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🎓 Studienkolleg Finder

Your German high-school equivalent is rated Anabin H-? You need a Studienkolleg — a 1-year foundation year before Bachelor. Compare 30+ official Studienkollegs by city, track, and tuition.

30

Total Studienkollegs

25

Public (free)

5

Private (paid)

21

Cities covered

Do I need a Studienkolleg to study in Germany?

You need a Studienkolleg if your secondary-school qualification is rated H- in the official Anabin database (most non-EU diplomas). It is a 1-year preparatory programme ending with the Feststellungsprüfung exam. Public Studienkollegs are tuition-free; private ones charge 8,000–15,000 EUR per year.

  1. Check your eligibility — Use our Anabin Eligibility Checker to see if you need it.
  2. Get conditional admission — Apply to a German university — they will issue a conditional admission letter (Zulassungsbescheid mit Auflage).
  3. Apply to Studienkolleg + take Aufnahmetest — Apply via uni-assist or directly. Pass the entrance exam testing German + maths.
  4. Complete 1 year + pass Feststellungsprüfung — Choose your track (T/M/W/G/S) matching your intended Bachelor field.
  5. Apply for Bachelor with the new certificate — The Feststellungsprüfung certificate is equivalent to a German Abitur for your chosen field.
Type: All (30) 🏛️ Public (free) (25) 🏢 Private (paid) (5) Track: T-Kurs M-Kurs W-Kurs G-Kurs S-Kurs

FIBAA-akkreditiertes Studienkolleg Hamburg (priv.)

📍 Hamburg

Private

Foundation year programme (Studienkolleg) preparing international students for admission to German universities. Located in Hamburg.

T-Kurs M-Kurs W-Kurs G-Kurs S-Kurs
Annual fee
12.500 EUR
Entrance exam
aufnahmetest
Official site ↗

Studienkolleg Bonn (priv.)

📍 Bonn

Private

Foundation year programme (Studienkolleg) preparing international students for admission to German universities. Located in Bonn.

T-Kurs M-Kurs W-Kurs G-Kurs S-Kurs
Annual fee
9.500 EUR
Entrance exam
aufnahmetest
Official site ↗

Studienkolleg Düsseldorf (priv.)

📍 Düsseldorf

Private

Foundation year programme (Studienkolleg) preparing international students for admission to German universities. Located in Düsseldorf.

T-Kurs M-Kurs W-Kurs G-Kurs S-Kurs
Annual fee
10.000 EUR
Entrance exam
aufnahmetest
Official site ↗

Studienkolleg Berlin (priv. AfBB)

📍 Berlin

Private

Foundation year programme (Studienkolleg) preparing international students for admission to German universities. Located in Berlin.

T-Kurs M-Kurs W-Kurs G-Kurs S-Kurs
Annual fee
12.000 EUR
Entrance exam
aufnahmetest
Official site ↗

Information compiled from official Studienkolleg websites + DAAD. Verify current admission rules + fees on the institution's own site before applying. List updated periodically.

Frequently Asked Questions about Studienkolleg

Everything you need to know about the foundation year in Germany

What is a Studienkolleg? ▼

A Studienkolleg is a one-year preparatory programme for international students whose high-school diploma is not directly recognised for direct admission to German universities (Anabin H-). It bridges the academic gap and ends with the Feststellungsprüfung exam.

Do I need a Studienkolleg? ▼

You need one if your secondary-school qualification is rated H- in the Anabin database (most non-EU diplomas, including Turkish lise, Indian 10+2, Pakistani FSc). EU diplomas usually don't need it. Use our Eligibility Checker to confirm.

Which tracks (Kurse) exist? ▼

T-Kurs (Engineering, Natural Sciences), M-Kurs (Medicine, Biology, Pharmacy), W-Kurs (Economics, Social Sciences), G-Kurs (Humanities, German studies), S-Kurs (Languages, Philology). The track must match your intended Bachelor field.

How much does Studienkolleg cost? ▼

Public (staatlich) Studienkollegs are tuition-free — you only pay the regular semester contribution (~150–350 EUR). Private Studienkollegs charge 8,000–15,000 EUR for the year, but offer faster admission + smaller groups.

How do I get into Studienkolleg? ▼

You usually need: 1) Conditional university admission letter (Zulassungsbescheid mit Auflage), 2) German language B1/B2 certificate, 3) Passed entrance exam (Aufnahmetest) testing German + maths. Apply via uni-assist or directly with the Studienkolleg.

Can I skip Studienkolleg? ▼

Yes, in two cases: (a) you complete 1–2 successful semesters at a recognised university in your home country with related subject, or (b) you pass the TestAS (Test für Ausländische Studierende) with high score — some unis accept it as alternative.

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