Studienkolleg Requirements for International Students

Table of Contents

1. Necessary Requirements
2. Required Documents
3. How to find out if you are eligible for Studienkolleg
4. Next Steps After Fulfilling All Requirements

Admission Requirements

To attend a Studienkolleg, international students must meet several basic requirements:

• English language skills are required. BIC accepts IELTS (5.5), TEFOL (72), or Cambridge (B2)
• A recognized school-leaving qualification is essential. The qualification must allow access to a Studienkolleg. This is determined by our team during your application.
• A valid student visa is required for non-EU students. The visa process starts after receiving confirmation of eligibility or admission.
• Proof of financial resources (blocked account) is mandatory. Students must show they can cover their living expenses while studying in Germany.
• Health insurance is compulsory. Coverage must be valid in Germany from the first day of arrival.
• An entrance exam is required by public Studienkollegs. BIC does not require an entrance exam, which is a key difference.

Applications are only possible during fixed intake periods. Late applications are not accepted. Please be sure to apply before: 04.10.2026

Required Documents:

For admission at BIC, students must submit a clear set of documents.

A valid passport is required and must be valid for at least one further year.

Final school-leaving certificates must be submitted in the original language, and as certified translations if not in English or German. This document proves your academic eligibility for Studienkolleg.

Proof of English language skills is mandatory. Accepted certificates include IELTS (5.5), TEFOL (72), or Cambridge (B2).

If documents are incomplete, processing delays will occur. Therefore please submit all documents at once.

How to Find Out If You Are Eligible for Studienkolleg:

Not all international students can directly start university studies in Germany. This depends on the structure of the school system in their home country.

Germany requires a qualification equivalent to the German Abitur (high school diploma). Many international certificates do not fully match this level.

Example: India

Indian students with a 12th-grade certificate must usually attend a Studienkolleg. Direct university admission is rare without at least one year of university studies in India.

Example: Pakistan

Students with Intermediate or Higher Secondary School Certificates generally need Studienkolleg before entering a German university.

Example: Turkey

Students with a national university entrance exam result may qualify, but many still require Studienkolleg depending on the score and subject.

The above are only a few examples, and situations may vary. Please apply to BIC to find out your exact qualifications!

To determine your eligibility simply apply here: Apply now

Next Steps After Fulfilling All Requirements:

The next step is to apply to BIC and choose your desired study program and university.

You can find our simple online application portal here:

Once we have assessed your application, we will get back to you with the results soon. Should any documents be missing, we will inform you as well. 

Once you are deemed eligible for the partner university of your choice, you will receive our BIC admissions package which includes all of your visa documents, your BIC tuition contract, letter of acceptance, conditional offer letter from our partner university, along with a guide that will help you to orient yourself on what the next steps are and how to complete them!