International Programmes 2023/2024

Pre-Study Fulda Pre-Study Fulda

Fulda University of Applied Sciences • Fulda

For information on Pre-Study Fulda, please visit our website or contact the coordinator, Ms Pitz, for individual information. We are looking forward to receiving your application.

Teaching language
  • German
  • English
Date(s)
  • October 2023 - February 2024 (Registration deadline of course provider: 15 September 2023)
  • March - July 2024 (Registration deadline of course provider: 15 January 2024)
Additional information on dates and mode of study

Summer semester:

  • B2 German language course (prerequisite German level B1), min. 20 class hours/week
  • DSH course (prerequisite German level B2) accompanied by academic courses in your chosen field of study, Living & Studying in Germany, Introduction to Scientific Work (up to 30 class hours/week)

Winter semester:

  • B2 German language course (min. 20 class hours/week)
  • DSH German language course (min. 20 class hours/week)
Description/content

Pre-Study Fulda is a special introductory programme for international applicants to Fulda University of Applied Sciences. It provides advanced preparation for students from abroad who want to "warm up" for their future studies.
Pre-Study Fulda offers language courses in German and preparatory academic courses in the students' chosen subjects, in order to ensure that they have the required background knowledge to facilitate the start of their studies. Participants learn the scientific and scholarly methods of academic work that they need in order to study successfully at a German university. They also obtain tips on living and studying in Germany.

Please choose your desired degree programme from the list on our website.

Pre-Study Fulda comprises five modules:

  • Module 1: German language courses level B2/C1, min. 20 hours/week
  • Module 2: English language courses level B1/B2, four hours/week + two weeks of intensive classes
  • Module 3: Academic preparatory courses, six hours/week
  • Module 4: General introduction to living and studying in Germany, one hour/week
  • Module 5: Introduction to methods of academic work, two hours/week

The academic preparatory courses depend on the chosen study programme, e.g. study programmes in engineering and technical sciences: "Principles of Engineering" and "Tutorials in Physics and Mathematics", Department of Business Administration: "Principles of Management and Accounting", etc.

Course components
  • Subject-specific preparation
  • General preparation for studies
  • Preparation for academic working methods
  • Intercultural training
  • Orientation "Living in Germany"
  • Excursions
  • Language course
Further information on the language course / language courses

Upon successful completion of the B2 level, you will be allowed to continue with the DSH course. This level marks the admission requirement for most study programmes.

Additional English courses may be taken as well.

Recognised language exams offered (e.g. DSH, TestDaF, TOEFL)
Yes
Average number of hours per week
30
Do course participants have student status?
No
ECTS credits (max.)
30
Does this course involve taking the university entrance examination or does the course specifically prepare students for this examination?
No
Preparation for degree programmes
  • Bachelor's degree
  • Master's degree
Preparation for subject groups
  • Agriculture, Forestry and Nutritional Science
  • Engineering
  • Languages and Cultural Studies
  • Law, Economics and Social Sciences
  • Mathematics, Natural Sciences
Further information on subsequent admission to degree programmes/guaranteed admission

Upon successful completion of the Pre-Study Fulda programme, a bonus of 0.3 can be granted to your GPA in order to improve the probability of your admission into certain degree programmes.
Successful completion means that you have:

  • participated on a regular basis - minimum 85% attendance - in all courses
  • passed the mandatory final exams with the following grades:

a) Academic courses: the grade must be at least equal to or better than the minimum admission grade for the desired course of study, at least 2.5 (German grading scale) for most of the Master's programmes and
b) German courses: DSH 2

Integrated internships

A six-week internship is an admission requirement for the Bachelor's programme in Physiotherapy and is also recommended for the Nursing and Midwifery programmes. The internship is an integral part of Pre-Study Fulda during the semester break.

Average number of participants per group/course
15
Costs

500–900 EUR (depending on the package)

This price includes
  • Course fees
  • Course fees for language course
  • Accompanying programme
Costs (alternative package)
From 500 EUR
This price includes (alternative package)
  • Course fees
  • Accompanying programme
Further information regarding the price

We offer the following packages:

  1. Pre-Study incl. DSH, academic and other courses: 900 EUR
  2. Pre-Study B2 language course only: 700 EUR
  3. Pre-Study without a language course: 500 EUR (only possible if you submit a DSH 2 or DSH 3 certificate)

Further costs:
Individual monthly costs for, e.g. living, meals, insurance, public transport

Scholarships:
Pre-Study Fulda's two most successful graduates who enrol in a study programme at Fulda University (after having completed all modules in the summer semester) will be awarded a scholarship of 300 EUR/month for their first winter semester, with the option of extending this scholarship for the second semester.

Academic admission requirements

1. Bachelor's programmes: university entrance qualification
If you are not sure whether you are eligible, please check this database regarding admission requirements.

