Applicants with a foreign university entrance qualification who wish to apply

for Studienkolleg for the summer semester 2025

German applicants will find information on the application for Studienkolleg here:
https://www.uni-heidelberg.de/en/study/application-enrolment/prerequisites-for-study/certificate-of-
non-german-educational-qualifications-german-citizens

All other applicants will find information on the application for Studienkolleg here:
https://www.uni-heidelberg.de/en/study/application-enrolment/requirements-for-
enrolment/studienkolleg-and-assessment-test-to-determine-the-eligibility-of-foreign-applicants-for-
studies-at

Recognition of foreign educational certificates for applicants with German citizenship and
German dual citizens
German applicants with foreign school-leaving certificates who wish to apply to Heidelberg University
must first submit an application for the recognition/assessment of their educational certificates to the
Zeugnisanerkennungsstelle (Certificate Recognition Office) of the Regierungspräsidium (Regional
Council). The certificate/notice from the Regierungspräsidium on the recognition of the educational
certificates must be submitted to the University.
German applicants residing in Baden-Württemberg and German applicants wishing to apply to study
in Baden Württemberg should send a corresponding application to the
Regional Council Stuttgart, School and Education, Recognition Office, Ruppmannstr. 21,
70565 Stuttgart, Tel.: 0711 904-17170, E-Mail: [email protected]
Internet: https://rp.baden-wuerttemberg.de/rps/abt7/zeugnisanerkennungsstelle
Information on the submission of previously acquired foreign qualifications (e.g. school reports, lists
of grades, university entrance exams, academic achievements, etc.) can only be answered by the
Regional Council. All inquiries in this regard must be clarified with the Regional Council.
It may potentially be necessary to request a determination of your average grade as well as of the
date of receipt of the university entrance qualification from the Department of Evaluation and
Recognition for Certificates of Education for subjects with admission restriction (Numerus Clausus).
If the notice issued by the Regional Council states that
• the educational certificate is deemed equivalent to an intermediate-level educational
degree or another German school leaving certificate, you should make a consultations
appointment at the Regional Council
• the educational certificate is deemed equivalent to a German university entrance
qualification you can apply for a university place according to the application procedure.
• the educational certificate is deemed only partially equivalent to a German university
entrance qualification and the applicant is therefore required to take a
Feststellungsprüfung (assessment test to determine the eligibility of foreign educational
certificates for studies at institutions of higher education in Germany), you can prepare for
the Feststellungsprüfung by applying for a place in a Studienkolleg (preparatory course).
For more information see below.

Recognition of school-leaving certificates for applicants of other nationalities

Like German applicants, international applicants need a qualification for university studies (so-called
university entrance qualification). If the foreign educational qualification is recognized as
comparable to the German university entrance qualification (Abitur), direct application to courses of
study is possible. If the foreign educational qualification is recognized as only partially comparable

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with the German higher education entrance qualification (Abitur), these applicants must first
successfully pass an assessment test (Feststellungsprüfung) before beginning a course of study.
For more detailed information on recognition of school-leaving certificates, see
https://www.kmk.org/zab/central-office-for-foreign-education/statement-of-comparability-for-
foreignhigher-education-qualifications.html
or https://www.daad.de/en/study-and-research-in-germany/plan-your-studies/admission-database/

The assessment test at the Studienkolleg

The assessment test (Feststellungsprüfung) can be taken at the Studienkolleg. The assessment test,
in conjunction with the foreign certificate of previous education, constitutes the subject-specific
university entrance qualification for admission to a German university.
The Studienkolleg can be taken either at a university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) or
at a university. Studienkollegs at universities of applied sciences prepare students for studies at
universities of applied sciences. Usually, an assessment test taken there does not qualify the student
to study at a university.
For more information: https://www.studienkollegs.de/types%20of%20Studienkollegs.html
Information on universities and other institutions of higher education in Germany and the courses
they offer can be found online at http://www.hochschulkompass.de/en.html

Attendance at the Studienkolleg Heidelberg with subsequent assessment test

Heidelberg University offers two-semester courses at the Studienkolleg to prepare for the
assessment test (Feststellungsprüfung) for university studies.
After one year (= two semesters) of attendance at the Studienkolleg, the assessment test is usually
taken. If the student does not pass, the Studienkolleg can be extended for a third semester. A failed
assessment test can only be repeated once at the same Studienkolleg. As a rule, it is not possible to
change from one Studienkolleg to another.

Application for the Studienkolleg

In the state of Baden-Württemberg which includes Heidelberg, an application for the Studienkolleg
courses to prepare for the Feststellungsprüfung for universities is not made at the Studienkolleg
itself, but at the university where the subject studies are to be carried out.
The following information is intended for applicants who would like to begin their course of study at
Universität Heidelberg after passing the Studienkolleg and Feststellungsprüfung.

Only students with good German language skills are admitted to the Studienkolleg.
With the application there have to be uploaded in addition to school reports proof of at least 800
hours of German language instruction or a certificate stating the level B2 of the Common
European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Please apply online: https://heico.uni-

heidelberg.de/heiCO/ee/ui/ca2/app/desktop/#/home?$ctx=design=ca;lang=en
In the field “subject of study”, please select "Studienkolleg" and chose one of the five courses that
prepares you for your intended degree programme. Assignment of the Studienkolleg courses to the
respective subjects can be found in the corresponding overview: https://www.uni-
heidelberg.de/en/study/application-enrolment/requirements-for-enrolment/studienkolleg-courses-and-
assessment-test-feststellungsprufung
Please note: If you want to study a 2-subject degree programme with a percentage structure of
50/50 or 75/25 or if you wish to study for a teaching qualification, the assessment test must be
suitable for all subjects you intend to study.

The application period for the summer semester 2025 is from 1 November2024 until 15
December 2024.

After your application has been submitted in due time and form, your credentials will be checked and
evaluated. If your application is successful, you will receive a letter of admission to the
Studienkolleg with the date of the Studienkolleg entrance examination. You have to pass the
entrance examination. A sample of this entrance examination can be found at https://isz.uni-
heidelberg.de/e_pruef_et.html

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An application to a course of study is only possible after finishing Studienkolleg and
Feststellungsprüfung (assessment test) succesfully. If, at the time of your application, you do not yet
know whether a Studienkolleg is necessary, it will be advisable to apply for Studienkolleg and in a
second application for the degree programme you wish to study.

Please note: Students whose higher-education entrance qualification is equivalent to the German
Abitur and who thus do not have to take the assessment test (Feststellungsprüfung) cannot be
accepted to the Studienkolleg. International students who would like to prepare voluntarily for their
course of study can apply for the relevant introductory courses (restricted to certain subjects) at the
University’s Internationales Studienzentrum. These courses are offered either for one month or for
one semester. More information on these preliminary introductory courses can be found at
http://www.isz.uni-heidelberg.de/e_propaedeutikum.html.

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