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Private foundation college · Berlin

Eight months in Berlin, then a guaranteed partner-university place.

Berlin International College (BIC) is a private foundation college in Berlin for students whose school certificate does not allow direct entry to a German university. Study eight months in English or German, pass BIC's own internal exam, not the FSP, and move on to a guaranteed place at a BIC partner university you chose when you applied.

Apply with us See the tracks
Duration
8 months, Nov to Jul
Tracks
EN & DE · W or T
Entry
None / English B2
Tuition
€10,860
The fast route

Application to a partner-university place in eight months, on BIC's internal exam.

  1. 1
    Apply, no entrance examAdmission on your documents. BIC usually replies within three business days.
  2. 2
    Eight months in TreptowYour W or T subjects in English or German, around 35 hours of class a week.
  3. 3
    BIC internal examBIC's own final examination, not the state FSP.Not the FSP
  4. A BIC partner universityA guaranteed place at a partner university you picked, not nationwide access.
What it is

A guided bridge from your diploma to a partner university.

Berlin International College is a private Studienkolleg in Berlin-Treptow. Over eight months it prepares international students for a German bachelor's, then places them at one of its partner universities. More than 1,000 students have come through it.

You pick a subject track, business (W) or technical (T), and a language pathway, English or German. There is no entrance exam: admission is decided on your school documents and language proof, and BIC usually replies within three business days.

One thing to understand up front

BIC finishes with its own internal final exam, not the state Feststellungsprüfung (FSP). That means it opens the door to BIC's partner universities rather than every university in Germany. If you need the broadest nationwide access, an FSP route such as Paderborn, Düsseldorf or Rheinisches may suit you better. We will tell you honestly which fits your goal.

The journey

Four steps, eight months, one partner place.

A short, direct route. The final step is the BIC internal exam, which leads to a partner university rather than nationwide access.

  1. Apply, on documents, no entrance exam
  2. Foundation year, eight months, EN or DE
  3. BIC internal exam, not the state FSP
  4. Partner university, guaranteed place, not nationwide

No entrance exam

Admission is decided on your high-school documents and language proof. No travel and no exam-day stress.

English or German track

Start in the language you are stronger in. The English track needs no German to begin.

A guaranteed partner place

Pass the final exam and you have a guaranteed seat at the BIC partner university you selected when you applied.

A short eight months

The programme runs from November to July, one of the quicker routes into a German bachelor's.

In the heart of Berlin

Study in Treptow with around 35 hours of classes a week, plus a personal advisor from application to enrolment.

Pick up to three options

Choose up to three preferred partner universities or programmes when you apply, so your target is set from the start.

The two tracks

Business or technical, in English or German.

BIC combines two subject courses, W (business) and T (technical), with two language pathways. Pick the language you are stronger in, then tap a track to see what it asks.

EN Taught in English

English track

No German needed to begin
Language to enter
An English certificate at B2 (IELTS, PTE or Cambridge English; IELTS 5.5 / TOEFL 72 noted as the baseline). Waived if English was your school's language of instruction.
German needed
None to begin.
Subject courses
W · BusinessT · Engineering, IT & science
Final exam
BIC's internal final examination (not the state FSP).
University access
A guaranteed place at one of BIC's partner universities you select when applying.
DE Taught in German

German track

German classes built in
Language
Taught in German, with German classes included. You are expected to reach C1 by the end of the programme. We confirm the German level BIC asks for at entry.
Subject courses
W · BusinessT · Engineering, IT & science
Final exam
BIC's internal final examination (not the state FSP).
University access
A guaranteed place at one of BIC's partner universities you select when applying.

The programme at a glance.

Track Language Duration Start Final exam
ENEnglish trackEnglish, no German to begin8 months16 Nov 2026BIC internal exam
DEGerman trackGerman, to C18 months16 Nov 2026BIC internal exam

Both tracks finish with BIC's internal exam, not the state FSP, and lead to a guaranteed place at a BIC partner university.

