Preparatory Course (Studienkolleg)
If you do not have a secondary school degree that permits you to study in Germany, you can take a preparatory course (Studienkolleg) in order to qualify for admission to a university. After a year’s worth of instruction, you can take an assessment test (Feststellungsprüfung). If you pass this test, you may be allowed to study certain subjects anywhere in Germany.
Types of Courses > Preparatory courses come in five different types, which will prepare you for one of five different fields. Your previous education and your choice of subject will determine which course you take: There is no preparatory course at the University of Osnabrück. Like all applicants to universities in Lower Saxony, Osnabrück applicants for W, M, and T courses must attend the Niedersächsische Studienkolleg in Hannover. Applicants for G and S courses must go to the Studienkolleg in Halle/Sachsen-Anhalt. Unfortunately, the University of Osnabrück cannot send you to a Studienkolleg where German language courses are also offered. Applying to a Preparatory Course > Applicants do not apply directly to the Studienkolleg, but via their application at their chosen university. Please fill out the admissions application (Antrag auf Zulassung zum Studium) with your chosen subject and university, and send your application to uni-assist. You will find the application form as well as information about the documents you have to send with your application in our download area for international students. If you use the uni-assist online application for your application to Studienkolleg, please choose "Studienkolleg" as the academic field and "kein Abschluss möglich" as your desired qualification. Please then inform uni-assist seperately for which subject you are applying. Application address: Assessment Test (Feststellungsprüfung) In the Osnabrück region there is also a private Studienkolleg in Mettingen. Applications for this Studienkolleg must be sent directly to Mettingen, not to the university.
If your secondary school diploma is not considered equal to the German Abitur (secondary school diploma), you cannot be admitted to the university right away. You will be admitted only if you pass a preparatory course at the Studienkolleg.
Requirements > In order to be admitted to the preparatory course, you will need good German language skills, which must be documented (test results, etc.) Your documents may not be older than approx. six months.
In order to take the G and S courses, you must have passed the Goethe Institute’s Goethe-Zertifikat B2 or TestDaF with 14 points. As a substitute, we will also accept certification that you have completed over 1200 hours of advanced-level German instruction.
For natural science subjects, including biology (M, W, and T courses), we accept the Goethe-Institute's Zertifikat Deutsch with a mark of either ”sehr gut”, ”gut” or "befriedigend" or TestDaF with 12 points. As a substitute, we will also accept certification that you have completed over 800 hours of instruction in intermediate-level German.
Besides German-language skills, your documents must also demonstrate that you have a good grade point average. The University of Osnabrück requires a minimum GPA of 3.0, calculated according to the German grade point system. In addition, you must pass the admissions test in order to be admitted to the preparatory course. This test consists of a German test and other tests in the various subjects. You will find test dates and examples of tests on the Niedersächsische Studienkolleg in Hannover and the Studienkolleg in Halle/Sachsen-Anhalt websites.
Application deadline:
June 15 for the winter semester
January 15 for the summer semester
all international students should mail their applications for preparatory courses (Studienkolleg) to uni-assist.
After two semesters of instruction, you will be given an assessment test. If you pass, you will be able to apply to all German universities that offer your particular subjects. In order to begin a program of study, you must again apply to the university of your choice.
Passing the assessment test is the equivalent of passing the DSH, so you do not have to take any more German language tests.
You can also take the assessment test without taking a preparatory course. However, the success rate is very low, and we strongly advise you against it.
