Application & Admission
Admission Requirements for the 'Studienkolleg' (preparatory college)
1. High School Diploma
Did you earn your high school diploma abroad? If so, you may not be able to start a degree program in Germany right away. In that case, you’ll prepare specifically for your studies at the 'Studienkolleg' (preparatory college) at the University of Zittau/Görlitz.
If you’re from an EU country, the EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), or Switzerland, you can generally study directly in Saxony with the degree you earned in your home country—often without having to attend a 'Studienkolleg' (preparatory college) first. You can find out exactly which qualifications you need here:
2. German Language Skills
Classes at the 'Studienkolleg' (preparatory college) are held in German. For your application, you need at least a B1 level of German proficiency.
By the start of the course, we recommend at least a B2 level so that you can follow the classes well. For your subsequent studies at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, a C1 level is then required.
3. The following fees and expenses should be factored into your budget:
- Tuition fees:
- FSP: €2,100.00 per semester for preparation for the placement exam in the TI or WW course
- DSH: €800.00 per semester for preparation for the German Language Proficiency Test for University Admission
including fees for the 'Studentenwerk' (student union), the Student Council, and the Germany Semester Ticket
- Exam fees:
- FSP: up to 300.00 €
- DSH: up to 200.00 €
- Course Materials & Books: Expenses for course materials and books are incurred each semester.
- Other supplies: Additionally, one-time costs may arise for calculators, reference books, or other supplies.
You’ll need a good command of German for the 'Studienkolleg' (preparatory college) and your future studies. There are many language schools in Saxony that offer suitable courses.
Before you choose a course, you should know your language level. You can find a free placement test on the Goethe-Institut’s website.
It’s important that your course culminates in a course with recognition for a German language exam.
The Application Process
- Application: Applications for the 'Studienkolleg' (preparatory college) at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences are submitted through the university’s online portal.
- Required documents:
- High school diploma with an officially certified German or English translation
- Proof of German language proficiency (at least level B1)
- Resume
- APS certificate for applications from India, Vietnam, and China
Our courses
Application Deadlines
You can submit an application to the Zittau 'Studienkolleg' (preparatory college) twice a year. You can find all the deadlines here:
Start the Online Application
Applications must be submitted exclusively online through the university's application portal.
Admissions Test
Before beginning studies at the 'Studienkolleg' (preparatory college), students must pass an entrance exam.
The entrance exam is held twice a year at the 'Studienkolleg' in Zittau —once in early February and once in late August—usually on a Tuesday.
Address of the 'Studienkolleg' (preparatory college)
Location: How to get to the 'Studienkolleg' (preparatory college):
'Studienkolleg' (preparatory college) Schwenninger Weg 1
02763 Zittau
Good to know: From the Zittau train station, it takes about 35 minutes to walk to the 'Studienkolleg' (preparatory college) at Schwenninger Weg 1. (Directions).
The exact dates for the entrance exam in each semester can be found under "Procedure/Dates."
The placement test applies to the following semester. The test in February is for the summer semester, and the test in August is for the winter semester.
The test assesses whether applicants have sufficient knowledge of German and mathematics to successfully participate in the 'Studienkolleg' (preparatory college)’s classes / courses.
Whether a spot at the 'Studienkolleg' (preparatory college) can be offered depends on the results of the placement test. After the test, applicants are ranked, and they are assigned to individual courses. For this reason, the placement test is also referred to as a placement exam.
The results of the entrance exam are usually published within the same week on the 'Studienkolleg's homepage under “Entrance Exam Results.”
Information: Even passing the entrance exam does not automatically guarantee a spot at the 'Studienkolleg' (preparatory college). Admission is only possible once all documents have been fully reviewed and the requirements have been met.
The entrance exam may be retaken only once, at the earliest after one semester.
Test Procedure
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1. registration and confirmation of identity
When you arrive at the 'Studienkolleg' in Zittau, you must first sign to confirm your participation in the entrance exam. To do so, please present your invitation to the exam and a valid form of identification (ID card, passport, etc.).
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2. Assigning a test number and test room
Now you'll receive a small slip of paper with your testing room and test number on it.
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Important information in the leaflet
You will receive a handout containing all the important information about the entrance exam. In it, you will find the rules for the exam procedure, information about how to complete the exam documents, and the next steps: checking your results, registering for student housing, enrolment in the university, and information about the required textbooks.
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4. Distribution of test questions and answer sheets
You will now receive the test. On the first page, please enter your personal information and your test number. Please also write your test number in the upper right corner of all answer sheets.
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5. Test
The test is about to begin!
- Procedure:
- The test is written.
- Duration:
- The German section lasts 90 minutes; the math section lasts 30 minutes.
- The math section is not required for applicants in the DSH course.
- Aids:
- You may not use any aids.
- Prohibitions:
- Cell phones must be turned off.
- You may not write in pencil.
- Red or green pens are not allowed.
- It is forbidden to use “cheat sheets” or to talk to the person next to you.
- Procedure:
Contents of the German section
Your German language skills are tested in three areas:
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1. basic knowledge of vocabulary and German grammar
The tasks on your basic knowledge test your vocabulary and whether you have mastered the basic grammar.
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2. advanced grammatical knowledge
In some grammar tasks, you will have to grammatically transform simple sentences, for example an active sentence into a passive sentence or vice versa, and you will be tested on how confident you are in using the most common subordinate clauses in German, for example relative clauses and causal or conditional clauses.
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3. reading comprehension
Finally, we'll test how good you are at understanding German texts by having you
a) answering questions in bullet points
b) matching information to lines of text
c) decide whether statements are true or false
d) supplementing main clauses with appropriate subordinate clauses, etc.
The texts come from a variety of topics, including college life, travel, current world events, and regional studies. They may include texts based on personal experiences, media reports, or non-fiction texts.
- Don't be afraid of the test: it's not you as a person who's being tested, but simply your German and math skills, which are important for successfully pursuing a degree in Germany.
- Still, good preparation is crucial. You should set aside sufficient time for this.
- Read the information for the admission test carefully, and it is good to take a complete practice test within the allotted time. This will give you a realistic sense of the difficulty level and time limit.
- Don’t let other test-takers unsettle you before the test begins—they’re nervous too, and they’re no better prepared than you are.
- In the test room, avoid distractions and stay focused. Read the questions carefully and answer only what is asked; answering more than required can easily lead to mistakes.
- Solve the easy questions first, then the more difficult ones.
- If a question remains unsolved, it’s better not to dwell on it for too long; instead, move on to the next one so you don’t waste time.
- Allow enough time for the reading comprehension section; experience shows that this part takes longer than the grammar questions.