2. Master's programmes: university entrance qualification and first degree in the field of the desired Master's programme. The first degree must be considered equivalent to the German three-year Bachelor's degree.

Please find further information about the admission requirements on our website.

Pre-Study Fulda cannot replace the completion of "Studienkolleg" (preparatory college). For that, please refer to Pre-College Fulda. Students may be able to compensate for a lack of German language skills and, in some study programmes, a lack of special academic knowledge during the course. Please contact the coordinator of Pre-Study Fulda: Ms Christina Pitz.

Language requirements

Certified proof of German language knowledge of the previous level is required at the start of the course. This means that your level may be lower at the time of application. Applicants who have a C1 CEFR certificate (DSH2 or equivalent) or higher may be exempt from the German language classes.

For example, the following certificates are accepted:

For the B2 German language course:

  • Goethe-Zertifikat B1
  • telc-Zertifikat B1
  • TestDaF with TDN 3 in at least one of the parts
  • Certificate from Fulda University

DSH course:

  • Goethe-Zertifikat B2
  • telc-Zertifikat B2
  • TestDaF with TDN 3 in all parts
  • DSH 1
  • Certificate from Fulda University

Equivalent certificates may be accepted on an individual basis.

Do applicants require a higher education entrance qualification recognised in Germany?
Yes
Do applicants have to have already been admitted to a study programme at your university?
No
Submit application to

https://www.hs-fulda.de/en/international/international-office/study-in-fulda/preparatory-programmes/pre-study-fulda

Is accommodation organised?
The organiser helps participants look for accommodation.
Accommodation

You can choose between accommodation in a university hall of residence or a private room in a local residential student community on campus or in town. All rooms are completely furnished with a kitchen, a laundry room with a washing machine and dryer, a toilet and shower, a TV, and Internet access. Monthly costs are approx. 280–400 EUR. If you prefer to organise accommodation by yourself, you are free to do so. In this case, we can support you with a list of residence halls.

Meals

Directly adjacent to the campus and in town, you will find various shopping facilities. There are also supermarkets with international food, such as Turkish, Asian, or African products. On the campus, you can find a canteen, a student café, and takeaways.

Is a social and leisure programme offered?
Yes
Description of social and leisure programme

During the orientation week, we assist you in all administrative affairs that have to be dealt with (e.g. health insurance, residence permit, rental agreement, student card, registration). Our buddy programme pairs new international students with experienced German or international students. You are invited to take part in activities, such as excursions to the near and far surroundings, to get to know Germany, the city of Fulda, our university, the campus and, of course, the other students.

Free internet access
Yes
Support in visa matters
Yes
Pick-up service from train station/airport
Yes
Supervisor-student ratio
1:15

Fulda University of Applied Sciences

Content Bild
Fulda University campus © Hochschule Fulda

Fulda University of Applied Sciences is a practice-oriented university with an international profile and a strong focus on applied research. Fulda University is the first university of applied sciences in Germany with the independent right to confer doctoral degrees.

Founded in 1974, the university currently encompasses eight departments with over 60 study programmes, approx. 8,700 students, and 1,750 international students from more than 90 countries. The university offers a broad range of academic and professional education. Numerous research and development projects are undertaken in cooperation with private business and industry. Fulda University cooperates with more than 100 universities around the world. The number of international programmes is growing continuously. These programmes are partly or entirely taught in English. At the Bachelor's level, we currently offer four international Bachelor's programmes: "Science & Engineering", "Food Technology", "Global Health", and "International Business & Management". At the Master's level, we offer six programmes: "International Management"; "Intercultural Communication and European Studies"; "International Food Business and Consumer Studies"; "Global Software Development"; "Data Science"; and "Human Rights Studies in Politics, Law, and Society".

Further programmes designed for international students include the following:

  1. Pre-College Fulda, a preparatory year for applicants with and without a higher education entrance qualification for Germany
  2. Pre-Study Fulda, a preparatory semester for international applicants that includes German language training
  3. Career services for international students and graduates
  4. German courses
  5. Support services, e.g. to find housing as well as a buddy programme
  6. International Summer University (ISU), International Winter University (IWU), International Course in Business (ICB), and International Course in Social Work (ICSW)
19.5% International students
60+ Study programmes

University location

A historic city founded in 744, Fulda currently has a population of 70,000 with approx. 100,000 people living in the region. Fulda's Baroque quarter is one of the most beautiful in Germany and attracts visitors from all over the world. The picturesque Old Town has many cafés, bars, and pubs as well as numerous shops and boutiques. The city's cultural life has something to offer for everyone. The high quality of life makes Fulda a safe and great place to live and an ideal place to study. Fulda enjoys ideal public transport connections. One of Europe's principal international airports, Frankfurt International, is just one hour away by car or direct train. Other major cities in Germany, like Berlin, Munich, Cologne, or Hamburg, are within easy reach and only two to three hours away by train. Even famous European capitals like Paris and Brussels are reachable within five hours by train.

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