Studienkolleg

    Welcome to the Center for International Students of the Universities of Applied Sciences in Baden-Württemberg

    Application to our Studienkolleg

    The application is made online

    Passing the entrance test is a prerequisite for attending the Studienkolleg.If you pass the entrance test, we will send you a letter of admission. To enrol, you must then either submit your original certificates or certified copies of these certificates. Information on the certification of certificates can be found on our website under the section “Certifications”.

    Deadlines

    • Wintersemester 2025/2026: Mai 1, 2025
    • Summersemester 2026: November 1, 2025


    Next entrance test:

    • Summersemester 2025: January 17, 2025
    • Wintersemester 2024/2025: to be announced

    Admission Test

    The entrance test takes place twice a year: In January for the summer semester and in June for the winter semester.

    T-course: examination subjects German, mathematics, physics.
    W-course: examination subjects German, mathematics, economics.

    Selection: The 25 places per course are allocated according to performance in the entrance test. You can enter the second semester of the Studienkolleg directly if you achieve very good results in all three subjects; if you do not pass the entrance test, you can repeat it once.

    How to prepare for the Admission Test

    German exam section (T-course and W-course)
    You need German language skills at level B1. You should also engage with the German language outside the language course (listen to the news, read newspapers, write short texts, use all opportunities to speak German). Typical tasks from the German exam are cloze texts and short writing tasks.

    In cloze texts, the second half of every second word is missing.
    A typical writing task is: “Online shopping or shopping in a store. Name the advantages and disadvantages”.

    The examiners read the texts and check whether you have mastered intermediate level grammar (order in the sentence, sentence structure with subordinate clauses, active-passive, use of modal verbs, etc.). They will also check whether you can describe numbers, describe characteristics and developments, give reasons, consequences, advantages and disadvantages or make recommendations.

     

    Mathematics part of the exam (T course and W course)
    You need knowledge of the basics of mathematics (calculating with fractions, powers, roots and logarithms, solving equations and inequalities). 

    The entrance test is based on the curriculum of the video-based interactive course VIAMINT. You can use VIAMINT free of charge and create an account (“Create new account” + e-mail address + enter a password of your choice: https://viamint.de).

    Only the following VIAMINT modules from the mathematics section are tested in the entrance exam:
    - Fractions
    - Toolbox
    - Powers and roots
    - Logarithms
    - Equations and inequalities
    - Linear systems of equations

    The other VIAMINT modules are not covered in the entrance test. You can use the formulary during the exam.


    Physics exam section (T course only)
    Review the basics of physics (physical quantities and units, basic knowledge of work, energy and power, motion and force as well as electricity). The entrance exam is based on the VIAMINT syllabus (see notes on the mathematics section of the exam). The following modules from the physics section are required:

    Physical quantities and units of measurement 
    Diagrams and scales
    Motion and force
    Work, energy, power 
    Thermodynamics
    Experience electricity
    Only tasks from the six modules are used in the exam. The other VIAMINT modules are not covered in the entrance exam. To prepare for the format, you should complete the exercises and be familiar with the formula input.

    Sample exercises and further information

    Economics section of the exam (W course only)
    The entrance test in economics is based on your general knowledge and your interest in current economic events. You are applying for a place on the course in preparation for economics and social science degree programs and should therefore have already read articles in the business section of the newspaper. It is also important that you can solve simple problems explained in a text using arithmetic. Finally, you should be able to understand and interpret data. No specialist knowledge of economics is expected.

    The entrance test usually contains the following tasks:

    Simple calculations in an economic context (costs, interest, prices, taxes. To be able to solve the tasks, you should be familiar with percentage calculations). You can find information here, for example: http://www.formelsammlung-mathe.de/prozentrechnung.html

    • Extract information from a diagram. You should also answer questions about the diagram.
    • Text from a newspaper. The text deals with the topics of economic activity and growth. In preparation, you can read current newspaper articles.


    You can find texts on business related subjects on the website of the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (www.bpb.de). You may want to leaf through the following issues: "Information on Civic Education"

    • Issue 308, Household - Markets - Consumption
    • Issue 294, State and Economy
    • Issue 293, Business and Production

    www.bpb.de/publikationen/MXQU1P,0,0,Information_for_political_education.html

     

    On Test Day

    The entrance exam will be held as a video conference. You will receive a link to log in to the video conference (with WebEx) and the login details for the exam (on the University of Konstanz's exam server). During the exam, you will take part in the video conference and work on the tasks on the exam server at the same time.

    You do not need to come to Konstanz. This is practical because you can take the test from home. But it is also dangerous because many people think that you can use aids. Anyone who uses aids will be excluded and will not be allowed to repeat the test. The path to success: follow eight rules!

    The eight rules for a successful entrance test

    1. take part in the information events. 

    If you take part in the information sessions beforehand, you won't have any questions in the test and can concentrate on the content.

    2. prepare yourself and use the formula collection. 

    Use viaMINT to learn math and the language of math, use the formula collection and prepare paper and pencil.

    3. do not use any other aids. 

    Calculators, math programs, dictionaries, internet aids, chatbots, etc. are not allowed. Do not copy and paste text. Turn off your cell phone and put it in another room.

    4. work alone. 

    You must be alone in the room and must not speak during the exam. 

    5. use only one screen. 

    You may only use one screen and no other devices (smartphone, etc.).

    6. turn on the camera and stay in the picture. 

    You must be in the picture (face and arms) and not turn off the camera.

    7. make sure that your technology works. 

    You must not leave the test and must not double sign in.

    8. show your name and ID/passport. 

    The name must be shown in the video conference.

     

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