If you are an international student and do not hold the required qualifications to study in a German university, then you will have to study in a Studienkolleg for one year. This is also called a foundation course. The Studienkollegs function as a “bridge” to help you move from the academic culture of your home country to German academic culture.
Here is the list of all Studienkollegs (study college) in Germany with the details of the province, the city they are situated in, courses they offer, their websites, and email addresses:
| Province | College Name | City | College Status | Courses | Homepage/Kontakt |
| Baden- Württemberg | Studienkolleg an der Universität Heidelberg | Heidelberg | Uni/staatlich | (M, T, W, G, S) | www.isz.uni-heidelberg.de/d_kurse_sk.html studienkolleg-info@isz.uni-heidelberg.de |
| Studienkolleg des KIT (Karlsruher Institut für Technologie) | Karlsruhe | Uni/staatlich | (T) | www.stk.kit.edu info@stk.kit.edu | |
| Studienkolleg an der HTWG Konstanz | Konstanz | FH/staatlich | (T, W) | studienkolleg-konstanz | |
| Bayern | Studienkolleg bei den Universitäten des Freistaates Bayern (in München) | München | Uni/staatlich | (M, T, W, G) | www.studienkolleg-münchen.de leitung@studienkolleg.mhn.de |
| Studienkolleg bei den Fachhochschulen des Freistaates Bayern (in Coburg) | Coburg | FH/staatlich | (TI, WW) | www.studienkolleg-coburg.de/ studienkolleg@hs-coburg.de | |
| Berlin | Studienkolleg an der TU Berlin | Berlin | Uni/staatlich | (T, TI, WW, W) | www.studienkolleg.tu-berlin.de |
| Studienkolleg an der FU Berlin | Berlin | Uni/staatlich | (T, M, W, G, S) | www.fu-berlin.de/studienkolleg studienkolleg@fu-berlin.de | |
| Brandenburg | Kein Studienkolleg | – | – | – | – |
| Bremen | Kein Studienkolleg | – | – | – | – |
| Hamburg | Studienkolleg Hamburg | Hamburg | Uni/staatlich | (M, T, W, G)* Sonder- lehrgang | www.studienkolleg-hamburg.de (* with additional places for refugees) |
| Hessen | Studienkolleg an der Goethe-Universität | Frankfurt am Main | Uni + FH/staatlich | (M, T, W, G) | www.isz.uni-frankfurt.de studienkolleg@em.uni-frankfurt.de |
| Studienkolleg an der TU-Darmstadt | Darmstadt | Uni + FH/staatlich | (T, G, DSH) | www.stk.tu-darmstadt.de kolleg@stk.tu-darmstadt.de | |
| Studienkolleg an der Universität Kassel | Kassel | Uni + FH/staatlich | (T, W) | www.uni-kassel.de/einrichtung/studienkolleg studkoll@uni-kassel.de | |
| Studienkolleg Mittelhessen der Universität Marburg | Marburg | Uni + FH/staatlich | (M, T, W, G) | www.uni-marburg.de/studienkolleg studienkolleg@uni-marburg.de | |
| Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Studienkolleg an der Hochschule Wismar | Wismar | Uni/staatlich | (TI, W, WW) | www.hs-wismar.de/international/aus-dem-ausland/studienkolleg/ kathy.gordon@hs-wismar.de |
| Niedersachsen | Studienkolleg an der Universität Hannover | Hannover | Uni/staatlich | (G, M, T, W) | www.stk.uni-hannover.de sekretariat@stk.uni-hannover.de |
| Nordrhein-Westfalen | Studienkolleg des Ökumenischen Studienwerks e.V. | Bochum | staatlich genehmigt | (T) | www.studienkolleg-bochum.de info@studienkolleg-bochum.de |
| Studienkolleg Mettingen | Mettingen | staatlich anerkannt | (T, W, G, M) | www.studienkolleg-mettingen.de studienkolleg@comeniuskolleg.de | |
| Rheinland-Pfalz | Studienkolleg der Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität | Mainz | Uni/staatlich | (M, T, W, G, S) | www.uni-mainz.de/studienkolleg studienkolleg@uni-mainz.de |
| Internationales Studienkolleg der Hochschule Kaiserslautern | Kaiserslautern | FH/Uni/staatlich | (TI/T, WW/W) | www.hs-kl.de/internationales-studienkolleg studienkolleg@hs-kl.de | |
| Saarland | Kein Studienkolleg | – | – | – | – |
| Sachsen | TUDIAS-Studienkolleg TU Dresden | Dresden | staatlich anerkannt | (M, T, W) | www.tudias.de andrea.struetzel@tudias.de |
| Studienkolleg Glauchau | Glauchau | staatlich anerkannt | (T, TI, W, WW, DSH) | www.studiencolleg-glauchau.de sbg@studienkolleg-glauchau.de | |
| Universität Leipzig Studienkolleg Sachsen | Leipzig | Uni/staatlich | (M, T, W, G, S) | www.uni-leipzig.de/stksachs stksachs@rz.uni-leipzig.de | |
| Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz Studienkolleg | Zittau | FH/staatlich | (TI, WW) | www.studienkolleg.hszg.de/ studienkolleg@hszg.de | |
| Sachsen-Anhalt | Studienkolleg an der Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg | Halle | Uni/staatlich | (M, T, W, G, S, DSH) | www.studienkolleg.uni-halle.de international.students@uni-halle.de info@studienkolleg.uni-halle.de |
