Anyone who wants to study in Germany with a foreign high school diploma can, depending on their educational background, take a Preparatory College must attend. The Studienkolleg prepares international applicants academically and linguistically for university studies in Germany and generally concludes with the Assessment Audit (FSP).
Quick Answer: A Studienkolleg is particularly relevant when a foreign educational qualification does not grant direct admission to a German university but does qualify the student for admission to a Studienkolleg. The preparatory program typically lasts one year, or two semesters. An entrance exam is often required before enrolling in a Studienkolleg. After successfully passing the placement exam, students can apply for undergraduate programs in the relevant field of study.
What is a Studienkolleg?
A Studienkolleg is a preparatory program for international applicants whose educational credentials do not meet the requirements for direct admission to a degree program in Germany.
The preparatory program focuses in particular on:
- academic prerequisites for the desired field of study,
- German language skills relevant to academic studies,
- Methods for Academic Research and
- Preparation for the qualifying exam.
A regular specialized course typically lasts two semesters or one academic year.
Who is required to attend a Studienkolleg?
Not every international applicant is required to complete a preparatory course.
Whether a preparatory course is required depends, in particular, on:
- the country of origin,
- the school diploma obtained,
- if applicable, a college entrance exam in the student's home country,
- periods of study already completed,
- the desired field of study and
- the evaluation of existing educational credentials.
Anyone who already has direct admission to a university generally does not need to attend a preparatory college solely because of their foreign high school diploma.
How do I find out if I need to attend a preparatory course?
The official university admissions check from uni-assist provides an initial guide.
There, you can check whether the educational credentials you have generally qualify for:
- direct admission to college,
- subject-specific university admission,
- admission to the Studienkolleg or
- still lack sufficient access to higher education
lead.
These results are provided for informational purposes only. The guidelines issued by the university or the relevant admissions office remain authoritative.
Go to the official tool: uni-assist – Check: College Admissions.
What are the admission requirements for a Studienkolleg?
The specific requirements vary between universities and preparatory colleges.
Typically, applicants must meet several requirements:
- appropriate high school or college education,
- sufficient knowledge of German,
- complete application materials,
- certified or sworn translations, if applicable, and
- Passing an entrance exam.
In addition, the individual application deadlines and admission requirements of each preparatory college apply.
What level of German is required for the Studienkolleg?
The language of instruction at the Studienkolleg is generally German.
For this reason, applicants are generally required to demonstrate sufficient proficiency in German before being admitted.
This also applies if the college or university program the student plans to pursue in the future is offered entirely or primarily in English.
The specific preparatory college or university determines which language proficiency level and which language certificate are accepted.
That is why you should always check the following before applying:
- what minimum level is required,
- which language certificates are accepted and
- by when the language proficiency certificate must be submitted.
What is the entrance exam for the Studienkolleg?
Before enrolling in a preparatory college, applicants must usually complete a Entrance Exam exist.
According to the general information provided by uni-assist, it reviews the following in particular:
- Knowledge of German and
- Basic knowledge of the chosen field of study.
The exact structure varies from one Studienkolleg to another.
Depending on the area of focus, there may be additional math, science, or other subject-specific tasks, for example.
Entrance Exam and Placement Test—What's the Difference?
These two exams are often confused.
Entrance Exam
The entrance exam takes place Before the preparatory program takes place. It determines whether an applicant will be admitted to the corresponding specialized course.
Assessment Audit
The assessment audit generally takes place at the end of the preparatory course took place.
This exam determines whether the academic and language requirements for university studies in the relevant field have been met.
What is a declaratory audit?
The assessment audit is often associated with Medical Language Examination (FSP) abbreviated.
The full name is „Examination to Determine the Eligibility of International Applicants for Admission to Higher Education Institutions in the Federal Republic of Germany.“.
Upon successful completion, students can apply for undergraduate programs in their respective fields of study.
The placement exam is therefore an important part of the college admissions process for international applicants whose prior education does not qualify them for direct admission.
Does the placement exam guarantee a spot in a program?
No.
Passing an entrance exam grants or supplements the corresponding qualification for admission to higher education.
However, it does not guarantee a spot in a specific degree program.
In addition, the following may still apply, for example:
- Numerus clausus,
- certain minimum grades,
- Additional language requirements,
- Aptitude tests,
- Internship requirements or
- other admission criteria.
Is it possible to take the placement exam without attending a preparatory college?
At some preparatory colleges, there is a so-called external verification audit possible.
In this case, students do not regularly attend the Studienkolleg's preparatory course but instead prepare for the exam on their own.
Whether an external assessment is offered and what requirements apply depend on the relevant institution.
Application deadlines may also differ from the deadlines for regular enrollment in the Studienkolleg.
What courses are offered at the Studienkolleg?
The preparatory program does not provide general preparation for all degree programs. Instead, students attend a so-called Specialized Course, which must be relevant to the field of study you plan to pursue later.
