7408
- to Sebastian Barth (for students in Mechanical Engineering, Process Engineering, Process Technology, Engineering and Management, as well as for students in Mechatronics and Social Work)
- to Lisa Rauhoff (for students in Automotive Engineering)
- to Betina Lang (for students in the Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering and Applied Computer Science, Communication Informatics)
- to Eva Langenbahn (for students in Electrical and Information Technology, Renewable Energy, Energy Systems Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Nursing and Health)

1c. DAAD Spanish
Language Certificate Students may contact the Language Center at Saarland University to apply for a DAAD Spanish language certificate if a DAAD Spanish language certificate is required by their desired partner university(ies).
The date for the DAAD Spanish language certificate exam is December 4, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Location: UdS Campus C5.4, Room 3.02
All students interested in taking the test should contact spanischnoSpam@noSpamszsb.uni-saarlandnoSpam.de
or https://www.uni-saarland.de/einrichtung/sprachenzentrum/kontakt/teamas soon as possible.html
https://www.uni-saarland.de/einrichtung/sprachenzentrum.html
If you missed the test, please ask your language instructor whether a Spanish language test might also be possible at htw saar.

1d. DAAD French
Language Certificate Please ask your language instructor whether a French language test is available at htw saar.
Students can inquire at the Language Center of Saarland University to see if a French language test is available. französisch@szsb.uni-saarland.de
https://www.uni-saarland.de/einrichtung/sprachenzentrum/kontakt/team.html
https://www.uni-saarland.de/einrichtung/sprachenzentrum.html

1e. DAAD Italian
Language Certificate: Students can inquire at the Language Center of Saarland University to find out if an Italian language test is available: italienisch(at)szsb.uni-saarland.de
https://www.uni-saarland.de/einrichtung/sprachenzentrum/kontakt/team.html
https://www.uni-saarland.de/einrichtung/sprachenzentrum.html 

Alternatively, students can contact former teachers of the foreign language (EN/FR/SP/IT) to obtain a DAAD language certificate. A DAAD language certificate template can be requested at outgoingnoSpam@noSpamhtwsaarnoSpam.de. 

2. INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LANGUAGE CERTIFICATE (TOEFL, IELTS, etc.)
If an internationally recognized language certificate, such as the TOEFL, IELTS, DELF, DELE, etc., is required by your preferred partner university, you do not need to obtain a separate DAAD language certificate. You must register early with the appropriate test centers (e.g., for a TOEFL or IELTS test). The test date should be in December so that the results can be included with your application by January 15.

An internationally recognized language certificate is always considered more valuable than the national DAAD language certificate. Please always check the criteria at the partner university listed in OutEx (note that certain universities may, for example, only accept the TOEFL).

3. EXCEPTION: LANGUAGE CERTIFICATION FOR FRENCH-LANGUAGE PROGRAMS IN FRANCE
When applying for a French-language program/French as the language of instruction at a partner university in France, a high school diploma (Abitur) demonstrating a French proficiency level of B2 or higher is also accepted as proof of language proficiency under the Franco-German Treaty. However, this does not apply to other languages or countries.

4. QUESTIONS ABOUT LANGUAGE PROOF
If you are unsure which language proof is required for your application, please send an email to outgoingnoSpam@noSpamhtwsaarnoSpam.de and include in the email your degree program and the partner universities to which you wish to apply.

Identification card or passport for overseas destinations or for the UK
. Make sure it remains valid until after your stay abroad!