Where you go after

The BIC partner universities.

When you pass, you move into a partner university you named on your application, up to three preferences. The network spans public and private institutions.

TH Mannheim Hamm-Lippstadt (HSHL) Diploma Hochschule TH OWL Hochschule Heilbronn (HHN) Jade Hochschule THWS FH Südwestfalen OHM Professional School FOM Hochschule HSIBI MDH (Media Design Hochschule)

The partner network and any programme-specific requirements can change. Some partners may set their own language conditions, so we confirm the current list and the requirements for your chosen programme before you commit.

Costs & dates

What you pay, and when to apply.

€10,860 Total tuition for the programme
What you payCost
Application fee, non-refundable, on applying€195
First instalment, 4 weeks after your acceptance letter€5,430
Second instalment, by 2 weeks before the start€5,430
Total tuition€10,860

Visa rejection is handled with a partial refund, less a 10% administration fee and any costs already incurred. We confirm the current terms with you before you pay.

One intake a year

Programme: 16 November 2026 to 31 July 2027.

Apply by: 4 October 2026. Places are limited, so apply early.

Reply: BIC usually responds within three business days of your application.

Living in Berlin

BIC does not provide housing directly, but works with accommodation partners. Plan for roughly €950 to €1,400 a month all in.

  • Shared room (WG): €450 to €750 a month
  • Private studio: €750 to €1,200+ a month
  • Germany Ticket for transport: €63 a month
  • You may work up to 20 hours a week on a student visa

Support and your visa

A personal study advisor stays with you from application to enrolment, and BIC has a dedicated visa expert and helps arrange your health insurance.

  • Blocked account for the visa: about €11,904 total, with up to €992 a month to withdraw
  • Health insurance arranged before and after arrival
  • Around 35 hours of classes a week
Your documents

What you need to apply.

Admission is on your documents, so we get them in order before anything is submitted.

  • Proof of schoolingYour final school-leaving certificate, such as A-Levels, Gaokao, IB or Abitur, with full transcripts. A certified translation is needed if it is not in English or German.
  • English certificateIELTS, PTE or Cambridge English at B2 (IELTS 5.5 / TOEFL 72 is the noted baseline). Waived if English was your school's language.
  • Passport copyA valid passport with enough remaining validity for visa processing.
  • Application fee€195, paid by Flywire or bank transfer when you apply.
Apply via Laghbani Consulting

We register and apply you.

Foundation Year €599
  • Confirm BIC fits your goal, or point you to an FSP route if that is better
  • Help you choose the track and up to three partner universities
  • Document collection, translation and certification
  • Submit to BIC admissions and follow the decision
  • Add Pre-Arrival or Premium later for the full visa and arrival service
Apply with the Foundation Year package

Apply through us on the Foundation Year package (Studienkolleg, €599), guided from documents to your admission letter.

Questions

BIC, answered.

Is BIC's exam the FSP?

No. BIC finishes with its own internal final examination, not the state Feststellungsprüfung. Passing it leads to a guaranteed place at a BIC partner university, not to every university in Germany. If you need nationwide access, an FSP route may suit you better.

Do I need German to start?

Not for the English track, which needs an English certificate at B2 and no German to begin. The German track is taught in German with German classes built in, and you are expected to reach C1 by the end.

Which universities can I go to?

A BIC partner university you selected when you applied, where you can name up to three preferences. The network spans public and private institutions and can change, so we confirm the current list and any programme requirements before you commit.

How long and how much?

The programme runs eight months, from 16 November 2026 to 31 July 2027, with one intake a year. Total tuition is €10,860, paid as a €195 application fee plus two instalments of €5,430.

FSP route or partner route?

We will tell you which foundation year fits you.

Bring your diploma and your target degree. In one call we confirm your recognition and recommend the route, whether that is BIC's partner path or a nationwide FSP college.

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