Studienkolleg

The Studienkolleg and its entrance exam

A Studienkolleg is a preparatory college for international applicants whose school certificate is not recognised as a direct university entrance qualification in Germany. The course usually takes two semesters and ends with the Feststellungsprüfung, which qualifies you for the degree programmes that match your course. To get a place, you first pass the Kolleg's entrance exam (Aufnahmeprüfung or Aufnahmetest). Each Kolleg sets its own.

Which course do you need?

The course follows the degree you want to study, not your preference. At university Studienkollegs:

	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

Universities of applied sciences offer TI (technical), WW (economics), GD (design) and SW (social sciences) courses. Source: studienkollegs.de.

Entrance exam vs course syllabus

These are often mixed up. The entrance exam checks that your German and school math are solid. Calculus, vectors and the rest of the course syllabus come after admission.

	Entrance exam	Feststellungsprüfung
When	Before admission	After about two semesters
Decides	Whether you get a place	Your university entrance qualification
German	All applicants, typically about B1+ to B2	Taught up to C1 during the course
Math	School algebra and geometry, for T, M and W at many Kollegs	Full course syllabus, including calculus for T-Kurs

What the entrance exam tests

Studienkolleg München documents its test in detail, which makes it a useful reference:

German, all applicants: 50 minutes at about B1+ to B2 level, with a C-Test, grammar and vocabulary, reading and a short writing task.
Math, T-Kurs: 45 minutes. Algebraic fractions, quadratic equations, polynomial division, trigonometric equations and geometry.
Math, M and W courses: 30 minutes. Arithmetic, fractions, percentages, simple equations and word problems.
Both parts must be passed.

Other Kollegs differ. Studienkolleg Frankfurt, for example, tests German only with a C-Test, while TU Darmstadt adds a math test of about 40 minutes for the T-Kurs. See the entrance exam at 10 Studienkollegs, track by track, and always check your target Kolleg's own page and sample papers.

Sources: Studienkolleg München, German, math, Studienkolleg Frankfurt, TU Darmstadt.

T-Kurs →M-Kurs →W-Kurs →G-Kurs →Entrance exams by city →

Bayern and Hessen

In Bayern, one state Studienkolleg in München serves all universities, and Coburg serves the universities of applied sciences, so university applicants sit one entrance exam. In Hessen, the four Studienkollegs hold their entrance tests at the same time, but each sets its own content.

Bayern →Hessen →

Good to know

Public Studienkollegs are free apart from the semester fee. Private ones often charge tuition.
Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia generally have no state Studienkollegs.
Studienkolleg deadlines are often earlier than university deadlines.

Sources: DAAD, uni-assist.

Check your math readiness, free →

Start practicing free

One diagnostic, a projected score, and your first unit. No card, no time limit on the free tier.

Start free, no card needed