WhatsApp: +48 729 308 990Studienkolleg Preparatory Course: The International Student’s Guide
A detailed overview of Studienkolleg in Germany, how to attend, and if it is relevant for you
Studienkolleg Preparatory Course: The International Student’s Guide
International students who wish to come to Germany and study in a degree program, may realize on their application journey that their education certificate from home may not transfer to the German higher education system. If this applies to you, then you can breathe easy! It is still possible to study in Germany though your education completion is not recognized as equivalent. If you are not sure about this process, please make sure you check the process to apply for bachelor’s and master’s programs in Germany.
Alternatively, if students are planning on attending a German-language study program and want to improve their language skills, Studienkolleg is a great opportunity for students to prepare. While most international students study in English, they also have the option of studying in German should they choose to. Whether students want to work on their German or make sure they are ready for a German university, Studienkolleg will benefit them in their journey to Germany. In the following article we guide you through what a Studienkolleg is, whether it is relevant for you, and steps to apply.
What is Studienkolleg?
A Studienkolleg is an organization that serves as a link for foreign students to study abroad in Germany. The Feststellungsprüfung, sometimes known as the FSP, is a final exam that students must pass in order to be admitted to a degree program at a German university. The Studienkolleg's goal is to prepare students for this exam. International students can take courses at Studienkollegs in Germany that will help them become ready to study at a German university. They give students the chance to brush up on their intermediate German language abilities or acquire the fundamentals of German. In addition, Studienkollegs prepare students for the academic environment and lifestyle of German universities.
There are both public and private Studienkollegs. The open ones offer more general course subjects and are free. Private Studienkollegs will charge tuition, although some students who require particular university courses may find them suitable. Be sure to check before applying as some German institutions may not accept credentials from specific private Studienkollegs.
Studienkolleg types: University and Applied Science
The type of Studienkolleg you need to enroll in will depend on the study program's topic and the type of institution you wish to attend in Germany, as different study programs may have different learning strategies (e.g. STEM topics compared to social theory programs). For some study subjects (such as business and engineering), you can pick between universities and universities of applied sciences, while others are exclusively offered by one type of Studienkolleg (e.g. medicine).
There are two distinct categories of Studienkollegs: academic and technical. This distinction is crucial since there are many avenues available to you depending on whatever type you choose.
- If a student successfully passes exams for a “University” Studienkolleg, then they can choose to study at either a University or a University of Applied Sciences (UAS).
- If a student chooses a Studienkolleg affiliated with a University of Applied Sciences, then they can only study at a UAS.
For more information on the difference between a “University” and a “University of Applied Sciences,” see our Guide on University Types in Germany. The table below illustrates a general breakdown of subjects accordingly:
| University Studienkollegs |
University of Applied Sciences Studienkollegs |
|
|
| Qualifies for a study at Universities AND Universities of Applied Sciences. | Qualifies for a study at Universities of Applied Sciences. |
Some (mostly private) Studienkollegs also offer combinations. The combined M+T course at the Studienkolleg Düsseldorf is aimed in particular at applicants who are not yet sure whether they would prefer to study medicine or technology.
What do the letters G, W, T etc. stand for?
The letters refer to the field of study in German. For University Studienkollegs it is one letter only:
- G: Geisteswissenschaften (humanities).
- W: Wirtschaft (business).
- T: Technik (tech).
- M: Medizin (medicine).
- S: Sprachen (languages).
For Studienkollegs at Universities of Applied Sciences the courses have two letters:
- GD: Gestaltung/Design (design).
- TI: Technik/Ingenieurwissenschaften (tech/engineering).
- WW: Wirtschaftswissenschaften (business/economics).
- SW: Sozialwissenschaften (social sciences).
The applied science Studienkollegs are oriented towards programs which may be more hands-on or technical rather than theory and/or research based. However, this can vary depending on the study program. An example can be that a student pursuing a degree in art history and appreciation would more likely need to attend a university Studienkolleg rather than an applied science one.
Is the type of Studienkolleg and the course selected binding?
Yes and no! If you have already passed the Feststellungsprüfung in a given course (e.g. T) and want to study a subject outside the selected course (e.g. M, W) you must take a supplementary examination in the additional subject courses. The prerequisite for this is that the original university entrance qualification permits study in this subject.
Is Studienkolleg in English?
here are a select few Studienkollegs in English (shown below). However, because Studienkollegs are meant to prepare students for studies in Germany, the language of instruction is generally in German. In order for students to be admitted to a Studienkolleg, they will first need to demonstrate German language skills at the B2 level (which is the upper-intermediate level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages - CEFR) . This is a general guideline to follow, but note that some Studienkollegs may require only German at a B1 level.
The level of instruction is demonstrated by providing the Studienkolleg with a language certificate. Acceptable language certificates to prove a student’s language ability can be demonstrated by providing a certificate from an official language institution or language exam. The following are a few examples of such recognitions e.g. TestDaF, DSH, TELC, and Goethe.
English-taught Studienkollegs
All English-taugh Studienkollegs offer German language courses to prepare students for life in German (even if their program is in English). For some Studienkollegs, the program only offers entry into the direct affiliate university upon completing the program and taking the FSP.
FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences
Freshman Programme of the FH Aachen: Valid for certain states in Germany. Students can also choose a mix of English and German.
Jacobs University Bremen
Foundation Year: Only to study at the Jacobs University Bremen.
Cologne Business School, International Business School of Cologne
Prep4University: Valid for CBS and select German universities.
Kühne Logistics University of Hamburg
Preparation Programme: Done through the BIC (below) and offers entry to KLU in Hamburg.
