Studienkolleg Paderborn · Laghbani Consulting

About the foundation college

A bridge from your school diploma to a German bachelor's.

If your home-country diploma does not directly qualify you for German higher education, the foundation college fills the gap. After you pass the final Feststellungsprüfung (FSP), you can begin a bachelor's at Paderborn or at any other university or Fachhochschule in Germany. Because it sits inside a state university, full student status comes from day one. More than 1,250 graduates from over 30 countries have come through it.

Why this route

What sets a state-university foundation apart.

A reserved bachelor's seat

Your place in admission-free MINT or business subjects at Paderborn is reserved once you pass the FSP.

At a state university

Full student status from day one. It is the only Studienkolleg at a state university in NRW.

Recognised nationwide

The FSP is accepted at every German university and Fachhochschule, so you are not tied to Paderborn.

No entrance exam

No admission test. Meet the criteria, secure your place and enrol.

Free NRW transport

Your student ticket covers buses, trams and regional trains across the state at no extra cost.

One of the largest

Over 1,250 graduates from more than 30 countries, with student halls right on the Paderborn campus.

The courses

Two tracks, plus a route from A2.

Choose your course by the degree you are aiming for. Select one to see its subjects, its exam and where it leads.

T

T-Kurs · technical, maths & science

For technical, mathematical and natural-science degrees.

€8,000

Subjects

GermanMathematicsPhysicsChemistry

FSP written

GermanPhysicsMathematics

FSP oral

Chemistry

Duration

2 semesters, about 9 months, roughly 32 units a week

Leads to

Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Engineering, Materials Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and more

W

W-Kurs · economics & social sciences

For business, economics and social-science degrees.

€8,000

Subjects

GermanMathematicsEnglishEconomics

FSP written

GermanMathematicsEconomics

FSP oral

English

Duration

2 semesters, winter or summer start

Leads to

Business Administration, Economics, International Business Studies, Business Informatics, Industrial Engineering and more

A2

Studienkolleg ab A2 · German plus foundation

Begin with only A2 German. You do intensive German alongside your T or W subjects, then sit the FSP.

€10,050

Start & duration

3 semesters, starting every February

German to start

A2, instead of the usual B1

What it covers

Your chosen T or W course, with intensive German woven across the three semesters in one package

Total fee

€10,050, language preparation and the T or W course combined

The three courses at a glance.

Course	Starts	Duration	German to start	Final exam
TT-Kurs	Winter or summer	2 semesters, ~9 months	B1	FSP at Paderborn
WW-Kurs	Winter or summer	2 semesters	B1	FSP at Paderborn
A2Studienkolleg ab A2	February	3 semesters	A2	FSP at Paderborn

APS-procedure participants from China, India and Vietnam can apply only to universities within NRW, and tuition for China and Vietnam differs. Ask us for your case.

Costs

Clear fees, no state funding to chase.

€8,000 the T or W course, before third-party costs

What you pay	Cost
T-Kurs or W-Kurs, the 9-month course	€8,000
Studienkolleg ab A2, language plus course	€10,050
FSP examination fee	~€575

Why there is a fee

Paderborn's college is private, with no state funding, which is why tuition is charged even though it sits at a public university. Visa, accommodation and living costs are separate. We confirm the current figures for your intake.

Your journey

From application to a German university.

Five steps, about nine months at the college, ending with the FSP at Paderborn and your reserved seat.

Applywe submit and register you

Foundation year~9 months in T or W

The FSPsat at Paderborn

Reserved seatat Paderborn, or any uni

German bachelor'syou begin your degree

After the FSP & life in Paderborn

What comes next, and where you'll live it.

After you pass

Take your reserved seat at Paderborn in an admission-free MINT or business bachelor's.
Or apply to any university or Fachhochschule across Germany. Restricted programmes need a separate admission.
If you do not pass, the course can be repeated.
While enrolled you may work part-time, and after graduating you can stay to look for a job.

Living in Paderborn

A university city of about 150,000 people in eastern NRW, with around 22,000 students. It has a compact-city feel: cafés, markets, a historic old town, the Paderquellgebiet and plenty of sport.

Larger NRW cities are reachable at no extra cost with the student ticket. The college has facilities at Vogeliusweg, Schloß Neuhaus and the Technologiepark.

Entry & application

What you need, and what we do.

For the T and W courses you need B1. For the ab-A2 track, A2 is enough. If you are still in a B1 course, an attendance certificate can support the application.

School-leaving certificateYour home-country certificate, comparable to the German Abitur.
German levelB1 for T or W, A2 for Studienkolleg ab A2. Recognised via telc or the Goethe-Institut.
APS where requiredAn APS certificate if you are from China, India or Vietnam.
Course fee & visa€8,000 or €10,050, then your admission letter lets you apply for the visa.

Apply via Laghbani Consulting

We handle the whole process.

Foundation Year €599

Match the course, T, W or ab A2, to your goal
Document collection, translation and certification
Submit your online application to Studienkolleg Paderborn
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.

Questions

Studienkolleg Paderborn, answered.

What German do I need to start?

B1 for the T and W courses, and A2 for the Studienkolleg ab A2 route. Your level is recognised via telc or the Goethe-Institut, and an attendance certificate can support the application if you are still in a B1 course.

Is the seat at Paderborn really guaranteed?

A seat at Paderborn in admission-free MINT or business subjects is reserved once you pass the FSP. Restricted programmes still need a separate admission, and you are free to apply to any other German university or Fachhochschule instead.

Why is there a fee at a public university?

Paderborn's college is private, with no state funding, which is why tuition is charged even though it sits at a public university. The T or W course is €8,000, the Studienkolleg ab A2 is €10,050, and the FSP examination fee is about €575.

How long does it take?

The T and W courses run two semesters, about 9 months. The Studienkolleg ab A2 runs three semesters and starts every February, since it weaves intensive German across the course.

A seat at a state university, and full student perks from day one.