Who needs a Studienkolleg – and who doesn’t?

Do you want to study in Germany but aren’t sure about the requirements? Maybe you’ve already heard about the Studienkolleg and are wondering whether you need it or if you can start studying right away.

In this article, you’ll find out who needs to attend a Studienkolleg, who can skip it and which requirements matter when applying to study in Germany.

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What is a Studienkolleg?

A Studienkolleg is a preparatory institution for international students whose school diploma doesn’t directly qualify them to study at a German university.

It prepares students academically, linguistically, and methodologically for university in Germany and ends with the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP). Depending on your target field of study, there are different courses. They cover the knowledge you need, similar to what the German Abitur teaches.

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When do I need to attend a Studienkolleg?

Whether you have to attend a Studienkolleg depends on your country of origin and your school diploma. Education systems vary worldwide, so not every diploma is automatically recognized in Germany. If your school diploma isn’t equivalent to the German Abitur and doesn’t count as a direct university entrance qualification, you can’t start studying at a university right away. If you still want to study in Germany, you’ll first need to attend a Studienkolleg and pass the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP).

Possible reasons why your school diploma might not be accepted in Germany:

• Your school diploma is from a country with fewer years of schooling than in Germany (12 or 13 years, depending on the federal state). Exception: Some countries have a well-recognized education system, so you often don’t need to attend a Studienkolleg.
• Your diploma only allows you to study certain subjects, not all of them.
• You come from a country whose diploma is only recognized in Germany if combined with one or more years of university study, but you haven’t met these requirements yet.

When do I NOT need to attend a Studienkolleg?

If your school diploma is recognized in Germany as a direct university entrance qualification, you usually do not need to attend a preparatory college. Examples of this include:

• European Abitur (European Baccalauréat)
• German Abitur passed abroad
• International Baccalaureate (IB) (only with recognized subject combinations and the required grades)
• Studying in your home country: If you have already studied for 1–2 years at a university in your home country, it can be recognized together with your school diploma in Germany as a university entrance qualification. Please note: In such cases, the qualification is often subject-specific, meaning it is only valid for certain fields of study or types of higher education institutions.
• Other internationally recognized school diplomas whose content and level meet German requirements.

 

Anabin database

You can check whether your school-leaving certificate is recognized in Germany in the official Anabin database. There, you’ll find detailed information about the recognition of foreign school diplomas. Simply enter your country of origin and your type of diploma to see whether it qualifies you for university admission or if you need to attend a Studienkolleg first. You’ll also get information on additional requirements, such as specific subjects or minimum grades. The link to the database can be found here.

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Different admission requirements for universities and universities of applied sciences

Whether you need to attend a Studienkolleg depends on whether you want to study at a university or a university of applied sciences. Universities generally have stricter requirements and use standardized rules across the country for recognizing degrees.

Universities of applied sciences often offer more flexible admission pathways. In rare cases, studying without a Studienkolleg may be possible. For example, if you have completed university semesters abroad or passed a specific test like TestAS. Ultimately, this depends on the individual university of applied sciences and the degree program.

Tip: Requirements can vary by university, university of applied sciences, and federal state. Therefore, always check with the institutions you are interested in to see the exact requirements.

Please note: If you need to attend a Studienkolleg, review its language and general requirements before registering.

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We cannot give a definitive answer on whether you need a Studienkolleg. It always depends on your individual case and on what and where you want to study. Nevertheless, we hope this article has given you some initial guidance. 😊

Are you still unsure whether you need a Studienkolleg or can start studying directly? Take advantage of our free initial consultation. You can find our contact details here. We’re happy to review your qualifications and guide you through your options for studying in Germany! 🎓