International Foundation Year (Studienkolleg)

Show us your potential! Besides your school grades, we place strong emphasis on your personality, skills and interests. We are looking forward to learn about internships, stays abroad, your school and possibly vocational background, and extracurricular activities.

Whether you already know that you need to do a one-year preparatory program or you are yet unsure if your school degree qualifies for a Bachelor program: Just hand in your application to your desired Bachelor program and include all the required documents. We will assess your application, review all documents, and get back to you with the result: either entering directly a Bachelor program (3 years) or kicking it off with the International Foundation Year (Studienkolleg) followed by your Bachelor studies (1 + 3 years).

A complete application contains the following documents:

• Online Application for Admission
• An official certified copy of your school leaving certificate containing a transcript of grades. Please hand in an official certified copy of your school certificate. All documents have to be presented with a German or English notarized translation and need to be officially certified.
• Letter of motivation: The letter of motivation offers you the opportunity to explain why you have decided to apply for the program at our university. You can share with us what you envision to learn, but also what you plan to contribute to your studies at Karlshochschule and what your goals are after graduation. The letter of motivation should be typed and be one page in length.
• Curriculum vitae (résumé) in tabular form: Your curriculum vitae (résumé) should give you a brief overview of your life to date.
• Copy of passport
• Additional certificates (e.g. internship, extra-curricular activities): Certificates documenting vocational training, internships, international experience, extra-curricular commitment at school or charitable/non-profit association support a successful application. 
•  If applicable, an APS certificate (for applicants from China, Vietnam and Mongolia only).

Please hand in your application documents by April 15. You can find more detailed information regarding the application documents on our Bachelor admissions page for international applicants.

When we have received your application documents, we will examine them internally and invite you to participate in an "KarlsDay – Your way to admission" if your application meets our requirements. You will be informed of the result as soon as your application documents have been assessed.

"KarlsDay – Your way to admission"

In the KarlsDay we want to get to know you. The workshop will show us if you are the right candidate for our University and you will be able to decide whether our University is the right choice for you. If you are not able to come to Karlshochschule for the Assessment Workshop, the Admissions Committee may decide to conduct it by telephone or VoIP.

Admissions

After the KarlsDay, the Admissions Committee will decide whether to offer you a place to study at Karlshochschule. In general, we inform applicants about the decision on the same day in a feedback session.

If the decision is positive, you have two weeks to accept your place on the program. During these weeks you can review all the information and all your impressions of our University and so you will be able to take a well-considered decision. You can also make your decision to study at Karlshochschule at a later date and will be offered a place (depending on availability).

Importantly, please inform yourself of the visa requirements and possessing time in advance of your application.

And now you have finally made it! Welcome to our University!

Once you have successfully completed all courses at the end of the foundation year, an assessment exam will be held. The exam will determine whether you have reached the required knowledge and language proficiency in order to start your preferred Bachelor study program the following year. During the foundation year we will prepare you for the assessment exam. Passing the exam will allow you to study the corresponding subject in our Bachelor programs. 

What is it worth to me to study at a university with an international atmosphere? How important is it to have an above average chance of getting the career I want right after getting my degree? What is that worth and how much am I willing to invest in having personal relationships with my professors and fellow students, and an education based on playful experimentation, rather than a full on, direct transfer of knowledge? Karlshochschule offers me truly priceless opportunities. I'm certain that tuition fees are not a cost, but an investment in my own future. 

The tuition fees for the International Foundation Year as well as the following Bachelor study program currently amount to € 690 a month. On top of this all students currently pay € 67.70 per semester to the Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe.