Preparatory college (Studienkolleg)

University preparation for international applicants

The Thuringian Studienkolleg in the north of Thuringia

Image: Elisa Hofmann

Future students from all over the world are learning and preparing themselves for studying at the Studienkollegs in Nordhausen or Jena. After a year of intensive, subject-specific education and advanced German lessons, you will take an assessment test. This test is equivalent to a subject-specific university entrance qualification which you can then use to apply for a place on a course of study.

Quick links

• Admission and language requirements
• Required documents
• Application period, process and portal
• Housing

Admission and language requirements

• Please check first whether you already hold the university entrance qualification required to study in Germany or whether you must complete a year of preparation at a Studienkolleg.
• You can use DAADExternal link or anabinExternal link databases to check whether your foreign educational qualifications are valid in Germany.
• If you are eligible for direct admission to university, you do not have to attend a Studienkolleg. If you still lack the required German skills (DSH-2), please read more about our DSH preparatory course .
• Applicants for the Studienkolleg must provide evidence of a B2 levelExternal link of German, e.g.
• Certificate B2 (Goethe Institute, telc, ÖSD, certificates from recognized language institutes) or
• TestDaF with at least 4 x 3.
• If you would like to prepare for a study programme with restricted admission at a Studienkolleg, you need a secondary education diploma from your home country with a minimum grade equivalent to a 1.5 in the German grading system.
• If you meet the requirements to attend the Studienkolleg, you may choose between two options:
• Public Studienkolleg ThüringenExternal link in Nordhausen. Participation is free.
• International Study Centre ThuringiaExternal link in Jena. Participation is subject to a fee. At the end of the preparatory year, you will also take the assessment test of the Thüringer Staatliches Studienkolleg Nordhausen.

Required documents

• Scan all documents listed below as pdfs and save them under specified file names.
• Have all documents ready at hand, because you will have to insert data from them in the online application.

University entrance qualification

• a copy of your original school leaving certificate and university entrance examination (if taken) with a translation (into German or English)
• Moroccan applicants: evidence of the Baccalauréat de lEnseignement Secondaire with a result of at least 'assez bien'

Prior study programme

• a copy of your original degree certificate or times of study with a sworn translation (into German or English)
• a copy of the original transcript of records for your degree with a sworn translation (into German or English)

Knowledge of the German language

a copy of evidence of your German language proficiency (please see our information on language requirements )

a CV (in tabular form)

Chinese, Indian and Vietnamese applicants: the original version of the APS certificate issued by the Akademische Prüfstelle as proof your academic achievements

Please note

Underage applicants and underage students (who have not yet reached the age of 18 when starting their education at the preparatory college) please ask the preparatory college in Nordhausen whether general consent from the legal guardian (parents) is necessary.

Definition: sworn translation

Certificates must always be translated by an official body, e.g. the issuing institution or a sworn translator.

Application period, process and portal

• Application period for the summer semester: 1 October to 30 November
• Application period for the winter semester: 1 April to 31 May

Information

• Due to the introduction of a new student administration program, access to our online application portal Friedolin 2.0 will be unavailable from November 3, 2025, to November 17, 2025. Please plan your applications before or after this break.
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