The most important questions about Studienkollegs

At the end of April our expert Harald Klingel, coordinator of all Preparatory Courses (Studienkollegs) in Germany, answered many questions about Studienkollegs in Germany:

Questions about application
Questions about courses
Questions about the entrance examniation

Studienkolleg, Bild: Hagenguth/DAAD

Questions about application:

How can I apply for a Studienkolleg?
There are different ways in different federal states. The best way is to either contact the university you want to go to and ask them or check the website of the Studienkollegs. They have a list of all Studienkollegs in Germany and you can choose the location that you would prefer.

How do get into a Studienkolleg?
in order to secure a seat you need to pass an entrance exam in German and maybe in Math and Physics depending on the subject you would like to study.

How can I prepare myself for the Studienkolleg?
The best preparation is to learn as much German as you can manage, because all the specialised knowledge in your course is taught in German. Of course, this depends a little on the course you would like to do. A so called "G-Kurs" for Humanities is different from a technical related Studienkolleg. But no matter which Studienkolleg you choose to attend, bad language skills are always a big barrier concerning your preparations.

Which language certificates are eligible for German Studienkollegs?
You don't need any formal certificate, but in the language test you will have to proof a language competence on the level B1 according to the common European framework.

For Au-pairs: : Can I enroll for a Studienkolleg? And can I later on join the University to take a degree course in International Business?
Basically yes, but there are very clear visa regulations for this case. Usually you apply for a specific purpose and usually this purpose can not be changed while you are in Germany. I would recommend you to apply for the university here, but then you have to go back home and apply there for the Visa. As far as I know, the immigration offices are very strict on that matter.

Do the different Studienkollegs have different fees?
Some Studienkollegs are completely free of cost, others charge the usual semester contributions. Also, there are a few private Studienkollegs. One example is Glauchau in Saxony. They offer preparatory courses as a full package.

Are there any age related restrictions for the Studienkolleg or the DSH exam?
Basically, there are no age restrictions but some students get in trouble, if they are younger than 18 years.

Do I have to give proof of my financial situation in order to enroll in a Studienkolleg?
Yes, you must prove that you are able to finance your complete first year of study in Germany in order to obtain a Visa. This means that you must have at least 643 Euros per month at your disposal, which equals 7 700 Euro for one year. You can open a blocked bank account for this sum. Please note: During the semester you won't have much time for working besides your study. 

If I want to study in a certain state, do I have to attend the Studienkolleg there as well?
Not necessarily, any “Feststellungsprüfung” will be accepted all over Germany. But if you want to study for example in Rhineland-Palatinate, it is advisable to do the Studienkolleg there as well because they know the universities in Rhineland-Palatinate better than for example a Studienkolleg in Hanover, Lower Saxony.

Can a German Gymnasium be compared to a Studienkolleg?
No, you can't compare these two institutions. The Studienkolleg offers a special preparation for your main subjects of study, while a Gymnasium teaches its students basic knowledge in many different subjects. Also, Studienkollegs were invented especially to get foreign students ready for their study at a German University.

Although I meet the requirements, I don´t feel very comfortable in actually speaking German.
There are some Studienkollegs, which offer courses prior to your studies in order to prepare for the entrance exam. You could polish your German in those courses. Hopefully, after such a course, you feel more comfortable in speaking German because, if not, you should revise the idea of studying in Germany.

Is it possible to secure a student applicant visa for a prep course without a university admission?
That depends to a great deal on the individual country. Normally the admission to the prep class should be sufficient.

I want to know to what extend the German language skills effect the possibility of getting the admission.
A B1-level is required in any case. If there are more applicants with this or a higher level: the better the German language competence, the better the chance to be accepted.

I really want to visit a Studienkolleg and later on study in Germany. Do I need to contact the German university first and get a permission to study in Studienkolleg?
That again depends on the federal state you want to study in. In Bayern or Baden Württemberg e.g.: yes. Please enquire about admission procedures at the individual Studienkolleg you might be interested to go to. For a list and addresses /contact data check the website of the Studienkollegs.

