Studienkolleg

Do you need a Studienkolleg from China?

Whether you need a Studienkolleg depends on the exact certificate you hold, not just on your country. In China, the answer changes with the type of certificate, your marks, your stream and whether you have already studied at a university.

Below is every case the DAAD admission database lists for your country, grouped by certificate. Find yours, then read what the result means for you.

Applicants from this country also need an APS certificate from the Akademische Prüfstelle before they apply.

Short answer by certificate

Most certificates can lead to more than one result. The details below show which condition decides.

Upper secondary school leaving certificate after 11 years of school
Direct access, any subjectDirect access, some subjectsStudienkolleg, matching courseNo access yet
Upper secondary school leaving certificate after 12 years of school
Direct access, any subjectDirect access, some subjectsStudienkolleg, matching courseNo access yet
Completion of 12 years at a foreign-language secondary school with the "Deutsches Sprachdiplom" level I
Studienkolleg, any courseNo access yet
Completion of 12 years at a foreign-language secondary school with the "Deutsches Sprachdiplom" level II
Direct access, any subjectNo access yet
Hong Kong Certificate of Education
Direct access, some subjectsNo access yet
Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (2012 up to and including academic year 2022/2023)
Direct access, any subject
Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (academic year 2023/2024 or later)
Direct access, some subjects
At least a 3- to 4-year degree (Bachelor) (Hong Kong)
Direct access, any subject
IB Diploma (or official Transcript of Grades) or other certificate of the International Baccalaureate Organization
Direct access, any subjectDirect access, some subjectsStudienkolleg, any courseNo access yet

Check your own case

Answer the same questions step by step and get one result for your certificate.

Open the Studienkolleg checker

What the results mean

Direct access, any subject: You can apply to German universities directly, for any subject. No Studienkolleg needed.
Direct access, some subjects: You can apply to German universities directly, but only for certain subjects. For any other subject you would need a Studienkolleg first.
Studienkolleg, any course: You first attend a Studienkolleg (or sit the Feststellungsprüfung) and can choose any course: T, M, W or G. Passing it gives you access to university.
Studienkolleg, matching course: You first attend a Studienkolleg (or sit the Feststellungsprüfung), but only in the course that matches your school subjects. Passing it gives you access to degrees in that field.
No access yet: This qualification alone does not give access to a German university or a Studienkolleg. You need further education first, for example a higher school certificate or study at a university at home.

Every case in detail

Upper secondary school leaving certificate after 11 years of school(12 cases)

1. → No periods of study
No access yet
1. → Academic achievements as part of academic studies lasting 2 years
No access yet
1. → 3-year Junior College programme
Studienkolleg, matching course
1. → Higher education studies (not a key-university or a Project 211 higher education institution)
2. → 1.5 academic years in a Bachelor’s degree course
Studienkolleg, matching course
1. → Higher education studies (not a key-university or a Project 211 higher education institution)
2. → 2.5 academic years in a Bachelor’s degree course
3. → the subject area of the previous academic studies and related subjects
Direct access, some subjects
Only for the field you studied before, or a related one.
1. → Higher education studies (not a key-university or a Project 211 higher education institution)
2. → 2.5 academic years in a Bachelor’s degree course
3. → another subject
Studienkolleg, matching course
1. → Higher education studies (not a key-university or a Project 211 higher education institution)
2. → higher education diploma without issuing a Bachelor's degree (in the benke programme)
Direct access, any subject
1. → Higher education studies (not a key-university or a Project 211 higher education institution)
2. → a Bachelor‘s degree of at least 4 years (xueshi)
Direct access, any subject
1. → Academic studies at a key-university or a Project 211 higher education institution
2. → 0.5 successful academic years in a Bachelor’s degree course
Studienkolleg, matching course
1. → Academic studies at a key-university or a Project 211 higher education institution
2. → 1.5 successful academic years in a Bachelor’s degree course
3. → the subject area of the previous academic studies and related subjects
Direct access, some subjects
Only for the field you studied before, or a related one.
1. → Academic studies at a key-university or a Project 211 higher education institution
2. → 1.5 successful academic years in a Bachelor’s degree course
3. → another subject
Studienkolleg, matching course
1. → Academic studies at a key-university or a Project 211 higher education institution
2. → completed academic studies with or without a Bachelor’s degree
Direct access, any subject

