What is a Studienkolleg?

The Studienkollegs have their roots in the post-war decades when Germany increasingly attracted international students. With growing mobility of people and the increasing importance of cross-border cooperation in education and science in the 1950s and 1960s, the challenge arose to provide prospective students from abroad with uniform and reliable prerequisites for their studies.

During this phase, the idea of a structured preparatory institution emerged, harmonizing different educational systems and paving the way to the German higher education landscape. Initially, there were isolated language and preparatory courses, which were often organized inconsistently.

Over time, Studienkollegs established themselves as an integral part of international university access in Germany. They ensured that students from diverse educational backgrounds receive a comparable starting point before entering regular studies.

The typical target groups include foreign school graduates who aspire to study at a German university but do not yet meet all formal entry requirements due to differences in educational systems or qualification levels.

A certain level of German language proficiency is required, as the instruction is primarily conducted in German and solid language competence forms the foundation for academic work.

Studienkollegs not only teach German language skills but also prepare students in core subject areas for their future studies. Depending on the desired course of study, these include:

Furthermore, the institutions emphasize:

• Natural science fundamentals
• Mathematical fundamentals
• Humanities fundamentals
• Economics fundamentals

• Methodological work
• Academic research
• Text analysis
• Presentation techniques

Studienkollegs are often directly affiliated with universities or universities of applied sciences and benefit from close academic and didactic integration with academic teaching. The support is characterized by:

• Small learning groups
• Individual support
• Tutorials
• Supplementary learning workshops

With the successful completion of the Studienkolleg – usually through the so-called assessment exam (Feststellungsprüfung) – participants acquire a formal university entrance qualification that opens the way to universities or universities of applied sciences nationwide.

What began with the goal of uniform regulations for international students has today become an internationally recognized and established concept.