A step-by-step guide to admission requirements for German Studienkolleg for international students – especially from Arab countries
First, you must have completed secondary education (e.g. high school diploma, Baccalaureate, Tawjihi),
which is not fully equivalent to the German Abitur.
To check if your certificate requires you to attend a Studienkolleg, use the official recognition database:
Website: https://anabin.kmk.org
Example:
A general secondary school certificate from Yemen, Syria, Egypt, etc. usually requires Studienkolleg,
unless you have already completed one full, recognised year of university study.
To be admitted, you generally need an accepted German language certificate:
Accepted language certificates – Required level
Goethe-Zertifikat → B1 or B2
telc Deutsch → B1 or B2
ÖSD certificate → B1 or B2
Certificate from a local German institute →
sometimes accepted, depending on the institution
Important:
B2 is strongly recommended, because some Studienkollegs explicitly require it.
A2 is never sufficient for direct admission to a Studienkolleg.
The entrance examination usually consists of:
Section – Content
German
→ Reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, text understanding
Mathematics
→ Basic algebra, equations, proportions, etc.
(especially important for T-Kurs and W-Kurs)
Some institutions also require a science or physics test, depending on the course type.
You need to know your future university major and then select the appropriate Studienkolleg course:
Course – Future study field
M-Kurs → Medicine and health-related subjects
T-Kurs → Engineering and technical sciences
W-Kurs → Business, economics, management
G-Kurs → Humanities, social sciences, literature, history
S-Kurs → Languages and translation studies
Make sure that the university you plan to attend accepts the final certificate
issued by the Studienkolleg you choose.
For some Studienkollegs, the application is submitted via uni-assist.de,
for others, you apply directly to the university.
Commonly required documents:
Translated and certified secondary school certificate
German language certificate
Copy of passport
CV (Curriculum Vitae)
Motivation letter, if required
Proof of payment of application fee (usually 75–100 €)
Semester – Typical period
Winter semester (Wintersemester)
→ Applications usually between May and July
Summer semester (Sommersemester)
→ Applications usually between November and January
Note:
Some Studienkollegs have different or special deadlines,
so always check the official website of the Studienkolleg or the university.
Once you receive your admission letter, you can:
Apply for a student visa for the purpose of attending a Studienkolleg
(usually under §16 AufenthG – residence for study purposes)
Open a blocked bank account (Sperrkonto)
Apply for student health insurance in Germany
Step – Requirement
Secondary school certificate not fully equivalent to German Abitur → Yes
German language level at least B1 (B2 recommended) → Yes
Passing the entrance exam → Yes
Choosing the correct course (M/T/W/G/S) according to your planned major → Yes
Submitting a complete application with all documents → Yes
Obtaining a study visa → Yes
Editorial note
The editorial team of this website aims to provide accurate, well-researched information based on multiple sources.
However, mistakes or not fully confirmed details may occasionally occur.
Therefore, please treat the information in this article as a first, non-binding reference and always consult the relevant authorities, embassies and official institutions for final, up-to-date information.
