International Foundation Year (Studienkolleg)
The International Foundation Year at Karlshochschule is a one-year preparatory program comprising English and German language training, German cultural studies, mathematics, IT and foundations in economics and business administration designed specifically to provide international students with a direct path to undergraduate degree studies at our University.
Why a foundation year?
The International Foundation Year offers an entry to your desired Bachelor degree program, when you have a secondary school degree which qualifies you to study in your home country, but which is not recognized as a higher education entrance qualification in Germany. In this case you need to attend a one-year preparatory program to match the length and contents of your education to what is needed to successfully start your Bachelor study program at the Karls. The International Foundation Year links your school education with our undergraduate programs and helps you to adjust from the secondary education in your home country to the academic culture and programs in Germany in general and at the Karls in particular.
Students who pass the International Foundation Year at Karlshochschule successfully will be admitted to our Bachelor programs.
The International Foundation Year starts every fall semester in September.
Facts about the International Foundation Year (Studienkolleg)
The International Foundation Year (Studienkolleg) is the basis for your Bachelor studies at Karlshochschule (1 + 3 years). The chart below lists all available Bachelor degree programs to combine with the International Foundation Year:
Requirements for entry
- School leaving certificate
- Eligibility to enter the foundation year according to German regulations
- Proof of English proficiency (unless English is your native language)
- Official certificate of level B2 according to the Common European Framework of reference for Languages (CEFR)
- IELTS of 6.0 points or above
- Internet-based TOEFL score of at least 80 points

Degree Program Structure