Studienkolleg

How do I know if I have to attend the Studienkolleg?

Before beginning a degree programme in Germany, you must first take the aptitude assessment examination at the Studienkolleg if you only have an indirect higher education entrance qualification (HZB).

As all applicants with international entry qualifications will be required to submit a preliminary review documentation (VPD) from uni-assist with their application from 15 April 2026 onwards, you can check your VPD to see whether you need to attend a Studienkolleg first or can start your degree directly. If you have not yet received your VPD, you can find out in advance as follows:

Whether the HZB you earned in your home country qualifies you directly or indirectly for a degree programme in Germany can be looked up in advance using the anabin database, by selecting your country under "Suchen" and then clicking on your secondary school or university degree. If you have only an indirect HZB, anabin will display "Feststellungsprüfung/Studienkolleg".

Another option is the DAAD’s admissions database, which provides information on the assessment of degrees from numerous countries of origin in German and English, as well as the “Check: university admission” by uni-assist.

Also applicants with an IB diploma who meet one or more of the minimum requirements

How do I get the degree I want when I first have to attend a Studienkolleg?

If you first have to attend a Studienkolleg before starting your studies in Germany, you have two options:

• As a rule, you can turn the indirect higher education entrance qualification into a direct one by successfully studying for a certain number of semesters (cf. details in anabin) in your home country and submitting the corresponding transcript with your application.

It is important that this be a full-time programme with required attendance at an accredited higher education institution. You can also see whether this is the case for an institution via anabin by selecting your home country under "Institutionen" and searching for your university. If the status is H+, then it is an accredited institution.

Please also note that in this case your higher education entrance qualification will generally be subject-specific. This means that you may only study certain subjects in Germany (normally the subject you studied in your home country and related subjects).

• You should apply directly to a German university and will be assigned to a Studienkolleg. The University of Bayreuth assigns the relevant applicants to the preparatory course at the Studienkolleg in Munich corresponding to their desired degree programme.

Before you can start attending courses at the Studienkolleg, you must first pass an entrance examination. You will usually be given two chances to pass this examination. Please note that unexcused absence is already considered a failed attempt. In such a case, please cancel your registration directly with the Studienkolleg in due time.

Once you have passed the entrance examination, you can enrol and attend the courses. The aptitude assessment examination is then normally taken after two semesters. If you pass these tests, you will receive a direct, subject-specific higher education entrance qualification for degree programmes that are assigned to the course you have taken.

You will then have to reapply to the university of your choice with the certificate of the aptitude assessment examination from the Studienkolleg.

Further information on the courses, the entrance examination and the Studienkolleg in Munich can be found here.

How and where do I apply for the Studienkolleg?

You apply to the university at which you would later like to study. 

Step 1: If you have not already done so, please apply to uni-assist for the preliminary review documentation required for your application to the University of Bayreuth.
Step 2: Application via CAMPUSonline: To apply for the Studienkolleg, please select the option ‘Other studies’ under ‘Type of studies’ and then ‘Studienkolleg’ under ‘Intended degree’. Please then select the degree programme you wish to enrol in after completing the Studienkolleg. This information is required so that we can assign you to the correct Studienkolleg course.

Which documents do I need to apply for the Studienkolleg?

Please refer to the uni-assist University Admission Checklist and the ‘Assemble your Documents’ page for details of the documents you need to submit to uni-assist.
Please ensure that you provide uni-assist with all details regarding your educational background. Omitting details such as previous studies at a university in your home country may lead to an incorrect evaluation report. Please note that it is not possible to enrol into the Studienkolleg if you already possess a direct higher education entrance qualification!

When applying via CAMPUSonline, you must submit the following documents:

• Preliminary examination documentation from uni-assist (this must be issued specifically for the University of Bayreuth; otherwise, we will not have access to your application file!)
  If your VPD has not yet been issued, please enter your uni-assist application number in the relevant field instead. Only if we can verify your application for the UBT can we grant you an extension for submitting your VPD until no later than 2 weeks after the application deadline.
• Complete CV (please include your entire school education and all periods of study)
• Proof of German language proficiency (B2 level)
• Copy of passport

When should I apply for the Studienkolleg?

The general application deadlines also apply to applications for the Studienkolleg. However, we recommend that applicants who already know that they have to apply for the Studienkolleg submit their applications by 15 June (Winter Semester) or 15 December (Summer Semester), as the entrance examinations for the Studienkolleg usually take place in February or September and it can otherwise be difficult to obtain a visa in time or to make travel arrangements.

You will find more detailed information on the entrance examination in your letter of assignment and on the website of the Studienkolleg in Munich. There you will also find sample questions.

I have already been assigned to the Studienkolleg by the University of Bayreuth and have a question

You have already been assigned to Munich’s Studienkolleg by us and have questions about the entrance examination, the Studienkolleg, or you are unable to take the entrance examination? In this case, please contact the Studienkolleg in Munich directly.

You have already received an assignment to the Studienkolleg from us in advance, but were unable to take the last entrance examination or did not pass it and now need a new assignment?

Was your application submitted only 1–2 semesters ago and has your educational background remained unchanged?
In that case, please submit a new application and tick the box indicating that you have already received a referral letter to the Studienkolleg from us in the previous semester for the same course of study. Then upload your referral letter via the relevant upload slot.

Was your application submitted more than a year ago, or has something changed in your educational background (for example, new periods of study in your home country)? In that case, please apply for a new VPD, as your eligibility may have changed from indirect higher education entrance qualification to direct higher education entrance qualification. It is advisable to have uni-assist review your application again, as admission to the Studienkolleg Munich is only possible if you do not yet hold a direct higher education entrance qualification. 

I accidentally applied directly for the Bachelor’s programme instead of the Studienkolleg. Will this cause a problem?

No, if it was a mistake and you’ve realised it yourself, please simply submit a new application for the Studienkolleg and let us know briefly so that we can cancel the Bachelor’s application. 

If it only becomes clear after the deadline that you need to attend the Studienkolleg (e.g. because the VPD was only issued shortly afterwards), you do not need to do anything further. If it is still possible to register for the Studienkolleg entry test (the VPD must be received by us by the end of January/end of July at the latest), we will automatically convert your application into a Studienkolleg application. The same applies if you have inadvertently submitted an incorrect application.