University Studies in Germany - ICEF · University Studies in Germany Foundation Year, ... • Ukraine • Uzbekistan ... • Application and admission through public universities

University Studies in Germany

Foundation Year, Bachelor and Master Programmes

by Benjamin Effer Director, Rheinisches Studienkolleg / Schiller Language School

Overview• Language Examinations

• Comparison: Advantages / Disadvantages• Foundation Year

• Public Studienkollegs• Private Studienkollegs

• Bachelor Degrees• Master Degrees• Admission Requirements

• Armenia• Azerbaijan• Belarus• Czech Republic• Estonia• Georgia• Kazakhstan• Latvia• Russia• Tajikistan• Ukraine• Uzbekistan

Language Examinations• Limited number of accredited German language examinations

• TestDaF• TDN 4 = C1 (direct university entrance)• TDN 3 = B2

• DSH• DSH 2 = approx. C1 (direct university entrance / limited)• DSH 1 = approx. B2

• telc• telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule (direct university entrance)• telc Deutsch B2

• Goethe-Institut• Goethe-Zertifikat C1 (direct university entrance)• Goethe-Zertifikat B2

• Deutsches Sprachdiplom• DSD II = B2 / C1 (direct university entrance)

Comparison: Advantages /Disadvantages• TestDaF

• 100% recognised• Fixed dates (testdaf.de)• Available worldwide• Limited places• Waiting times

• DSH• Not 100% recognised (decentralised examinations)• Application through public universities• Limited places

• telc• 100% recognised• Application through language centres• Flexible dates• Short waiting times

• Goethe-Zertifikat• 100% recognised• Preparation at Goethe-Instituts in many countries• Available worldwide

• Deutsches Sprachdiplom• 100% recognised• Only available through specialised German schools abroad

http://testdaf.de

Foundation Year• Required for holders of specific secondary school

certificates (full list in chapter „Admission Requirements“)

• Approx. one year to complete „Studienkolleg“• Different subjects depending on specialisation

• M-course (medicine, pharmacy, biology)• T-course (mathematics, natural-scientific and

technical studies)• W-course (economics and social studies)• S-course (humanities and linguistics)

• 3-6 final examinations (number / content depending on federal state law) called „Feststellungsprüfung“ / „FSP“

• Final CGPA: 50% secondary school certificate / 50% FSP

Public Studienkollegs• No or limited tuition fees

• Connected to public universities or universities of applied sciences

• Application and admission through public universities in the same federal state

• 0-4 Studienkollegs per federal state• Competitive entrance examinations

• Entrance level switched from B1 to C1 during recent years

• Qualify for public universities and / or universities of applied sciences all over Germany (not limited to the federal state itself)

Federal State Lower-Saxony• Quota of Studienkollegs per public higher education

institutions insufficient to cover demand• Number of public Studienkollegs: 1• Number of public universities: 11• Number of public universities of applied sciences: 17

• 28 higher education institutions invite students from all over the world to take part in the entrance examination at one Studienkolleg (taking place semi-annually only)

Private Studienkollegs• Foundation year in German or English

• Duration 6-12 months• Tuition fees apply• Fast and secure admission processing (usually no

competitive entrance examinations)• Significant differences between institutions in terms of

quality and recognition• Final examination internal: Bachelor studies at

selection of partner universities only (limited recognition)

• Final examination external: Bachelor studies possible at all public universities (100% recognised)

• External examination conducted either by federal state government or public university

Bachelor Degrees• 3-4 years at public or private university• Language of tuition mostly German (8355 programmes;

source: DAAD. 16.03.2017)• Limited availability of English programmes (202

programmes; source: DAAD. 16.03.2017)• Limited or no tuition fees at public universities (depending

on federal state law)• Enrolment through FSP (Studienkolleg) or C1 examination

(direct entrance)• Admission deadlines January 15th and July 15th

• Intakes on April 1st and October 1st (main intake)• Admission processing usually takes 6-12 weeks

• Database by DAAD: https://www.daad.de/deutschland/studienangebote/studiengang/en/?a=result&q=&degree=24

https://www.daad.de/deutschland/studienangebote/studiengang/en/?a=result&q=&degree=24




Master Degrees• 1-2 years at public or private universities• Language of tuition mostly German (6965

programmes; source: DAAD. 16.03.2017)• Broader range of English programmes than bachelor

(1002; source: DAAD. 16.03.2017)• Limited or no tuition fees at public universities

(depending on federal state law)• Enrolment through C1 examination• Admission deadlines January 15th and July 15th

• Intakes on April 1st and October 1st (main intake)• Admission processing usually takes 8-16 weeks

• Database by DAAD: https://www.daad.de/deutschland/studienangebote/studiengang/en/?a=result&q=&degree=37





Admission Requirements• Requirements to apply for bachelor programmes differ depending on the

holder’s secondary school certificate• Governmental database (in German only):

http://anabin.kmk.org/no_cache/filter/schulabschluesse-mit-hochschulzugang.html#land_gewaehlt

• Master applicants must hold a recognised bachelor degree (related major necessary)

• Governmental database (in German only):http://anabin.kmk.org/no_cache/filter/institutionen.html

• Agencies at ICEF Moscow Workshop 2017 from 12 countries: • Armenia• Azerbaijan• Belarus• Czech Republic• Estonia• Georgia• Kazakhstan• Latvia• Russia• Tajikistan• Ukraine• Uzbekistan



http://anabin.kmk.org/no_cache/filter/institutionen.html

Armenia• Mijnakarg (Iriv) Yndhanur Krtutyan Attestat

(since 2007)• Studienkolleg required• Direct admission available after 1 year of bachelor

studies in related field

Azerbaijan• Orta Tahsil Haqqinda Attestat



Belarus• Attestat ob obscem srednem obrazovanii



Czech Republic• Vysvedceni o maturitni zkousce

• Direct admission (European Union member state)

Estonia• Gümnaasiumi loputunnistus & Riigieksamitunnistus


Georgia• Sruli zogadi ganatlebis atestati



Kazakhstan• Zalpy orta bilim turaly attestat / Attestat o srednem

obscem obrazovanii(since 2015)• Studienkolleg required• Direct admission available after 1 year of bachelor


Latvia• Atestats par visparejo videjo izglitibu


Russia• Attestat o srednem (polnom) obscem obrazovanii



Tajikistan• Attestat dar borai ma "lumoti mijona“

• Studienkolleg required after one year of bachelor studies in related field

• Direct admission available after 2 year of bachelor studies in related field

• Studienkolleg possible without prior studies if gold/silver medal was obtained

Ukraine• Atestat pro povnu zahal'nu serednju osvitu



Uzbekistan• Akademik litsey diplomi

• Studienkolleg required• Direct admission available after 1 year of bachelor


Any Countries Missed?Thank you for your attention!

Presentation slides will be provided by ICEF.

Get in touch: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

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University Studies in Germany - ICEF · University Studies in Germany Foundation Year, ... • Ukraine • Uzbekistan ... • Application and admission through public universities