Please list general requirements to attain admission to Studienkolleg!
Your school leaving certificate and/or prior studies must qualify you for "Hochschulzugang über Studienkolleg/Feststellungsprüfung". For details relevant for your individual country check the website of the Anabin.

Questions about courses:

Can I also attend the Studienkolleg as part-time?
Unfortunately not. You have to decide if you would like to attend the Studienkolleg. If so, do it full time. Otherwise take an external assessment test (“Feststellungsprüfung”).

Are there any courses available to polish my German language skills before the Studienkolleg starts?
I would recommend to take part in an introductory course, because they offer German language classes and by the same time academic courses. According to my experiences, some students have also problems with the academic courses. And introductory courses combine both.

What is the typical time schedule for the Studienkolleg?
The preparatory course normally takes two semesters to complete. This period can be reduced to one semester if a student is really good. Each semester can be repeated once if you don't pass it right away.

Are there any kind of exams I have to pass during the preparation courses? Or do i just have to take part?
Yes, of course, regular tests are written in all the relevant subjects and the results will decide whether the semester is passed or has to be repeated.

Is it possible to work besides studying at the Studienkolleg?
Depending on how strict the foreign registration office is, you might not even be allowed to work at all during the semester. If you are, working hours are restricted to 90 days or 180 half days per year. That's quite a lot but keep in mind that your course schedule will occupy most of your mornings as well as the afternoons, leaving only the evenings and nights for a job. This can have a negative impact on your study. Please do not underestimate the living expenses in Germany. It is almost impossible to finance your life and study in Germany with part-time jobs.

Am I guarenteed a place of study, if I complete my course at the Studienkolleg successfully?
This depends on the federal states as well. In Bavaria and Hesse that's true, in other federal states it is not and in North Rhine-Westfalia it's definetely not guarenteed.

Is there a special course where I can learn subject related terms and language?
That's what the tuition of the Studienkolleg is for.

If I want to study a master program in Germany, can I still do the Studienkolleg first?
Not as a rule. But some Studienkollegs have or are developing preparatory programs ("Propädeutika") for this target group as well. Check Hamburg, Berlin or Marburg for example. For contact data check the website of the Studienkollegs.

Is it possible to enroll in a prep course without prior knowledge of German language?
No. Only exception for the time being: Freshman Year of the Fachhochschule Aachen (good TOEFL in English required).

Does the Studienkolleg also offer some sort of Turoring programm, namely a single person (e.g. German student) to whom I can talk to?
Quite a number of Studienkollegs do. But that differs from location to location. More info you can find on the website of the Studienkollegs or by mail to the individual Studienkolleg you might enviseage to go to.

Are preparatory courses mandatory for US-students?
In case of a high school diploma without further college studies: yes. For details check the website of the Anabin.

How old are usually the participants of Studienkolleg?
18 to 25 as a rule. But there is no age limit.

Are there any facilities for child care?
Sorry to say that normally not. But if the individual Studienkolleg is located on the campus, you should normally have access to the child care facilities of that university.

When does the Studienkolleg begin?
That differs from Studienkolleg to Studienkolleg.Please check directly with the Studienkolleg you want to attend. Addresses /contact data you can find on the website of the Studienkollegs.

Questions about the entrance examination (Feststellungsprüfung):

Can I take the entrance examination without a prior course at the Studienkolleg?
Yes, you could, but I would recommend that as it is quite a tricky exam, especially if you have graduated from highschool already a couple of years ago. Also, at a Studienkolleg you get introduced to the German university system and to Germany as a country. 

What is the difference between the DaF and DSH?
DaF stands for German as a foreign language and DSH is an acronym for an exam in German as a foreign language standing for "Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang".

Do I need the DSH 2 or is DSH 1 sufficient to study at the Studienkolleg and later on at the University?
To enter the Studienkolleg, you don't need any DSH at all, but have to pass the entrance test. In order to start studying directly, you will need DSH 2, some might even expect DSH 3, depending on your stuy program. As a rule, if you attend the Studienkolleg assessment test (“Feststellungsprüfung”) in a subject, your German is equivalent to DSH 2 or even DSH 3, depending on the obtained grade.
In some cases, there are exceptions allowing you to start with DSH 1. But you will have to pass DSH 2 at the beginning of your courses.