Freshman Program / Studienkolleg
What is the “Freshman Program”?
The Freshman Program is an integral part of the FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences and the Aachen Institute of Applied Sciences e.V. (AcIAS e.V.) that prepares international students for admission to German universities if their educational background requires additional qualifications. It is a comprehensive foundation program that provides you with the academic, language, and cultural skills to thrive in a German university.
The Aachen Institute of Applied Sciences (AcIAS) conducts this one-year full-time program, which consists of appropriate language training and technical and other courses necessary for participants to qualify for German university entrance. It is a “soft landing” for international students: an ideal bridge between school in your home country and university studies in Germany.
What is Special About Freshman Program ?
Do not need to fly to Germany to take the Freshman Entrance Exam (Aufnahmeprüfing)!
Freshman Institute conducts the Freshman Program Entrance Exam from home country through the Freshman Online Entrance Exam which is available yearly in certain months. The online entrance exam fee is 45 USD.
No need to bother looking for accommodation! Freshman provides almost what students need, including accommodation for Freshman students
Entrance Exam Schedule:
Exam Location | Exam Date | Registration Deadline | Language |
Online | 25 February 2026 | 4 February 2026 | English |
Online | 29 January 2026 | 8 January 2026 | English or German |
Online | 25 November 2026 | 4 November 2025 | English |
What Can You Study at Freshman Program?
Depending on your study preferences and language skills, you can choose from three different tracks offered in the Freshman Program:
English to German Track
(Transition from English to German)
Study with guaranteed admission to selected engineering programmes at the FH Aachen or the University of Duisburg-Essen. Previous knowledge of German is not required at the time of application
English Track FeP (Festellungsprüfung) (Completely in English)
Study engineering or business & economics in your choice of English-language Bachelor’s degree programmes in North Rhine-Westphalia. We also offer guaranteed admission to one specific business & economics Bachelor's degree programme at the FH Südwestfalen / South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences. Previous knowledge of German is not required
German Track FeP (Festellungsprüfung)
(Completely in German
Study engineering, medicine, biology & psychology, or business & economics. Previous knowledge of German is required.
During the Freshman Program, students receive a solid preparation for university studies, including:
- Engineering: Mathematics & Physics
- Medicine: Biology, Chemistry & Physics
- Business & Economics: Business Mathematics & economics
(Engineering students in the English-to-German Track also complete practical training in the university laboratories)
What are The Requirements ?
Required language levels
If you take the entrance exam, you do not have to submit a language certificate. You will be tested at the level mentioned below during the entrance exam. Students applying with TestAS must submit a language certificate.
- For English Track FeP and English-to-German Track: English: IELTS 4.5 or TOEFL iBT 53. Prior knowledge of German is recommended but not required for admission.
- For German Track FeP: German level B1 with 90% or B2
Language requirements
Depending on your selected field of study (see What Can You Study?), knowledge of English or German is required for admission
Mandatory requirement
All applicants must take the Freshman Entrance Exam or TestAS.
Application Process
In order to be admitted to the Freshman Program, you must either:
- Complete the Freshman Program entrance exam
- Since the exam includes both a mathematic and a language exam, no separate language certificate is required, or
- Complete TestAS, which must be accompanied by and English or German language certificate
Submit the below-needed documents to mse.my@mercatoreducation.com (Malaysia)
or mse.id@mercatoreducation.com (Indonesia) to register for the online application:
- High School Certificate (SPM/IGCSE + AS Level, UEC, Ujian National Indonesia, Foundation, Diploma or A-Level Certificates, etc.)
- Past 2 years' school results
- Passport/ ID copy
- Passport size photo
- Language Certificate in English or German, if any
- TestAS Certificate, if any
INFORMATION IN CHINESE
预科研究所 (Freshman Institute) 是 FH Aachen (Aachen应用科学大学) 内的一个组织
从2005年到2010年，预科项目是一个独特的政府试点项目，在FH Aachen的Jülich校区。自2010年1月起，该项目已获北莱茵-威斯特法伦高等教育部批准。 预科年（Freshman Year）是你所在国家的学校与德国大学学习之间的同步技术和语言桥梁。
该计划为国际申请者提供独特的德国大学课程。预科项目旨在各国留学生在德国的学业做好‘软着陆’，是本科学习的最佳入口。
德语班的学生完成预科后可以申请德国任何大学。预科研究所会帮助你进行申请，但不能保证入学名额。对于没有德语基础的学生，德国研究所合作大学会跟据你的语言和专业选择要求提供本科项目，并保证入学名额。学士学位后，学生可以在德国或国外继续攻读硕士和博士学位。预科课程将于每年十月开始到八月结束。
Exam Location | Exam Date | Registration Deadline | Language |
Online | June 2025 | Last Online exam for Freshman Program 2025/2026 | English or German |
Online | Fall 2025, intake 2026/27 | TBC | TBC |
Online | TBC | TBC | TBC |
入学要求:
- 通过由预科研究所举办网上入学考试
- 高中毕业认证 (AS-level, UEC, Ausmat, STPM/ A-Level, Diploma或同等的认证）
- 英语或德语的语言流利度
想要了解更多关于预科项目的信息，可浏览网址https://www.fh-aachen.de/en/university/freshman/ 或者联系Mercator Office 进行咨询。
TESTIMONY
"I have to thank the Freshman Program for being the stepping stone that enabled me to pursue my further education in Germany. Often when one considers "studying abroad, there are lots of things/challenges to consider and be aware of before going abroad, but there is no need to worry because all of these formalities will be taken care of by the Freshman Program. I strongly recommend this programme to anyone who is seriously considering coming to Germany for their further studies.
Vivek K.
Freshman Program, English to German Track FH Aachen
"My name is Leo Jie Khai and I am one of the Freshman Program’s student of year 2019/2020. Freshman Program not only provide preparation course for those who want to study in Germany’s Universities, it also taught us every important things and process studying in Germany’s University such as application of VISA, opening a bank account, applying for residence permit and more by guiding us step by step during the freshman year.
We also get to know new friends from different countries and culture of Germany. Freshman Program is a good choice for those who want to study in Germany with or without knowledge of German. I came to Germany without having knowledge of German but my German is getting better during freshman year as I able to get in touch with Germany’s culture every day. Freshman Program has helped me a lot to prepare for my Uni life."
"Freshman Program is a good choice for those who want to study in Germany with or without knowledge of German."
Leo Jie Khai
Freshman Program, English to German Track
Electrical & Electronic Engineering, ISE-Bachelor UDE
"The freshmen year was an amazing year , i have manage to entered into a fantastic uni "
Rion Ng
Freshman Program, English to German Track
Electrical Engineering, FH Aachen
"The freshmen year was an amazing year , i have manage to entered into a fantastic uni , and the freshmen year has done it very best to prepare me not just for uni but as well as to be able to go through everyday life .
Yes ,German language is still a barrier however i personally feel the barrier is much smaller and i’m now at least able to understand and have conversations with Germans. thanks so much for the experience as well as the learning opportunity."
FRESHMAN PROGRAM
Download Brochure
For more information about the test click on the given https://www.fh-aachen.de/en/university/freshman/ or contact us at Mercator Office for further consultation.
Kindly download the flyer of Freshman Program Flyer below:
Send us an email or contact us:
- Mercator Team Malaysia at mse.my@mercatoreducation.com or +6010-331 1215
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