03-26-2006, 12:22 AM
From many emails that we receive everyday, it seems like most of the students find Studienkolleg related things very confusing. Actually it is not that puzzled as it seems to be. First thing is that every University has its own rules and regulations, so please inquire the rules of the particular university where you want to study.
Let me tell you some 'IN and OUT' of Studienkolleg. (For language requirement scroll down.) As also mentioned in our Website, almost all of the foreign higher secondary education(eg I.Com., 10+2 or equivalent) is not recognized as equivalent to german higher secondary education (Abitur). Abitur ends up with 13 years of Schooling, unlike ISc or 10+2 which takes 12 years of Schooling. That means the difference lies in 1 year of schooling, so that if you have passed one further year or say first year of University degree (B.Com. 1st Year or equivalent), your education is equally recognized as the german Abitur. In this case you only need to have good german command (DSH, something like TOEFL or IELTS for Germany) in order to apply to a University. But remember your subject of bachelors degree must be similar to the subject that you want to study here. eg. With a bachelor in natural science you cannot apply for Business administration and vice versa.
Otherwise you have to attend a one year course at Studienkolleg. Actually I would suggest them, who want to study here in german language, to attend Studienkolleg. It helps very much for your further study at the University. It is at no cost a waste of time. Even those students who have already passed first year of bachelor's degree should better attend Studienkolleg. Because in University lecture you will have no chance to ask your professor anything that you do not understand because of your poor german proficiency. Moreover in University everything goes so fast, that you will hardly get time to learn German. So, Studienkolleg is a place where you will be prepared to deal with lectures, seminars and your own Presentations. The Studienkolleg is not only to teach you those things that your german friends have already studied and you have missed, but also to equip you with subject related (technical) terms. That is the reason why studienkolleg offers courses like M,S,G,W,T, etc. Let us assume you have learnt german for 16 months in Goethe Zentrum Kathmandu and acquired a 'ZD' certificate. What you have learnt there, will help you in most of the cases, but you will still be missing the technical terms. With that knowledge you are still not ready to start university here. So, in that case studienkolleg sharpens your regular german and makes you familiar with your subject related terminology. That much to motivate you to join Studienkolleg.
So now going back to 'entrance for Studienkolleg'. Generally when you apply for studienkolleg, you can't apply only for it. You are always admitted at a University for a Studienkolleg in connection with the main subject. That means getting admitted at studienkolleg means your place is reserved for the university education at that University for the particular subject.
Not all university has their own Studienkolleg. Mostly there are few studienkolleg in a state (like Hessen or Nordrheinwestfalen), which is responsible to prepare foreign students, who will be visiting any university in that state. For example, you want to study biology in Freiburg, but you have to attend Studienkolleg in Heidelberg. After Studienkolleg you will attend the University in Freiburg. But you have to send your application to Freiburg not to the Studienkolleg in Heidelberg. This seems different in Nordrheinwestfalen, where you have to send your application to a central office in Düsseldorf,Click hier for the Application form for Studienkolleg in NRW. Similarly it may be different in other states too. So please inquire in advance before you send your application to a wrong address. Do not hesitate to send email. Whenever you are confused just ask the foreign office of university by emal or just give a all. It is better than getting a rejection, only because some data were wrong.
There is a very good website studienkolleg.de, there you will find all needed information regarding studienkolleg.
Language requirement for Studienkolleg
Well, generally you must have attended G-III level from Goethe Institut and acquired Zertfikat-Deutsch. G-III of Goethe Zentrum in Kathmandu(in short GZK) is not same like G-III of Goethe Institut. You must know that only after M-I in Goethe Zentrum Kathmandu, you can take the central exam, that entitles you the Zertifikat-Deutsch. Please inquire at GZK, it was like that at least till 5 years ago, when I did my language course there. This might have been changed since then!!!
I also suggest you to join Goethe Zentrum if you want to do your language course in Nepal. Only GZK has very qualified german teachers. Please "avoid" rest of the language institutes. Moreover only GZK is recognized by Goethe Institut and is registered under german embassy in Kathmandu. In short, their teaching method is not comparable with any other in nepal and their certificate is recognized all over the world.
Now, generally you can only apply when you have certificate in your hand. I was asked whether one can apply while doing the language course and "reserve" the place of study by saying that the rest of certificate will be submitted later. Well, that is not possible, unless there is a new kind of course and it costs. Well I mean in private university it might be possible. Otherwise you have to wait until you have passed the needed language course and then apply. In this duration, you should try to gather as much information as you can. You can start planning, like when you will pass the language, for which semester and where you can apply. If it works out with last date of application or not etc.
So, some university like FU Berlin demands M-I of Goethe Institut to apply for Studienkolleg, whereas Heidelberg accepts if you have ZD, but then you have to appear in a language test and you must pass the test to be able to attend Studienkolleg. Otherwise you have to take further german classes.
So, if have completed your language course in nepal you can apply for Studienkolleg ( be aware: where to send Application form, University or Studienkolleg ??). But if you want to attend language course here at university or at language institute, please inquire in advance. Because a confirmation of language course may not be a pre-conformation for university.
