Home · Foundation year · Studienkolleg NRW

Hochschule Fresenius · Cologne

The foundation year you can do in English.

Studienkolleg NRW sits inside Hochschule Fresenius at its Cologne MediaPark campus, and you are enrolled there from day one. The T and W courses run entirely in English if you prefer, or in German.

FSP held at the Cologne campus
Plan my application See the courses
12 monthsCourse plus final exam
€12,000Tuition, German C1 saves 20%
W · T · MT & W also in English
Mar & SepTwo starts a year
Official site
The hook

Take the T or W course fully in English.

To begin
No German required. T English: English B1. W English: English B2 and German A2.
Leads to
An English FSP, then English-taught bachelor's programmes in NRW.
The classic

Take any course in German, FSP nationwide.

To begin
German B1 for the German tracks. W, T and M all run in German.
Leads to
A German FSP, then any university in Germany, not only the host.
Hold an official German C1 certificate? You skip the German subject in the exam and take 20% off the tuition.
What it is

A state-recognised FSP, held on campus in Cologne.

Studienkolleg NRW is part of Hochschule Fresenius, a University of Applied Sciences commissioned by the Cologne district government. It prepares international applicants for the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP), the state-recognised exam that opens a German university place, held on the Cologne campus.

Why this route

Six reasons it stands out.

An English option

Do the whole T or W course in English, then sit an English FSP for English-taught bachelor's programmes in NRW.

Enrolled from day one

You join Hochschule Fresenius immediately: student ID, canteen, sports, the Cologne transport pass and the library.

A reserved Fresenius seat

The college reserves a study place in selected Fresenius bachelor's programmes, such as International Business Management B.A. through the W course.

20% off with German C1

Hold an official German C1 certificate and you skip the German subject in the exam and take 20% off the tuition.

Recognised nationwide

The German FSP lets you apply to any university in Germany, not only the host. The English FSP covers NRW.

A direct path into Fresenius

A Pre-Bachelor and entrance exam route lets you continue straight into a Fresenius bachelor's, with no NC grade cut-off.

The courses

Pick the course that matches your degree.

Three focus courses. Select one to see its subjects, exam and entry level.

W

W-course · economics, business & social sciences

The route into business, economics and social-science degrees. Available in German or fully in English.

German or English
Subjects
Specialist business & social subjectsGerman
Entry · German track
German B1 and English A2
Entry · English track
English B2 and German A2
Leads to
Business, economics and social sciences. A reserved seat for International Business Management B.A. at Hochschule Fresenius.
T

T-course · engineering, technical & mathematical

For engineering, technical and maths-heavy degrees. Available in German or fully in English.

German or English
Subjects
Specialist technical subjectsGerman
Entry · German track
German B1
Entry · English track
English B1, no German required to begin
Leads to
Engineering, technical and natural-science programmes at German universities.
M

M-course · medicine & biology

For medicine and biology degrees. Taught in German.

German
Subjects
BiologyChemistryPhysicsGerman
Entry
German B1
Leads to
Medicine, biology and related natural-science programmes.

The three courses at a glance.

Course Language Starts Duration Final exam
WW-courseGerman or EnglishMarch & September12 monthsFSP in Cologne
TT-courseGerman or EnglishMarch & September12 monthsFSP in Cologne
MM-courseGermanMarch & September12 monthsFSP in Cologne

Accepted German certificates include Goethe, TestDaF, DSH, DSD and telc. No B1 yet? We can route you through the language partner first.

Costs

€12,000, paid in clear stages.

€12,000 Total tuition
What you payCost
On admission, deducted from the total€3,000
Remaining balance over 12 monthly instalments€9,000
With an official German C1 certificate20% off

The C1 shortcut

An official German C1 certificate does two things at once: it exempts you from the German language subject in the assessment exam, so you sit only your specialist subjects, and it takes 20% off the tuition.

Visa, accommodation and living costs are separate, as on every route. We confirm the current figures before you commit.

Your journey

Application to a German university place.

The 12 months from a March or September start to the FSP at the Cologne campus, then a university place.

ApplyWe submit and register you
Enrol & startMar or Sep, enrolled at Fresenius
12-month courseIn English or German
FSP examAt the Cologne campus
UniversityGerman FSP nationwide; English FSP in NRW
Entry & application

What you need, and what we do.

Digital documents are enough to start. Some applicants are asked to take an entrance test or interview.

  • School-leaving certificateRecognised for a Studienkolleg in Germany. Requirements vary by country and the team helps with individual cases.
  • Language levelGerman B1 for the German tracks. English B1 for the T English track, English B2 for the W English track.
  • Tuition€12,000, or 20% less with an official German C1 certificate.
  • Student visaYour admission letter lets you apply for the visa at your embassy.
Apply via Laghbani Consulting

We handle the whole process.

Foundation Year €599
  • Choose the course and the German or English track for your goal
  • Document collection, translation and certification
  • Submit the application and email your scans to admissions
  • Track the decision and handle your admission letter
  • 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.

After the Studienkolleg

Straight into Hochschule Fresenius, or anywhere in Germany.

Where your FSP takes you

  • German FSP: apply to any university or Fachhochschule in Germany.
  • English FSP: apply to English-taught bachelor's programmes within NRW.
  • A reserved seat for selected Fresenius bachelor's, for example International Business Management B.A. through the W course.

The Fresenius entrance exam route

If your diploma qualifies you for a bachelor's at home but not for direct German entry, the free Aufnahmeprüfung is an alternative: a 120-minute written online test and a 30-minute oral.

A good result in TestAS, SAT, ACT, IB or Gaokao can exempt you from it. Fresenius bachelor's programmes carry no NC grade cut-off.

Questions

Studienkolleg NRW, answered.

Can I really do it in English?

Yes. The T and W courses run entirely in English, and you sit an English FSP that opens English-taught bachelor's programmes in NRW. The M course is taught in German.

What German do I need to start?

German B1 for the German tracks. The English tracks need no German to begin: English B1 for the T English track, and English B2 with German A2 for the W English track.

How long does it take, and when can I start?

The course plus its final exam runs over 12 months, with two starts a year in March and September.

How does the C1 discount work?

An official German C1 certificate exempts you from the German subject in the assessment exam and takes 20% off the €12,000 tuition.

Cologne, in English or German

Find out if the English track is right for you.

One call confirms your recognition, the best course and track, and your timeline to a March or September start.

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