Upper secondary school leaving certificate after 12 years of school(15 cases)

1. → No periods of study
No access yet
1. → Academic achievements as part of academic studies lasting 2 years
No access yet
1. → 3-year Junior College programme
Studienkolleg, matching course
1. → Higher education studies (not a key-university or a Project 211 higher education institution)
2. → at least 0.5 academic years in a Bachelor’s degree course
Studienkolleg, matching course
1. → Higher education studies (not a key-university or a Project 211 higher education institution)
2. → at least 1.5 academic years in a Bachelor’s degree course
3. → the subject area of the previous academic studies and related subjects
Direct access, some subjects
Only for the field you studied before, or a related one.
1. → Higher education studies (not a key-university or a Project 211 higher education institution)
2. → at least 1.5 academic years in a Bachelor’s degree course
3. → another subject
Studienkolleg, matching course
1. → Higher education studies (not a key-university or a Project 211 higher education institution)
2. → higher education diploma without issuing a Bachelor's degree (in the benke programme)
Direct access, any subject
1. → Higher education studies (not a key-university or a Project 211 higher education institution)
2. → a Bachelor's degree of at least 4 years (xueshi)
Direct access, any subject
1. → key-university or Project 211 higher education institution
2. → at least 0.5 successful academic years in a Bachelor’s degree course
3. → the subject area of the previous academic studies and related subjects
Direct access, some subjects
Only for the field you studied before, or a related one.
1. → key-university or Project 211 higher education institution
2. → at least 0.5 successful academic years in a Bachelor’s degree course
3. → another subject
Studienkolleg, matching course
1. → key-university or Project 211 higher education institution
2. → completed academic studies with or without a Bachelor’s degree
Direct access, any subject
1. → National Secondary School Examination (huikao), acquired in spring 2019 or later and national examination for admission to a higher education institution (gaukao)
2. → Mathematics, natural sciences, technics, or economics
Direct access, some subjects
1. → National Secondary School Examination (huikao), acquired in spring 2019 or later and national examination for admission to a higher education institution (gaukao)
2. → Social sciences or arts
Direct access, some subjects
1. → National Secondary School Examination (huikao), acquired in spring 2019 or later and national examination for admission to a higher education institution (gaukao)
2. → Medicine, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, or dentistry
Direct access, some subjects
1. → National Secondary School Examination (huikao), acquired in spring 2019 or later and national examination for admission to a higher education institution (gaukao)
2. → Law
Direct access, some subjects

Completion of 12 years at a foreign-language secondary school with the "Deutsches Sprachdiplom" level I(3 cases)

1. → only school leaving qualification
No access yet
1. → passing of the Chinese higher education entrance examination (gaokao) 2018 or earlier
Studienkolleg, any course
1. → passing of the Chinese higher education entrance examination (gaokao) in spring 2019 or later
Studienkolleg, any course

Completion of 12 years at a foreign-language secondary school with the "Deutsches Sprachdiplom" level II(3 cases)

1. → only school leaving qualification
No access yet
1. → passing of the Chinese higher education entrance examination (gaokao) 2018 or earlier
Direct access, any subject
1. → passing of the Chinese higher education entrance examination (gaokao) in spring 2019 or later
Direct access, any subject

Hong Kong Certificate of Education(2 cases)

1. → Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination
Direct access, some subjects
Only if your certificate meets further conditions set in the DAAD database (for example minimum marks or subjects). Check them there.
1. → No
No access yet

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (2012 up to and including academic year 2022/2023)(1 case)

Direct access, any subject
Only if your certificate meets further conditions set in the DAAD database (for example minimum marks or subjects). Check them there.

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (academic year 2023/2024 or later)(1 case)

Direct access, some subjects
Only for the field named in your certificate.
Only if your certificate meets further conditions set in the DAAD database (for example minimum marks or subjects). Check them there.

