What is Feststellungsprüfung (FSP) or the entrance exam in Germany?
“Feststellungsprüfung” is short for “Examination to determine the suitability of applicants with foreign educational certificates (“Bildungsausländer”) to take up studies at universities in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG)”.
Prep4University prepares students in two semesters in cooperation with the Cologne District Government for the successful completion of the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP) in the W- & T-course (economics and social science as well as mathematical, science, or technical study courses). You can take the assessment test internally with us in either German or English.
Who must take the entrance exam?
Students with foreign educational certificates must usually take the Feststellungsprüfung (assessment test) at the beginning of their studies in Germany in order to gain access to higher education.
At the end of our preparatory course Prep4University, all those students who fulfill the formal requirements for access to the Feststellungsprüfung can take the so-called Feststellungsprüfung (FSP).
What happens after passing the FSP assessment test at a Studienkolleg?
After successfully passing the FSP, our students receive a recognized certificate which entitles them to study in North Rhine-Westphalia (English-language FSP) or nationwide (German-language FSP).
The basis for this is the Ordinance on the Assessment Examination for Admission to University Studies (Feststellungsprüfungsordnung Hochschule – PO-FeP-Hochschule).
CBS International Business School is commissioned by the Cologne District Government to conduct the FSP. The English-language FSP is based formally and in terms of content on the specifications of the examination regulations for the specialisation W-course.
The written examination subjects in the English Track include:
- English (Level: C1)
- Mathematics
- Economics
the oral examination subject is German (German as a foreign language)
The written examination subjects in the German Track include:
- German (Level: C1)
- Mathematics
- Economics
the oral examination subject is English
We offer the internal assessment exam twice a year, in the summer and winter semesters.
How often may I repeat the FSP assessment test?
The FSP assessment test can only be repeated once in total.
Can I choose whether I want to take the Feststellungsprüfung or start studying directly?
No, whether you are allowed to take part in the Feststellungsprüfung or attend a Studienkolleg depends on your high school diploma and the associated admission criteria for university entrance in Germany.
When do the FSP assessment tests take place?
There are 2 ways to take the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP) in North Rhine-Westphalia: Centrally at the District Government of Cologne as a so-called “external assessment test” – or, for example, at the Studienkolleg Prep4University, which is commissioned by the District Government of Cologne to administer the test itself.
The FSP at the District Government takes place on 2 dates: End of May / beginning of June and end of November / beginning of December.
By the way: The examiners are lecturers who you will also have in class during the Studienkolleg. The assignments are written by our lecturers and approved by the District Government of Cologne. The exams are corrected and graded by our lecturers and then externally checked and finally confirmed by the Cologne District Government. The advantage: You will be prepared for the exam in a targeted manner.
Attention: The Feststellungsprüfung is considered to be a subject-limited university entrance qualification.
- The assessment test is only valid for the chosen field of study. You decide this with the choice of the course. If you take a preparatory course with the focus “G”, you can then only take humanities study programmes, with the “M-course” everything to do with medicine. Prep4University offers both the “W & T-courses”. This qualifies you for business and social science as well as mathematical, science, and technical courses in the chosen language.
- Pay attention to the required language skills: At German-language preparatory colleges, you usually have to prove that you have a CEFR level B2 in German before you can start – this corresponds to 72 points on the TOEFL scale (iBT). This is demanding and often requires an extensive language course. At Prep4University’s English-language preparatory courses, you only need to prove that you have 72 TOEFL points in English when you start! You don’t need to know German at the beginning, we will teach you that at the Studienkolleg.
The internal CBS entrance examination
What is the CBS entrance examination?
We also offer the possibility of taking the final examination as an internal university entrance examination of the CBS International Business School if you do not fulfill the formal requirements for the Feststellungsprüfung according to anabin, but have a university entrance qualification in your home country.
The content of this final examination is identical to that of the Feststellungsprüfung.
The form and content of the English-language final examination or internal entrance examination are based on the specifications of the examination regulations for the specialisation course W.
The written examination subjects in the English Track include:
- English (Level: C1)
- Mathematics
- Economics
the oral examination subject is German (German as a foreign language)
The written examination subjects in the German Track include:
- German (Level: C1)
- Mathematics
- Economics
the oral examination subject is English
If you need further information about Prep4University or the assessment or final examination, our student advisors will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
You are not sure whether you meet the formal requirements for the Feststellungsprüfung or the internal university entrance examination?
Feel free to send us your current school reports and/or secondary school certificates by e-mail to prep4uni@cbs.de so that we can give you guaranteed information.
Contact us, we will gladly check your document
Not sure whether your qualification is recognized in Germany? Do you have any questions? We look forward to your inquiry and will gladly help you. Simply use the following form to send us your request and documents, and a member of our team will get in touch with you shortly.