Well I hope that this Information was helpful. If you have more question just ask us here in our discussion forum.
Good Luck
Let me tell you some 'IN and OUT' of Studienkolleg. (For language requirement scroll down.) As also mentioned in our Website, almost all of the foreign higher secondary education(eg I.Com., 10+2 or equivalent) is not recognized as equivalent to german higher secondary education (Abitur). Abitur ends up with 13 years of Schooling, unlike ISc or 10+2 which takes 12 years of Schooling. That means the difference lies in 1 year of schooling, so that if you have passed one further year or say first year of University degree (B.Com. 1st Year or equivalent), your education is equally recognized as the german Abitur. In this case you only need to have good german command (DSH, something like TOEFL or IELTS for Germany) in order to apply to a University. But remember your subject of bachelors degree must be similar to the subject that you want to study here. eg. With a bachelor in natural science you cannot apply for Business administration and vice versa.
Otherwise you have to attend a one year course at Studienkolleg. Actually I would suggest them, who want to study here in german language, to attend Studienkolleg. It helps very much for your further study at the University. It is at no cost a waste of time. Even those students who have already passed first year of bachelor's degree should better attend Studienkolleg. Because in University lecture you will have no chance to ask your professor anything that you do not understand because of your poor german proficiency. Moreover in University everything goes so fast, that you will hardly get time to learn German. So, Studienkolleg is a place where you will be prepared to deal with lectures, seminars and your own Presentations. The Studienkolleg is not only to teach you those things that your german friends have already studied and you have missed, but also to equip you with subject related (technical) terms. That is the reason why studienkolleg offers courses like M,S,G,W,T, etc. Let us assume you have learnt german for 16 months in Goethe Zentrum Kathmandu and acquired a 'ZD' certificate. What you have learnt there, will help you in most of the cases, but you will still be missing the technical terms. With that knowledge you are still not ready to start university here. So, in that case studienkolleg sharpens your regular german and makes you familiar with your subject related terminology. That much to motivate you to join Studienkolleg.
So now going back to 'entrance for Studienkolleg'. Generally when you apply for studienkolleg, you can't apply only for it. You are always admitted at a University for a Studienkolleg in connection with the main subject. That means getting admitted at studienkolleg means your place is reserved for the university education at that University for the particular subject.
Not all university has their own Studienkolleg. Mostly there are few studienkolleg in a state (like Hessen or Nordrheinwestfalen), which is responsible to prepare foreign students, who will be visiting any university in that state. For example, you want to study biology in Freiburg, but you have to attend Studienkolleg in Heidelberg. After Studienkolleg you will attend the University in Freiburg. But you have to send your application to Freiburg not to the Studienkolleg in Heidelberg. This seems different in Nordrheinwestfalen, where you have to send your application to a central office in Düsseldorf,Click hier for the Application form for Studienkolleg in NRW. Similarly it may be different in other states too. So please inquire in advance before you send your application to a wrong address. Do not hesitate to send email. Whenever you are confused just ask the foreign office of university by emal or just give a all. It is better than getting a rejection, only because some data were wrong.
There is a very good website studienkolleg.de, there you will find all needed information regarding studienkolleg.
Language requirement for Studienkolleg
Well, generally you must have attended G-III level from Goethe Institut and acquired Zertfikat-Deutsch. G-III of Goethe Zentrum in Kathmandu(in short GZK) is not same like G-III of Goethe Institut. You must know that only after M-I in Goethe Zentrum Kathmandu, you can take the central exam, that entitles you the Zertifikat-Deutsch. Please inquire at GZK, it was like that at least till 5 years ago, when I did my language course there. This might have been changed since then!!!
I also suggest you to join Goethe Zentrum if you want to do your language course in Nepal. Only GZK has very qualified german teachers. Please "avoid" rest of the language institutes. Moreover only GZK is recognized by Goethe Institut and is registered under german embassy in Kathmandu. In short, their teaching method is not comparable with any other in nepal and their certificate is recognized all over the world.
Now, generally you can only apply when you have certificate in your hand. I was asked whether one can apply while doing the language course and "reserve" the place of study by saying that the rest of certificate will be submitted later. Well, that is not possible, unless there is a new kind of course and it costs. Well I mean in private university it might be possible. Otherwise you have to wait until you have passed the needed language course and then apply. In this duration, you should try to gather as much information as you can. You can start planning, like when you will pass the language, for which semester and where you can apply. If it works out with last date of application or not etc.
So, some university like FU Berlin demands M-I of Goethe Institut to apply for Studienkolleg, whereas Heidelberg accepts if you have ZD, but then you have to appear in a language test and you must pass the test to be able to attend Studienkolleg. Otherwise you have to take further german classes.
So, if have completed your language course in nepal you can apply for Studienkolleg ( be aware: where to send Application form, University or Studienkolleg ??). But if you want to attend language course here at university or at language institute, please inquire in advance. Because a confirmation of language course may not be a pre-conformation for university.
Well I hope that this Information was helpful. If you have more question just ask us here in our discussion forum.
Good Luck