At least a 3- to 4-year degree (Bachelor) (Hong Kong)(1 case)

Direct access, any subject

IB Diploma (or official Transcript of Grades) or other certificate of the International Baccalaureate Organization(14 cases)

1. → IB Diploma
2. → Admission prior to and including September 2018
3. → Yes
Direct access, any subject
1. → IB Diploma
2. → Admission prior to and including September 2018
3. → No
4. → At least 1 successful academic year at a higher education institution
Direct access, some subjects
Only for the field you studied before, or a related one.
1. → IB Diploma
2. → Admission prior to and including September 2018
3. → No
4. → No periods of study
Studienkolleg, any course
1. → IB Diploma
2. → Admission after September 2019 (final exam prior to and including 2024)
3. → Yes, the requirements are met - and the subject of mathematics (Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches or Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation) is proven in the "Higher Level".
Direct access, any subject
1. → IB Diploma
2. → Admission after September 2019 (final exam prior to and including 2024)
3. → Yes, the requirements are met - and the subject of mathematics (Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches or Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation) is proven in the "Standard Level" - and a natural sciences subject (Biology or Chemistry or Physics) is proven in the "Higher Level".
Direct access, some subjects
Any subject except: mathematics, natural sciences, technology
1. → IB Diploma
2. → Admission after September 2019 (final exam prior to and including 2024)
3. → Yes, the requirements are met - and the subject of mathematics (Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches or Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation) is proven in the "Standard Level" - and a natural sciences subject (Biology or Chemistry or Physics) is proven in the "Higher Level" - and the IB Diploma was obtained at one of the schools listed in Appendix 1 or Appendix 2 of the IB decision. The decision and the appendices can be found here: Recognition of the IB Diploma in Germany
Direct access, any subject
1. → IB Diploma
2. → Admission after September 2019 (final exam prior to and including 2024)
3. → No
4. → At least 1 successful academic year at a higher education institution
Direct access, some subjects
Only for the field you studied before, or a related one.
1. → IB Diploma
2. → Admission after September 2019 (final exam prior to and including 2024)
3. → No
4. → No periods of study
Studienkolleg, any course
1. → IB Diploma
2. → Admission after September 2023 (final exam after 2025)
3. → Yes, the requirements are met - and the subject of mathematics (Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches or Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation) is proven in the "Higher Level".
Direct access, any subject
1. → IB Diploma
2. → Admission after September 2023 (final exam after 2025)
3. → Yes, the requirements are met - and the subject of mathematics (Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches or Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation) is proven in the "Standard Level" - and a language or a natural sciences subject (Biology or Chemistry or Physics) is proven in the "Higher Level".
Direct access, some subjects
Any subject except: mathematics, natural sciences, technology
1. → IB Diploma
2. → Admission after September 2023 (final exam after 2025)
3. → Yes, the requirements are met - and the subject of mathematics (Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches or Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation) is proven in the "Standard Level" - and a language or a natural sciences subject (Biology or Chemistry or Physics) is proven in the "Higher Level" - and the IB Diploma was obtained at one of the schools listed in Appendix 1 or Appendix 2 of the IB decision. The decision and the appendices can be found here: Recognition of the IB Diploma in Germany
Direct access, any subject
1. → IB Diploma
2. → Admission after September 2023 (final exam after 2025)
3. → No
4. → At least 1 successful academic year at a higher education institution
Direct access, some subjects
Only for the field you studied before, or a related one.
1. → IB Diploma
2. → Admission after September 2023 (final exam after 2025)
3. → No
4. → No periods of study
Studienkolleg, any course
1. → Other certificate of the International Baccalaureate Organization: IB Career-related Certificate or IB Diploma Programme Course Results (previously: IB Certificate)
No access yet

What to do next

Confirm your case in the DAAD admission database and in anabin, the official database of foreign certificates.
Check the rules of the university or uni-assist you will apply through. They make the final decision.
If you need a Studienkolleg, look at the entrance test of the Kollegs that offer your course and when they test.

DAAD anabin uni-assist Studienkolleg entrance tests Test dates and deadlines TestAS

Other countries

Bangladesh Egypt India Indonesia Iran Morocco Nigeria Pakistan Syria Türkiye Vietnam

Data from the DAAD admission database, checked 2 November 2026.

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