The Studienkolleg is a public educational institution in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, for students whose secondary school certificate is not recognized as equivalent to the
Abitur
''Abitur'' (), often shortened colloquially to ''Abi'', is a qualification granted at the end of secondary education in Germany. It is conferred on students who pass their final exams at the end of ISCED 3, usually after twelve or thirteen yea ...
. It is a preparatory course or first year program for academic studies at university.
Training
German is spoken in all courses. The students are prepared in a two-semester course which is subject-specific.
Usually these types of courses are offered:
;University Preparatory schools:
* G-course for the
humanities
Humanities are academic disciplines that study aspects of human society and culture. In the Renaissance, the term contrasted with divinity and referred to what is now called classics, the main area of secular study in universities at th ...
* W-course for
social sciences
Social science is one of the branches of science, devoted to the study of society, societies and the Social relation, relationships among individuals within those societies. The term was formerly used to refer to the field of sociology, the o ...
(including
economics
Economics () is the social science that studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
Economics focuses on the behaviour and interactions of economic agents and how economies work. Microeconomics analy ...
and
law
Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vari ...
)
* M-Course for medical studies (
medicine
Medicine is the science and Praxis (process), practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, Preventive medicine, prevention, therapy, treatment, Palliative care, palliation of their injury or disease, and Health promotion ...
,
biology
Biology is the scientific study of life. It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes that tie it together as a single, coherent field. For instance, all organisms are made up of cells that process hereditar ...
,
dentistry
Dentistry, also known as dental medicine and oral medicine, is the branch of medicine focused on the teeth, gums, and mouth. It consists of the study, diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions ...
,
pharmacy
Pharmacy is the science and practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, reviewing and monitoring medications, aiming to ensure the safe, effective, and affordable use of medication, medicines. It is a miscellaneous science as it ...
and
veterinary medicine
Veterinary medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, management, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, disorder, and injury in animals. Along with this, it deals with animal rearing, husbandry, breeding, research on nutri ...
)
* T-Course for technical studies (
engineering
Engineering is the use of scientific method, scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad rang ...
,
math
Mathematics is an area of knowledge that includes the topics of numbers, formulas and related structures, shapes and the spaces in which they are contained, and quantities and their changes. These topics are represented in modern mathematics ...
,
physics
Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which rel ...
,
chemistry) and
* S-Course for
philology
Philology () is the study of language in oral and written historical sources; it is the intersection of textual criticism, literary criticism, history, and linguistics (with especially strong ties to etymology). Philology is also defined as ...
;Technical College Preparatory schools:
* TI-Course for Technical and Engineering studies
* WW-course for Economics and Business studies
* GD-course for Art and Design studies
* SW-course for Social Science studies
Costs
The lessons and tests at the Studienkollegs (except in Dresden and Glauchau) are currently free, but the registered students have to pay semester fees (registration fee, social contribution, semester ticket, etc.). These costs are depending on each college from 100 to 400 euros per semester.
The cost of living (housing, clothing, food and drink etc.) are around 700 euros per month. For the students of Studienkollegs there are usually no scholarships.
Secondary School Education (Abitur)
After two semesters of study the students complete their secondary school education. Exams must be passed in different subjects, such as maths, sciences, economics, languages. In the German language test, students must achieve level C1 of the
CEFR
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment, abbreviated in English as CEFR or CEF or CEFRL, is a guideline used to describe achievements of learners of foreign languages across Europe and, increasing ...
. After passing the Studienkolleg, the students can apply to either the university or technical college of their choice. However, graduates of a university-preparatory ''Studienkolleg'' cannot attend a Technical College and graduates of a technical-preparatory ''Studienkolleg'' cannot attend university.
References
External links
Studienkollegs in Deutschland
{{Authority control
Secondary school qualifications
Education in Germany
Education in Austria
Education in Switzerland