T Course
The T-course at university preparatory schools is designed specifically to prepare students for technical, mathematical, and science-related degree programs.
These may include, for example:
- Engineering,
- Computer Science,
- Mathematics,
- Physics or
- other technical and science subjects.
M Course
The M course is designed specifically for applicants to medical and biological programs.
These may include, for example, medical, biological, and related fields of study.
W Course
The W course prepares students for majors in the social and economic sciences.
Depending on the college, these may include, for example:
- Business Administration,
- Economics and
- other programs in the fields of economics or social sciences.
G Course
The G course is designed for students majoring in the humanities.
S Course
The S course is specifically designed to prepare students for linguistics programs.
At some schools, G and S courses may be offered together.
What courses are offered at preparatory colleges for universities of applied sciences?
Preparatory programs at universities of applied sciences may use different course names.
According to the latest overview from uni-assist, these include, in particular:
- TI Course: technical and engineering degree programs,
- WW Course: economics degree programs,
- GD Course: design and art programs,
- SW Course: Social science and humanities degree programs.
Not every preparatory program offers all of the specialized courses.
Which Studienkolleg course do I need?
The right specialized course depends on the field of study you plan to pursue later.
For example, anyone who wants to study mechanical engineering generally needs a technically oriented course of study. For medical degree programs, on the other hand, a focus on medicine and biology is required.
You should always check with the preparatory program or your preferred university to confirm the exact placement.
Choosing the wrong major may result in the subsequent placement exam not matching the desired degree program.
Preparatory Program at a University or University of Applied Sciences—What's the Difference?
This difference is particularly important when it comes to choosing a major later on.
According to the latest information from uni-assist, the following generally applies:
- A declaratory audit of a Preparatory Program for Universities of Applied Sciences qualifies the holder to study at a university of applied sciences.
- A declaratory audit of a University Preparatory Program may qualify a student to study at either a university or a university of applied sciences.
Anyone who is determined to attend college later on should take this into account before choosing a preparatory school.
How long does a preparatory course last?
A regular specialized course typically lasts one academic year or two semesters.
After that, the qualifying exam is taken.
Whether shorter or different models exist in specific cases depends on the institution in question.
Are there state-run preparatory colleges in North Rhine-Westphalia?
According to the latest information from uni-assist, in North Rhine-Westphalia, as a general rule, not a state-run preparatory college.
However, that does not mean that there are no opportunities at all in North Rhine-Westphalia to prepare for college or to take an entrance exam.
There are other options, including those recognized or approved by the government. In addition, depending on your personal situation, you may be able to take an external placement exam or attend a preparatory program in another federal state.
You should check with the college of your choice to determine which option for college admission is accepted.
Can I attend a Studienkolleg in another federal state?
As a general rule, you should check which placement exam is accepted by the college and program you plan to attend.
The preparatory program does not necessarily have to be located in the same city as the college or university where the student will eventually study.
However, admission requirements, specialized courses, and recognition options may vary.
For this reason, students should ideally have decided on their intended college or university before applying to the preparatory program.
How do you apply to a Studienkolleg?
There is no single application process that applies to all preparatory colleges.
Depending on the college or university, the application may:
- directly at the college,
- directly at the Studienkolleg,
- through uni-assist or
- through another procedure designated by the university
take place.
Important: Even if a university generally works with uni-assist, this does not automatically mean that uni-assist is also responsible for applications to the Studienkolleg.
What documents do I need for my Studienkolleg application?
The list of required documents depends primarily on the country of origin and the applicant's educational background to date.
Documents that are frequently required include:
- High school diploma,
- Complete overview of courses and grades,
- if applicable, proof of having passed a college entrance exam,
- if applicable, documentation of previous college or university studies,
- Language certificates,
- if applicable, a passport or other form of identification, and
- German or English translations, if necessary.
Academic transcripts must be submitted in their entirety to uni-assist. Missing pages or attachments may be relevant to the review process.
Do I need to have my transcripts translated for the Studienkolleg?
That depends on the application process and the language of the documents.
For applications submitted through uni-assist, the following rule generally applies: Certificates must be uploaded in their original language and, in addition, with a German or English translation.
This also applies to subject and grade reports.
If the transcripts were officially issued by the issuing institution in German or English, no additional translation is generally required under the general uni-assist rules. However, special country-specific regulations may apply.
Who is authorized to translate transcripts for uni-assist?
In accordance with uni-assist's general standards, translations are accepted from, among others:
- Individuals or institutions authorized to provide certified or court-approved translations, or
- an authorized department at the issuing school or college.
A simple translation provided by a regular translation agency without the appropriate authorization will not be accepted under these general standards.
Is the translation sufficient without the original certificate?
No.
At uni-assist, a translation does not replace the original-language transcript.
In general, both:
- the document in its original language as well as
- the required German or English translation
must be submitted.
Any labeled front and back pages, as well as relevant attachments, should be included in their entirety.
