"Studienkolleg" alternative: Studying without a direct university entrance qualification

The "Studienkolleg" alternative is aimed in particular at prospective students with a foreign secondary school leaving certificate that entitles them to attend a "Studienkolleg" (one-year preparatory course / foundation year programme) in Germany.

If you are unable to present this certificate due to flight, please contact us for individual counselling.

As part of the "Studienkolleg" alternative, you will complete modules (courses) at an academic level from your chosen degree programme. As the language of instruction in our degree programmes is German, you need German language skills of at least B2 level (ideally, however, C1 level) in order to participate in the "Studienkolleg" alternative.

A recognised language certificate for university admission (e.g. Telc C1 Hochschule, TestDaF) must be submitted for the subsequent application for the degree programme (or proof of C1 proficiency for admission with the requirement to submit the language certificate in the first semester).

The "Studienkolleg" alternative can be completed in one semester, but can also be extended to two semesters. Please note that entry into the first semester of the Bachelor's degree programme is only possible in the winter semester. In the summer semester, entry is only possible in a higher semester. The prerequisite for this is that sufficient academic credits have already been achieved for placement in the higher semester.

The winter semester at the University of Vechta always begins on the 1st of October, the summer semester on the 1st of April.

In principle, no fees are charged for studying at the University of Vechta (tuition fees). Only the semester fee is payable. This covers certain administrative costs and allows you to take advantage of benefits such as discounts in the refectory or free use of buses and trains in Lower Saxony.

Participants in the "Studienkolleg" alternative are usually enrolled as preparatory students and currently pay a semester fee of around 290.00 euros per semester.

Participants who wish to enrol as guest students instead pay the regular guest student fees. These fees can be waived proportionately if participants receive social benefits in Germany.

Please note that we cannot award a scholarship for participation in the "Studienkolleg" alternative and you must therefore bear your own living costs (unless you receive social benefits or similar in Germany).

In Germany, international students (who are not EU citizens) are allowed to work a total of 120 days or 240 half days per year without a work permit. The International Office will be happy to help you find a part-time job to finance your studies as part of the FIT project.

As a participant in the "Studienkolleg" alternative, you can be enrolled as a preparatory student. This allows you to apply for a visa.

The programme offered by the University of Vechta is not a "Studienkolleg".

Participants in the "Studienkolleg" alternative prove their "academic competence" through successful participation and can subsequently be admitted to a degree programme at the University of Vechta on this basis.

This procedure is based on the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act (NHG), is regulated for the University of Vechta in the "Regulations for Admission to Higher Education via Proof of Academic Qualifications and Trial Studies (OSP)" and is open to both German and international prospective students.

Successful completion of the "Studienkolleg" alternative grants access to the desired (admission-free) Bachelor's degree programme at the University of Vechta. It does not entitle you to study in a Bachelor's programme at other universities.