International Foundation Programme for International Students

The programme starts with a placement test in German that may also be taken online. If you demonstrate a level of B2 CEFR during the test, you can start off directly with the preparatory semester that combines language training (DSH-level) with focus courses related to the field of study that you are pursuing. Otherwise, you will have the opportunity to participate in a language course leading up to B2 and start the preparatory semester afterwards. It doesn't matter if your language skills are zero or low at the beginning, as we offer courses on all levels! The preparatory semester ends with tests in German and the focus courses. Other tasks that are deemed equivalent to taking a test (presentation, text writing, etc.) will be assigned in some of the focus courses. The successful candidates start the second part of the preparation course directly at the Faculty of Science, Humanities or Economy. In this second phase, you may already collect credit points for your studies. In this way, you can slowly progress from the preparatory phase into the "real" study phase and complete your Bachelor's degree. When applying for our programme, you will have to choose one of the following clusters: VSI-STEM – see https://www.uni-saarland.de/en/global/vsi-mint.html; it leads directly to the Bachelor's Plus MINT programme with a large variety of options (cf. https://www.mintplus.saarland/). Please see the presentation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM-g0XSaCwo. VSI-Business Science and Economics – see https://www.uni-saarland.de/en/global/vsi-economics.html; it leads to studies of Business Administration, Digital Business Administration or Business Informatics (cf. https://www.uni-saarland.de/en/department/economics/study/bachelor.html) VSI-Humanities – see https://www.uni-saarland.de/en/global/vsi-humanities.html; it leads to studies in different fields (cf. https://www.uni-saarland.de/en/fakultaet/p/fachrichtungen.html) More precisely, you will complete your preparatory course as an initiation into different fields that you are interested in and then decide in which area you want to pursue your Bachelor's degree. The extended entrance phase at the beginning of your studies takes your personal strengths and weaknesses into account, gives you a broader introduction into different fields of studies and provides important support and advice for your studies as well as career opportunities and trainings to fill existing knowledge gaps. The programme was especially designed by the ISZ Saar and the faculties to foster efficient and successful studies at Saarland University.