What should be fully visible in the translation?
To ensure an accurate translation, please submit complete and clearly legible scans.
Depending on the document, these include:
- Name of the school or college,
- Name of the person,
- Degree title,
- Subjects,
- Grades,
- Grading Scale,
- Date,
- Stamp,
- Signature notes,
- Side notes and
- Relevant front and back sides.
Translate school transcripts written in Arabic or other non-Latin scripts
For documents written in non-Latin scripts, special care should also be taken to ensure consistent spelling of names.
This may apply in particular to certificates issued, for example, in:
- Arabic script,
- Persian script,
- Cyrillic script,
- Greek script,
- Chinese characters or
- other writing systems
were issued.
If a Latin spelling of the name already appears in your passport or residence permit, please provide it when requesting a translation, if possible.
Express Translation for the Studienkolleg Application
Preparatory colleges have their own application deadlines, some of which may end earlier than the regular deadlines for a degree program.
As a result, translations of school transcripts or academic records may be needed on short notice.
Depending on the specific order, StartDE may consider expedited processing.
Depending on the document, language pair, length, and availability, a The certified translation will be completed the same day.
To ensure the fastest possible review, the following should be submitted directly:
- Complete scans of all documents,
- Source language,
- Desired target language,
- Payment description: „Studienkolleg,“,
- any requirements from the university or uni-assist, and
- Desired completion date.
Get the translation as a PDF
Once the translation is complete, a PDF version or a scan of the finished translation can be provided initially.
This can be helpful, for example, when applying for jobs online.
Whether digital documents alone are sufficient for a particular application process or whether other copies are also required is determined by the university or the preparatory college.
Received a physical copy via DHL
A hard copy of the translation can be provided upon request via DHL be shipped.
In particularly urgent cases, express delivery may also be an option, depending on the appropriate DHL service.
The actual delivery time depends on the shipping service and the destination address.
Step by Step to the Studienkolleg
- Check university admission requirements: First, determine whether you have direct admission or admission to the preparatory program.
- Select a field of study: The desired degree program determines which specialized course is required.
- Find the right preparatory program: Find out which institution offers the course you need.
- Check language requirements: Clarify the required level of German proficiency and the accepted forms of proof.
- Check the application process: Directly, through the university, or through uni-assist?
- Prepare documents: Compile all transcripts, grade reports, and, if applicable, proof of coursework.
- Have translations done: Only in accordance with the specific requirements.
- Take the entrance exam: If the result is successful, the specialized course begins.
- Attend a preparatory college: Complete the technical and language training.
- Pass the assessment exam: Next, apply for appropriate undergraduate programs.
Conclusion: First, check your eligibility for college admission; then, choose a preparatory college.
A preparatory course is not required for all international applicants.
Whether this path is necessary depends on the applicant's prior education and the evaluation of their foreign educational credentials.
If a preparatory program is required, special attention should then be paid to choosing the right specialized track, type of institution, language requirements, entrance exam, and the subsequent placement exam.
Translations should also not be commissioned until it is clear which documents the university, the preparatory college, or uni-assist actually requires.
Do you need a professional or certified translation of your school or college transcripts for a Studienkolleg application? Please submit your complete documents to StartDE, along with the source language, target language, and desired completion date, via our website Interpreting & Translation.
Official Information About the Preparatory College
Frequently Asked Questions About the Studienkolleg in Germany
Who is required to attend a Studienkolleg?
A preparatory program may be required if a foreign educational credential does not grant direct admission to a university but does allow admission to the preparatory program. Whether this is the case depends on the individual’s educational background. uni-assist
How long does a preparatory course last?
The regular specialized course typically lasts one academic year, or two semesters, and concludes with a final exam. uni-assist
Do you have to take an entrance exam before starting the Studienkolleg?
Usually, yes. According to uni-assist, the entrance exam assesses German language proficiency as well as basic knowledge in the chosen field of study. uni-assist
What courses are offered at the Studienkolleg?
University preparatory programs offer, among other things, T, M, W, G, and S courses. Preparatory programs at universities of applied sciences may offer TI, WW, GD, and SW courses. Not every preparatory program offers all fields of study. uni-assist
What is a declaratory audit?
The qualifying examination is the final exam at the Studienkolleg. Upon successful completion, students can apply for undergraduate programs in the relevant field of study. uni-assist
Can I take the placement exam without attending a preparatory college?
At some preparatory colleges, it is possible to take an external placement exam. In that case, students prepare for the exam on their own. uni-assist
Do I need to know German to attend the Studienkolleg?
Yes, generally speaking. The language of instruction is German. The specific institution determines the required proficiency level and certificates. uni-assist
Do I need to have my transcripts translated for my Studienkolleg application?
At uni-assist, transcripts are generally required in the original language and additionally in German or English, unless an officially issued German or English version is available or there are specific country-specific rules. uni-assist
