Foundation Year & Studienkolleg Pathways

What it is

What a foundation year actually is.

A foundation year, in Germany the Studienkolleg, is a one-year bridge for international students whose school diploma is not yet equivalent to the German Abitur. You prepare in the subjects your degree needs, sit a state-recognised exam, and come out qualified to apply to German universities. Here is the short version.

Why it exists

When your school certificate is not enough for direct entry, the foundation year closes the gap. It is the recognised bridge between your diploma and a German bachelor's.

What you do

Around a year of subject and language preparation in one track, T, M, W or G, taught mostly in German, so you are ready for first-year study.

How it ends

It finishes with the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP), a state-recognised exam. Pass it and you can apply to universities right across Germany.

The four tracks

Which course track matches your degree.

Every Studienkolleg is organised into tracks. You pick the one that prepares you for the subject you want to study. These are the four you will see across the seven routes. The exact subject list varies a little by college, and your FSP is taken in the track you choose.

Technical & engineering T

T-Kurs · Technik

The track for degrees built on maths and the physical sciences. If you are heading into engineering, computer science, architecture or a natural science, this is your route.

Subjects taught

Mathematics
Physics
Chemistry or IT
German
Technical drawing

Leads to: mechanical, electrical & civil engineering, computer science, architecture, mathematics, physics.

Medicine & biology M

M-Kurs · Medizin

The track for medicine and the life sciences, where biology and chemistry carry the most weight. It is the route to take if your goal is a medical or health-science degree.

Subjects taught

Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Mathematics
German

Leads to: human medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, biology, biochemistry.

Business & economics W

W-Kurs · Wirtschaft

The track for business and the economic and social sciences, with maths and economics at its core. Choose it for management, finance or social-science degrees.

Subjects taught

Mathematics
Economics
Business studies
German
History or social science

Leads to: business administration, economics, management, finance, social sciences.

Humanities & languages G

G-Kurs · Geisteswissenschaften

The language and humanities track, built around German, history and literature. It is the route for arts, languages and many social-science or law degrees.

Subjects taught

German
History
German literature
Social studies
Second language

Leads to: languages, literature, history, philosophy, arts, social sciences, some law degrees.

Find your route

Filter the seven to the ones that fit.

Tick what you want to study, the German you have now, and the language you would rather learn in. We dim the routes that do not fit and leave the ones that do.

FH Aachen Freshman

Geilenkirchen, near Aachen

TWM

Public universityEnglish-taught option

Taught in
German to startNone, with exam
DurationOct to Jul
Fee from€21,500 all-in

Best if you want an English-taught start with room and insurance in one fee.

View details

Studienkolleg Paderborn

Paderborn, NRW

TW

At a state universityGuaranteed seat

Taught in
German to startB1 (A2 ab-A2)
Duration~9 months
Fee from€8,000

Best if you want a seat at a state university and full student perks from day one.

View details

Studienkolleg Düsseldorf

Düsseldorf, NRW

TMWG

Private collegeAll four tracks

Taught in
German to startB1 (A2 combi)
Duration2 semesters
Fee from€6,490

Best if you are aiming for medicine, or want to start online before you arrive.

View details

Studienkolleg NRW

Cologne, NRW

WTM

At Hochschule FreseniusEnglish FSP option

Taught in
German to startB1 (EN: none)
Duration12 months
Fee from€12,000

Best if you want an English FSP option and to be enrolled at Hochschule Fresenius.

View details

Rheinisches Studienkolleg

Berlin (also Bonn)

MTWG

Private collegeStart matched to your level

Taught in
German to startB1 sets your start
Duration~10 months
Fee from€6,490

Best if you want the widest choice of fields and a start date matched to your level.

View details

Prep4University

Cologne, NRW

TW

At CBS CologneNo entrance exam

Taught in
German to startEN: none · DE: B2
Duration2 semesters
Fee fromFrom €6,000

Best if you want an English or German track with no entrance exam and a guaranteed CBS bachelor's place.

View details

Berlin International College

Berlin (Treptower Park)

TW

Private collegeInternal exam, not FSP

Taught in
German to startNone · English B2
Duration8 months
Fee from€10,860

Best if you want a fast English or German track and a guaranteed place at a BIC partner university (internal exam, not the FSP).

View details

No route matches every filter.

That combination is rare, not impossible. Loosen one filter, or let us find the closest fit for your case.

Ask an advisor

Everything side by side

The full comparison.

Every route against the same set of questions. Fees are the published starting figures and exclude third-party costs such as the visa fee, blocked account and insurance, unless noted.

Scroll the table sideways to see all seven.

	FH Aachen FreshmanPublic university	PaderbornPrivate at state uni	DüsseldorfPrivate	Studienkolleg NRWHochschule Fresenius	RheinischesPrivate, Berlin	Prep4UniversityCBS, Cologne	Berlin International CollegePrivate, Berlin
Location	Geilenkirchen, NRW	Paderborn, NRW	Düsseldorf, NRW	Cologne, NRW	Berlin (also Bonn)	Cologne, NRW	Berlin (Treptower Park)
Courses	TWM	TW	TMWG	WTM	MTWG	TW	TW
Taught in	EN DE	DE	DE	DE EN	DE	EN DE	EN DE
German to start	None	B1	B1	B1 · EN: none	B1+	A1+ · DE: B2	EN: none · DE: C1
Entrance exam	Maths + language	None	None	Possible interview	None	None	None
Final exam	Internal exam or FSP	FSP at Paderborn	External FSP, Cologne	FSP at the Cologne campus	FSP at TU Berlin or Cologne	FSP, often taken internally	BIC internal exam (not the FSP)
Duration	Oct to Jul	~9 months (3 sem ab A2)	2 semesters	12 months	~10 months	2 semesters	8 months
Tuition from	€21,500 all-in	€8,000	€6,490	€12,000	€6,490	€6,000 from	€10,860
After you pass	NRW partner unis	Guaranteed seat	Nationwide	Nationwide + Fresenius	Nationwide	Nationwide + CBS	BIC partners only
	Details	Details	Details	Details	Details	Details	Details

Figures and dates are drawn from each provider's public information and can change. We confirm the current details for your intake before you commit.

Our role

We do not run the Studienkolleg. We get you in.

We are your consultant and application service. We connect you with the right partner college and handle the paperwork, so you walk in prepared.

Read your diploma

We check how your school certificate is recognised in Germany and whether a foundation year is needed at all.

Match the route

We recommend the college and track that fit your degree goal, German level and budget, from these seven routes.

Apply and register

We prepare and submit your application, handle translations and certification, and register you with the institution.

On to the visa

Once you are accepted, we move straight into the visa and arrival steps under your package.

Seven routes to a German bachelor's. One that fits you.

What a foundation year actually is.

Why it exists

What you do

How it ends

Which course track matches your degree.

Technical & engineering T

Medicine & biology M

Business & economics W

Humanities & languages G

Filter the seven to the ones that fit.

FH Aachen Freshman

Studienkolleg Paderborn

Studienkolleg Düsseldorf

Studienkolleg NRW

Rheinisches Studienkolleg

Prep4University

Berlin International College

The full comparison.

We do not run the Studienkolleg. We get you in.

Read your diploma

Match the route

Apply and register

On to the visa

One call and we point you to the right foundation year.