Studienkolleg in Germany: Why Indonesian and Vietnamese High School Graduates Often Need a Foundation Year
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Apr 20, 2025 • Study Abroad
German universities generally require 13 years of schooling before a degree, but Indonesia and Vietnam run 12-year systems, so most graduates from these countries need a one-year Studienkolleg foundation course before starting a bachelor's degree. Vietnamese applicants must also clear APS before applying, while Indonesian applicants do not.
🎓 Studienkolleg runs about two semesters and ends with the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP) exam
📩 Apply to your target university first. The university refers you to a Studienkolleg if you need one
⏱️ Completing one full year at a recognized university at home before moving to Germany removes the requirement in many cases
Course tracks (T, M, W, S, G) match your intended degree subject
Why a 12-Year Certificate Is Not Enough
German secondary school runs 12 or 13 years depending on the state and school type, and German universities set entry requirements around that system. Indonesia's Ijazah SMA and Vietnam's Bằng Tốt Nghiệp Trung Học Phổ Thông both mark the end of a 12-year system, one year short of what most German universities count as a direct university entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung). Instead of rejecting these certificates outright, German universities treat them as giving restricted access, conditional on completing a Studienkolleg first.
What Studienkolleg Is
A Studienkolleg is a one-year preparatory course, usually two semesters, run by or affiliated with a German university. You do not apply to a Studienkolleg directly. You apply to your target university and program, through uni-assist or the university's own admissions office, and if your certificate needs bridging, the university refers you to a Studienkolleg place. The course ends with the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP), an exam that, once passed, gives you the same entry standing as a German Abitur holder for your chosen subject area.
Course Tracks
| Track | Subject Focus |
|---|---|
| T | Engineering, mathematics, natural sciences |
| M | Medicine, biology, pharmacy |
| W | Business, economics, social sciences |
| S | Languages, humanities |
| G | Humanities, arts, German studies |
You get assigned to the track matching your intended degree subject, and the FSP you sit covers that track's subjects, not a general exam.
Vietnamese Applicants: APS Comes First
If you completed school in Vietnam, you need an APS certificate from the German Embassy in Hanoi before applying to a Studienkolleg or university. This applies to Vietnam specifically because Germany has required APS document verification for Vietnamese-issued certificates since 2007. Indonesian certificates do not go through APS. Indonesian applicants submit documents straight to uni-assist or the university, and Indonesia also runs its own preparatory option, Studienkolleg Indonesia , which offers counseling and, since October 2021, lets you sit the Studienkolleg entrance exam at a partner institution in Indonesia before you travel, though the one-year foundation coursework itself is still completed in Germany.
Ways to Skip Studienkolleg
Two routes commonly remove the requirement. First, completing one full year at a recognized university in Indonesia or Vietnam, including passing exams, before applying to Germany often counts as equivalent and grants direct entry, though universities assess this case by case. Second, some universities accept the TestAS exam or a completed foundation year at select partner institutions as an alternative bridge. Confirm which route your target university recognizes before assuming either applies to you, since acceptance is not automatic.
Applying With a Studienkolleg in Your Plan
Apply to your target German university and program in the normal cycle.
Vietnamese applicants complete APS before this step. Indonesian applicants go directly to document submission.
If the university determines you need a Studienkolleg, it refers you to a specific Studienkolleg and track.
Complete the one-year course and pass the FSP.
Re-apply, or confirm your existing conditional offer, using your FSP result as your entrance qualification.
Build an extra year into your planning if you expect to need Studienkolleg. Factor it into visa planning too, since your student visa and any proof-of-funds requirement need to cover the foundation year, not just the eventual degree.