Many students get confused with the name of Feststellungsprüfung (FSP). You do not need to be confused as a student who is going or willing to study in Germany. Feststellungsprüfung is the assessment test to determine foreign applicants’ eligibility to study in Germany.
To study further in German universities or universities of applied sciences, you must pass the Feststellungsprüfung. Without passing it, you cannot enter the university to start your degree course officially.
After the Feststellungsprüfung success, you can apply to all universities or technical colleges (universities of applied sciences) throughout Germany. In the province of North Rhine-Westphalia, there are assessment tests that only apply in this federal state.
What is Feststellungsprüfung?
The Feststellungsprüfung is the final examination of the preparatory college. This is also the abbreviation for “Examination to determine the suitability of international applicants for studying at universities in the Federal Republic of Germany”. If you pass the exam (Feststellungsprüfung), you can apply for a bachelor’s degree program (or a comparable undergraduate degree program) in your field at a German university.
What does Feststellungsprüfung based on?
The Feststellungsprüfung (assessment test) is based on:
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
| the competence profile of the preparatory colleges | on the competence profiles of the respective subjects | on the preparatory college’s internal subject curricula |
At some preparatory colleges, you can also take the assessment test without having completed the preparatory college (external assessment test). In this case, you can prepare for the Feststellungsprüfung yourself.
Requirements of the Feststellungsprüfung
The requirements of the Feststellungsprüfung are based on the level of university entrance qualifications in Germany. The test is also conducted in the German language.
Example Tests for the Feststellungsprüfung
There are many available tests online that prepare you well for the Feststellungsprüfung. You can access them here one by one.
Role of Studienkolle for the Feststellungsprüfung
The preparatory colleges (Studienkollegs) have an identical idea of teaching, comparable requirements, and common goals. After all, after a successful assessment test (Feststellungsprüfung), you can study anywhere in Germany. The competence profile of the preparatory colleges informs applicants, lecturers, specialists in the education sector, or the interested public in general about the guidelines and self-image of education and teaching at the preparatory college.
How does the Feststellungsprüfung work?
- After the completion of your foundation course semesters, the Feststellungsprüfung is conducted (twice a year).
- Three of the four subjects will be tested in a written examination, the fourth subject will be tested in an oral examination.
- Depending on your foundation course (M-, T– or W-course) you will have different examination subjects. If you fail the test on the first attempt, you may repeat it to pass.
- Almost 80% of students become successful on the second attempt.
- The Studienkolleg usually lasts one year and is divided into two semesters. It is possible to shorten your attendance to one semester for excellent achievement. If your performance is unsatisfactory, as a rule, each semester can be repeated once.
- Normally the Studienkolleg ends after one year with a final assessment exam (Feststellungsprüfung). So surely it is up to you how you take up your educational program at a Studienkolleg.
- The process is easy and streamlined though it seems difficult in the beginning.
How does the Studienkolleg work?
The Studienkollegs (preparatory college) prepares applicants for studying at a German university. If you have acquired a school qualification in your home country that entitles you to study there but is not recognized as a university entrance qualification (HZB) in Germany, then you must attend a preparatory college before starting your studies.
What core courses do Studienkollegs Offer?
There are different courses offered at these preparatory colleges which are in Medical, Mathematics, Economics, and many others. You can check the full course list here.
List of StudienKollegs in Germany
There are altogether 26 Studienkollegs in Germany present in different provinces. You can check the whole list of the Studienkollegs in Germany here.