Berlin International College
Preparatory Programs: Only to study at select partner universities.
Studienkolleg cost of attendance: Public vs Private Studienkollegs
As mentioned previously, there are different types of Studienkollegs. In addition to topical Studienkollegs (e.g. university or applied science), there are private and public Studienkollegs.
Depending on your entrance qualification (your foreign secondary school certificate) , Studienkolleg may be compulsory and therefore cannot be skipped. If the education qualifications (i.e. your school degree) does not meet the criteria as an equivalent to the German education system, then you will be required to attend a Studienkolleg. If this is the case, there is no way to avoid the process. To check your education certificate to see if you need to attend a Studienkolleg, please refer to our Anabin guide for prospective bachelor’s students or the Anabin guide for prospective master’s students.
The subject of your study programme and the kind of university you intend to attend Students also have the choice to take the final test that is given at the conclusion of a Studienkolleg even if they are not advised to do so. At the conclusion of each Studienkolleg course, the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP) is given to determine if students are prepared to enrol in a degree programme at a German university. It is exceedingly dangerous and not recommended to take the FSP without enrolling in the Studienkolleg in order to skip the Studienkolleg year.
Some students may hold the necessary credentials and opt to enrol in a Studienkolleg in order to get a head start on their studies in Germany. However, not all pupils will be affected by this. As a result, some attendees may be required to attend while others may attend of their own volition.
Many overseas students are concerned that enrolling in a Studienkolleg will be challenging. The subjective question of whether Studienkollegs are challenging is impossible to answer because different students consider challenging in different ways. Students should be aware that Studienkolleg is intended to familiarise international students with the academic requirements and teaching methodology used at German universities.
As a result, if something seems a little challenging, it probably is because the student in question needed the Studienkolleg course since they were unfamiliar with German higher education teaching methods. The majority of the Studienkollegs curriculum comprises of required in-class activities.
Before being admitted to Studienkolleg, students must first pass an entrance exam - if they apply for a public one. This exam is to assess whether students have the adequate level of German language skills to participate in the course. Additionally, the test also assesses whether students have foundational knowledge on the subject area in which they choose for their Studienkolleg.
Students should ensure they have the minimum required German skills as the entrance exam is in German and also brush up on their mathematics skills as math is also featured in the exam. Private Studienkollegs usually admit students without entrance tests.
| Course Type | Test Part I | Test Part II |
| G course | Language analysis: Students are given 3 short factual texts on different topics. These texts will contain 75 missing or incomplete words. This task must be completed in 30 minutes or less. | Chart evaluation: Students are provided a number of statements that relate to one or more charts. Students must judge if these statements are correct or incorrect or are not relevant at all to the chart. This task must be completed in 30 minutes or less. |
| M, T, and W courses | Language analysis: Students are given 3 short factual texts on different topics. These texts will contain 75 missing or incomplete words. This task must be completed in 30 minutes or less. | Math test: The duration of the math test is about 90 minutes including breaks. This test portion can only be repeated once. The contents of the math test can be typically viewed in sample tests from the Studienkolleg. |
Applying to a Studienkolleg is a unique process and differs from the application journey when applying to a university. Normally, students would not apply independently but this is an option for some Studienkollegs. Below we briefly detail the two different methods of applying to a Studienkolleg.
Methods of Applying to a Studienkolleg
1 . Directly to the Studienkolleg
Applying via the university a student wishes to attend is arguably the simplest way to apply to a Studienkolleg. The International Office of universities typically takes charge to assist international students who are applying to a study program and require Studienkolleg before beginning their studies.
2 . Independently via uni-assist
Some Studienkollegs also have direct applications for students. However, this is not as common and not offered by all Studienkollegs. Should students choose to apply independently, it is advised they consult uni-assist to apply as it provides help for students throughout the process.
Steps to apply to a Studienkolleg
Language requirements
Language requirements
Applications requirements vary among Studienkollegs but generally the required documents students should be prepared to submit are the following:
- Application form,
- Résumé or CV,
- Academic Certificate/degree/diploma,
- German language certificate.
Upon receiving and reviewing the respective documents, Studienkollegs will allow students who qualify, to take the entrance exam. After the entrance exam, students are informed of the outcome of their application. Successful students should use the letter of acceptance from the Studienkolleg to apply for a student visa.
The Feststellungsprüfung (FSP)
Just as there is an entrance exam to admit students into a Studienkolleg, there is also a final exam upon completing the Studienkolleg course. This exam which is administered upon completing the Studienkolleg course is the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP). The FSP will include questions from each module which was covered in the course. The questions on the FSP depend on the particular subject of the course. Students can expect to have questions about the German language on the FSP in addition to specialized questions specific to the study topic.
Students should take note that not all Studienkollegs offer the FSP and that this may be separate from courses. Students should check course websites to determine if their preferred program has the FSP incorporated as part of the curriculum upon completing studies.
Studienkolleg can cause some stress for students if they are required to take this preparatory course prior to their degree program in Germany. However, this is normal and students should not worry about this process. Below are a few important things to keep in mind:
- Studienkollegs are a year-long preparatory course for international students to improve their language skills and prepare for the German higher education system. Depending on the study subject, students are placed in either a university or an applied science Studienkolleg.
- Mandatory participation in a Studienkolleg is required by international students who do not have an equivalent finishing degree from their home country.
- The application process consists of an application package, an entrance exam, and the payment of any fees. Students can choose from public Studienkollegs which are free and private Studienkollegs which charge a marginal tuition fee.
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