What is a Studienkolleg?
The Studienkolleg is a one-year preparatory course at a university to acquire the university entrance qualification. The Studienkolleg lasts two semesters.
What is taught at the Studienkolleg?
The Studienkolleg prepares international applicants without a German university entrance qualification for studying at a German university. Full-day classes are held five days a week in the subjects of a specialisation course suitable for the desired study programme and in German.The final examination at the Studienkolleg is the so-called Feststellungsprüfung.
A Studienkolleg is divided into four focus courses:
- M-course (for medical and biological subjects),
- G-course (for humanities and language subjects),
- W-course (for subjects in economics),
- T-course (for technical and natural science subjects, except biology).
Attention: not all Studienkollegs offer all of the above courses!
Where are Studienkollegs offered?
In Berlin, there is a joint preparatory college run by Humboldt-Universität, Charité and Freie Universität, which takes place at Freie Universität, as well as a preparatory college at Technische Universität.
Take a close look at the websites of the respective universities before applying. There you will find all the information about the required documents, the application procedure, deadlines and contact persons. Read the information on the preparatory course at Freie Universität and the preparatory school at Technische Universität.
What are the particularities of the application process?
Find out about the application process on the website of the Studienkolleg you would like to enrol in. You apply for a place at the Studienkollegs in Berlin via the uni-assist portal in the same way as for a degree programme. There you select your desired degree programme at your desired university in the programme selection and enter the 1st semester. If the first semester cannot be selected when applying for the summer semester because the degree programme you have chosen only starts in the winter semester, select the second semester instead.
If you meet all the formal requirements, you will be invited to an entrance test after submitting your application via uni-assist. Admission to the Studienkolleg is only granted on the basis of the results of this test.
Preparation for the entrance test
To help you prepare for the entrance test, please take a look at sample tests from the TU and sample tests from the FU.
You can find further examples from other federal states on the website Studienkolleg.com.
Application deadlines
At the TU, you can apply twice a year, namely for the summer and winter semester. You can find the current deadlines for applying to the Studienkolleg on the TU's plans and deadlines page.
At the FU, you can only apply for the winter semester. You can find the current application deadlines on the FU website for application deadlines.
If your research through uni-assist and/or anabin and the consultation at your chosen university has shown that you can apply directly to the university, it’s time to start preparing your application.
Which documents you need for your application depends on your study program and the country where you completed your school education — and possibly a higher education degree. Therefore, make sure to carefully read the application information provided on the website of your chosen university. Additionally, the general application information from uni-assist and the country-specific information from uni-assist are very helpful.
If, due to your refugee background, you are missing school and/or university certificates that are required for the application, you can provide information about your educational background using a self-disclosure form. This form will be sent to you by uni-assist after you submit your application. In such cases, the universities also recommend that you come to them for advice before applying via uni-assist and clarify what options there are to be admitted anyway.
Not every foreign Bachelor degree allows you to start a Master´s programme in Germany. Before you apply, you must ask the student advisory service at your chosen university if your Bachelor’s degree is recognized there, if you have to take a placement test for your chosen study program, or if there are any other special requirements for your application.
Which documents you need for your application depends on your study program and the country where you completed your Bachelor’s degree. That’s why it is very important to carefully read the application information on the website of your chosen university. Also, the general application information from uni-assist and the country-specific information from uni-assist are very helpful.
If you are missing school and/or university certificates because you had to flee your home country, you can fill out a self-disclosure form with information about your education. uni-assist will send you this form after you apply. In such cases, the universities also recommend that you come to them for advice before applying via uni-assist and clarify what options there are to be admitted anyway.
A guest student programme makes it possible to get to know the university, attend lectures and, in rare cases, even pass examinations without officially being a student. Here is a selection of guest programmes at Berlin universities.
Guest student program for refugees at TU Berlin: In(2)TU
The guest study programme In(2)TU Berlin offers regular information events as well as courses from the Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes at TU Berlin. The ECTS from passed exams can be recognized towards a later degree programme.
Participation is free of charge. Knowledge of German is recommended, but will not be tested. Registration takes place through the Academic Advising Service at TU Berlin.
Read the further information at TU Berlin-In(2)TU.
Guest study programme for refugees at UdK
Refugees can participate in courses at the UdK Berlin as "GASTHÖRER*INNEN+" (Guest auditors), subject to the approval of the lecturers. This is also possible for art classes after approval by the faculty and the teachers. Furthermore, it is possible for "GASTHÖRER*INNEN+" to take part in examinations and have this certified by the lecturers.
The participation for refugees is free of charge. The language level depends on the degree programme of your choice.
You can find more information at udk-berlin.de/studium/gast-und-nebenhoererschaft
Become a guest listener at HTW
As a guest listener at HTW Berlin, you can obtain a certificate of participation for guest listeners and guest students for the modules for which you are registered. You can then gain accreditation for the modules you participated in and any examinations, e.g. in order to apply for a study place.
Participation is free of charge for refugees.
Further information at wege-an-die-htw-berlin/gefluechtete-wege-ins-studium
ehb.welcome – Offer for refugee students at EHB
Since 2015, the Protestant University of Applied Sciences Berlin has made it possible for refugees to study at their university. The EHB offers all interested parties a guest auditor programme without special admission requirements. Interested parties who are not enrolled can also take part in all events.
All information can be found on the EHB's Welcome Program page.
Enrolling at Humboldt Universität zu Berlin in a simplified procedure
Humboldt-Universität offers a special guest student program for refugees from Ukraine.
All information can be found at hu-berlin.de/programs-for-ukrainian-refugee-students.