Studienkolleg Courses Explained: T-Kurs, M-Kurs, W-Kurs and More

If your school certificate is not recognised as equivalent to the German Abitur, you will likely need a Studienkolleg: a preparatory college that usually lasts two semesters and ends with the Feststellungsprüfung. Passing it gives you the right to study in Germany, but only in the group of subjects your course prepares you for.

That is why the most important decision is not which Kolleg, but which course. This guide explains every course type, which degrees each one leads to, and how the entrance exam and syllabus differ.

All Studienkolleg course types at a glance

Studienkollegs at universities offer these courses:

Course	Prepares you for
T-Kurs	Mathematics, natural sciences and technical programmes
M-Kurs	Medical, biological and pharmaceutical programmes
W-Kurs	Business, economics and social science programmes
G-Kurs	Humanities programmes and German studies
S-Kurs	Language programmes

Studienkollegs at universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen) offer:

Course	Prepares you for
TI-Kurs	Technical and engineering programmes
WW-Kurs	Business and economics programmes
GD-Kurs	Design and artistic programmes
SW-Kurs	Social science programmes

Not every Kolleg offers every course. Always check what your target Kolleg runs.

The course follows your degree, not your preference

Your course is determined by the degree programme you plan to study. The Feststellungsprüfung at the end of a T-Kurs qualifies you for technical and science programmes. It does not qualify you for medicine, and an M-Kurs result does not qualify you for mechanical engineering.

Some common examples:

• Mechanical, electrical or civil engineering, physics, mathematics, computer science: usually T-Kurs (or TI-Kurs at a university of applied sciences).
• Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, biology, biochemistry: usually M-Kurs.
• Business administration, economics, social sciences: usually W-Kurs (or WW-Kurs).
• History, philosophy, German studies, other humanities: usually G-Kurs.

Programmes on the border between fields, such as psychology, nutrition science or architecture, are assigned differently by different universities. Check the assignment on your target university's or Kolleg's website before you apply.

T-Kurs in detail

The T-Kurs has the heaviest math of all courses. Across Kollegs its syllabus typically includes numbers and equations, functions, sequences and series, trigonometry, geometry, differential and integral calculus, vectors and analytic geometry, and statistics and probability. Some Kollegs add complex numbers. Physics is a central subject, and many Kollegs also teach chemistry or computer science.

Entrance exam: German plus a math test. At Studienkolleg München, for example, the T-Kurs math test takes 45 minutes and covers algebraic fractions, quadratic equations, polynomial division, trigonometric equations and geometry. See our guide to Studienkolleg math for worked examples.

M-Kurs in detail

The M-Kurs puts biology and chemistry at the centre, alongside mathematics and physics. Its math syllabus overlaps with the T-Kurs but is narrower, usually with less advanced vector geometry and integration, and more weight on statistics and probability, which matter for reading medical and biological data.

Entrance exam: German plus a shorter math test at many Kollegs. At Studienkolleg München it takes 30 minutes and covers arithmetic, fractions, percentages, simple equations and word problems.

W-Kurs in detail

The W-Kurs prepares you for business and economics. Expect mathematics with an applied focus, economics and business studies, and often English and social science topics.

Entrance exam: German plus a basic math test at many Kollegs, similar to the M-Kurs level.

G-Kurs and S-Kurs

The G-Kurs prepares you for humanities and German studies. Language skills, literature, history and social studies are central. The S-Kurs is for language programmes. Both usually have no math test at entry, but the German requirements are demanding.

What all courses share: German

Teaching at a Studienkolleg is in German, and according to the DAAD the courses build your German up to C1 level. Every applicant takes a German entrance test. At Studienkolleg München it is set at about B1+ to B2 level and includes a C-Test, grammar, reading and a short writing task.

At Kollegs with both a German and a math test, you usually have to pass both. Your German preparation matters just as much as your math, whichever course you choose.

Public or private Studienkolleg?

According to the DAAD, public Studienkollegs are free of charge apart from the semester fee. Private Studienkollegs frequently charge tuition. Some private Kollegs prepare you for an external Feststellungsprüfung, which has limited places. Check exactly which exam a private Kolleg leads to before you pay.

Also note that not every federal state has public Studienkollegs. uni-assist points out that Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia generally have no state-sponsored Studienkollegs.

If you are unsure which field you will study

Decide on the field before you apply, even if you have not decided on the exact programme. If you are between two fields that share a course, for example mechanical and electrical engineering, the choice does not matter for the Studienkolleg. If you are between two fields with different courses, such as computer science and business, think carefully: switching later usually means a new application.

How to prepare for your course

1. Confirm your course with your target university or Kolleg.
2. Download sample papers for the entrance exam if your Kolleg publishes them.
3. Train German every day: C-Test practice, grammar and reading.
4. Secure your school math for the math test: algebra, equations and, for T-Kurs, geometry and trigonometry.
5. Check deadlines early. uni-assist notes that Studienkolleg deadlines are often earlier than university deadlines.

You can check your math readiness against the T-Kurs or M-Kurs topic list with our free readiness check, and see the full topic breakdowns for the T-Kurs and the M-Kurs. Not sure whether you need a Studienkolleg or TestAS? Take the two-question exam finder quiz.

Summary

The Studienkolleg course you need follows from the degree you want to study: T for technical and science programmes, M for medicine and biology, W for business and economics, G for the humanities and S for languages, with TI, WW, GD and SW as the equivalents at universities of applied sciences. Confirm your course early, then prepare for the German test and, for most courses, a math test.

Sources: DAAD: Studienkollegs, studienkollegs.de: course types, uni-assist: Studienkolleg, Studienkolleg München: entrance exam.