| Landesstudienkolleg Sachsen-Anhalt an der Hochschule Anhalt | Köthen/Dessau | Uni+FH/staatlich | (T, W, G, DSH) | www.hs-anhalt.de/studienkolleg sekretariat.stk@hs-anhalt.de | |
| Schleswig-Holstein | Studienkolleg an der FH Kiel | Kiel | FH/staatlich | (TI, SW, WW) | www.fh-kiel.de/studium/studieninteressierte/studienkolleg/ studienkolleg@fh-kiel.de |
| Thüringen | Staatliches Studienkolleg | Nordhausen | Uni + FH/staatlich | (M, T, W, G, SW) | www.hs-nordhausen.de/international/staatliches-studienkolleg/ ines.guenther@hs-nordhausen.de |
Types of Studienkollegs in Germany
a) Studienkollegs for Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences
There are 2 types of Studienkollegs in Germany:
- University Studienkollegs (for theoretical-based studies)
- University of Applied Sciences Studienkollegs (for professional-based studies)
If you have successfully attended a university college, you can study at a university or college. Anyone who has attended a University of Applied Sciences Studienkolleg can study in a University of Applied Sciences.
b) State and private Studienkollegs
In addition to the distinction between university and college colleges, it is also possible to differentiate between private and state universities. As a rule, state Studienkollegs offer free study places, apart from the semester contribution fee, and their degree is recognized throughout Germany. Beware of this really important fact. Private Studienkollegs often charge fees for the collegiate visit and it is important to know well whether the selected private Studienkolleg offers a state-recognized degree.
It’s up to you which studienkolleg you choose for you. Surely it’s your choice, but if you do choose a private studienkolleg, then make sure it’s state-recognized.
Step-by-Step Application Process in a StudienKolleg
How to get admission to Studienkolleg?
To get admission to the Studienkollegs in Germany, one must fulfill certain requirements. There are some steps to follow to get a successful admission letter in hand:
You must have a higher secondary school qualification which is mostly 12 years of education in most countries. You must also have passed the B1 German language test certificate to get admission to the Studienkolleg. You must have an idea about the entry test of the Studienkolleg.
| Step 1- Qualification Assessment | Step 2- Direct or Indirect Admission Application | Step 3- Gathering Documents and Admission |
| If you can study in your home country with your diploma, then you can also study in Germany. | Check whether you can study directly in Germany or you have to attend a preparatory college. You can find information about how your home qualifications are evaluated on the database of ANABIN. This assessment decides whether you first have to complete a one-year specialist course at a preparatory college or apply directly to a university. In general, if you have 12 years of secondary school qualification, you have to attend the Studienkolleg. | Contact the preparatory college of your choice for information about the required application documents. The preparatory colleges have very different admission procedures and deadlines, which is why it is necessary to inquire directly with the preparatory college or the preparatory college of your choice or to visit the website. Gather the documents, and apply for admission. Check whether you can apply directly to the preparatory college of your choice or via uni-assist (www.uni-assist.de). |
| Step 4- Applying for Visa | Step 5- Preparing for Entry Test (Aufnahmeprüfung) | Step 6- Attending the Entrance Test (Aufnahmeprüfung) |
| Apply for a visa for study preparation at the German embassy in your home country. | The entrance examinations for the individual preparatory colleges are very different; Some colleges have a German and a mathematics test, while others only have a German test. Information about this and also sample tests can be found on the websites of the individual preparatory colleges. | In some countries, preparatory colleges conduct the entrance examinations on-site; you can find information about this on their websites. Normally, however, you have to come to the preparatory college in Germany for the entrance exam. |
More important links for Studienkollegs in Germany are: