Studienkolleg in Germany: who needs it and how to get in
Studienkolleg (the preparatory year) for a bachelor's in Germany: who must attend, course types (T, M, W, G, S), the German language requirement and the Feststellungsprüfung exam.
Tuition at Germany's public universities is very low or free. However, many countries' secondary-school certificates are not enough for direct bachelor's admission in Germany. In that case the route goes through a Studienkolleg.
What is a Studienkolleg?
A Studienkolleg is a university preparatory year for international students. It usually lasts two semesters (one year) and ends with a final exam called the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP). This exam is treated as equivalent to the German Abitur and gives the right to university admission.
Who needs it?
Whether a school certificate is directly recognised in Germany depends on the country and your own education history. With an Azerbaijani school certificate, either a Studienkolleg or a period of university study in Azerbaijan is usually required. For an exact assessment, check the anabin database and the decision of the university (or uni-assist).
Course types
The course depends on the chosen field:
- T-Kurs — engineering, technical and natural sciences, computing
- M-Kurs — medicine, biology, pharmacy
- W-Kurs — economics, business, social sciences
- G-Kurs — humanities, law, history
- S-Kurs — languages and philology
Admission requirements
- School certificate (translated and certified)
- German — usually B1–B2 (most Studienkollegs teach in German)
- An entrance test (Aufnahmetest) — usually maths and German
- Application directly to the university or via uni-assist
Public and private Studienkollegs
Public Studienkollegs are free (only the semester fee is paid), but places are limited and competition is high. Private ones charge fees; before choosing, check whether their FSP is recognised.
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