University admission for international applicants (Studienkolleg, uni-assist)

If you want to study in Germany and your school certificate is not enough for direct university entry, a Studienkolleg (preparatory college) can be the next step. It prepares you with subject, language, and study skills, and ends with the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP), which can open access to higher education in Germany 13.

Who needs this

• You may need a Studienkolleg if your foreign school leaving certificate (Schulabschlusszeugnis) is not accepted as a direct higher-education entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung, HZB) for Germany 13.
• This is especially relevant for applicants from countries where a direct start at a German university is usually not possible with the school certificate alone 3.
• If you are from Vietnam, you may use the Studienkolleg/FSP route for subject-restricted university access, depending on your school results or prior studies 2.
• For Vietnamese applicants, an APS certificate or APS confirmation is required for any higher-education access in Germany, including via Studienkolleg 2.

Step by step

1. Check whether your certificate gives you direct access or whether you need a Studienkolleg 13.
2. Choose a Studienkolleg that matches your intended subject and the type of institution you want to study at later, because course types differ by academic focus 1.
3. If applicable, apply either directly to the Studienkolleg, through the target university, or via uni-assist, depending on the provider and the university’s procedure 13.
4. Prepare for the admission test if the Studienkolleg requires one 3.
5. Complete the preparatory course and take the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP) 13.
6. After a successful FSP, apply for a degree programme that matches your course focus 13.

Documents

• Your certificate that entitles you to start university studies in your home country, including the full subject and grade overview (transcript) 4.
• If you already studied at a university outside Germany, a complete transcript; if you finished, also your diploma certificate 4.
• For Vietnam, the APS certificate or APS confirmation is required 2.
• For Vietnamese applicants for undergraduate study, APS also checks documents and, in the regular procedure, the TestAS must be taken 2.
• uni-assist asks for copies of all certificates in the original language plus a certified translation in German or English 4.

Cost and time

• State Studienkollegs usually offer places free of charge; private Studienkollegs often charge fees 1.
• Studienkolleg preparation usually takes two semesters; with very good performance, it can be shortened to one semester 13.
• The teaching language at most Studienkollegs is German, and they usually build language skills up to C1 of the GER 1.

Deadlines

• You should start preparations early and check the current application and enrolment deadlines of the relevant university or Studienkolleg before applying 3.
• Requirements and application routes can change from semester to semester, so check the current procedure again before submitting your application 3.

City by city

• Hanoi: For Vietnamese applicants, the APS office is located at the German Embassy in Hanoi. There, APS verifies higher-education entrance qualifications and academic records for study in Germany 2.