Einschreibung

Einschreibung is a German noun meaning the act of registering or enrolling. It derives from the verb einschreiben, to inscribe in, and is used across various domains to denote recording a person, a document, or an activity in an official list or database.

In higher education, Einschreibung denotes the process of enrolling as a student at a university or college. Depending on the institution, it may be used interchangeably with Immatrikulation, or the terms may distinguish admission (Zulassung) from enrollment (Immatrikulation). Typical requirements include proof of identity and previous qualification, health insurance where mandated, and payment of a semester contribution. Successful Einschreibung usually yields a student identification card, a campus email account, and access to course registration and student services, including a semester ticket for public transport.

In postal and logistics contexts, the term for the service is Einschreiben, or registered mail. The item is documented, tracked, and delivery may require a signature. The noun Einschreibung is seldom used for this service; rather, Einschreiben refers to the registered delivery, while Einschreibung remains the more general act of registering something in a registry.

Outside education and mail, Einschreibung can denote registration for events, courses, or in administrative registries. Regional usage varies: some German-speaking countries prefer Immatrikulation for university enrollment in formal contexts, while Einschreibung remains common in everyday language for starting studies. In any case, the precise meaning is determined by context and jurisdiction.