- Technical University of Berlin Info on Admission Requirements for Filipinos -

This information is dated form 1997, but probably still valid today, and for other Universities as well.

1.Pre-qualification

Filipino nationals intending to study at the Technical University of Berlin must have completed at least two years of university or college education successfully to qualify for admission.

2.PNdS

At the Technical University of Berlin (TUB) most seminars and lectures are conducted in German. For this reason Filipinos intending to enroll at the TUB are required to produce their PNdS certificate (Prüfung zum Nachweis deutscher Sprachkenntnisse) prior to admission. Filipinos who already possess a `Kleines oder Grosses Sprachdiplom des Goethe-Instituts' can present this in lieu of the PNdS certificate. Filipinos who are non-holders of PNdS certificate but have already completed the Basic German Course Level 3 (Deutsch als Fremdsprache Mittelstufe 1) have the chance to participate in the bi-annual PNdS examination held at the Technical University of Berlin.
One must bear in mind that the PNdS certificate is only one of the important requirements for admission to the TUB and is not an assurance for a place (Studienplatz) in the university, considering that many courses are quota-courses (Numerus Clausus). Furthermore, the PNdS certificate is only required for students who are qualified for a direct admission to the university. (The topic `Applying for a direct admission' will be discussed here later.) Most foreign students are first required to attend a `Vorstudieneinrichtung' (preparatory course for the university). These are the `Studienkolleg' (2 semesters) and the `Deutschkurs' (1 semester). At the end of each of these preparatory courses, an obligatory final examination must be taken, namely:

The TUB conducts a competitive examination twice a year for foreign students wishing to be admitted to any of these two university preparatory courses. Completion of Basic German Course level 2 (Deutsch als Fremdsprache Grundstufe 2) is a pre-requisite for participation in these examinations.

3. Applying for Admission to the Technical University-Berlin by way of `Studienkolleg'

Filipinos who have already met the minimum requirement of 2 successful years of university or college education have to enroll first for the 'Studienkolleg' in preparation for the 'Festellungsprüfung'. A 'Studienkolleg' is a preparatory course for the German university intended for foreign students. The aim of the `Studienkolleg' is to orient incoming students in their own respective areas of study before entering the university. Thus, a student wishing to study mechanical engineering will have to attend courses like introduction to physics and mathematics, whereas students wishing to study sociology will have to attend introductory courses to psychology and the social sciences in the `Studienkolleg'. In addition to this, `Studienkolleg' students must also attend courses in advanced German. The duration of the 'Studienkolleg' is two semesters (one year). An obligatory exam called `Festellungsprüfung' (Test of Ascertain ability) is to be taken after completion of the said course. After passing the `Festellungsprüfung' one is qualified to be admitted to the TUB. Students enrolled at the Studienkolleg have only two chances to pass the `Festellungsprüfung'. Failing twice is a ground for expulsion not only from the TUB but also from all universities in the Federal Republic of Germany. To be able to participate in the competitive entrance examination for the `Studienkolleg' , the following documents must be submitted before the 15th of July for the winter semester or before the 15th of January for the summer semester.

  1. Application form for Admission to the Technical University of Berlin (Zulassungsantrag) properly completed
  2. Passport-size picture
  3. High School Diploma
  4. Copy of the University or College Transcript of Records
  5. Basic German Course Level 2 Certificate (DaF Grundstufe 2)
  6. Passport with the Visa `Aufenthaltsbewilligung zu Studienzwecken'
  7. Health Insurance Certificate
  8. Certificate of Local Police Registration

Processing of the application normally takes 4 weeks. Applicants are informed of the date and the place of examination by mail. Considering the big number of student applicants for this preparatory course, the TUB is compelled to limit the admission of students.

4. Applying for Admission to the Technical University by way of `Deutschkurs'

The `Deutschkurs' (German Course) is a one-semester advanced German language course being offered at the TUB for foreign students who are already qualified for a direct admission to the Technical University but nevertheless still lacking proficiency in German. Students admitted to the 'Deutschkurs' are required to pass the PNdS examination at the end of the course in order to be admitted to the TUB. Filipino students who have successfully completed at least 75% of their university or college education leading to a bachelors degree in the Philippines are qualified to enroll in this course. To be able to participate in the competitive admission examination for the 'Deutschkurs', the following documents must be submitted to the Technical University before the 15th of July for the winter semester and before the 15th of January for the summer semester:

  1. Application form for Admission to the Technical University of Berlin (Zulassungsantrag) properly completed
  2. Passport-size picture
  3. High School Diploma
  4. Copy of the University or College Transcript of Records
  5. University or College Diploma (for applicants who already have a bachelor's degree)
  6. Basic German Course Level 2 Certificate (DaF Grundstufe 2)
  7. Passport with the Visa `Aufenthaltsbewilligung zu Studienzwecken'
  8. Health Insurance Certificate
  9. Certificate of Local Police Registration

Processing normally takes 4 weeks. Applicants for this course are informed of the date and place of examination by mail.

5.Applying for a `Direct Admission' to the Technical University with a ready `PNdS' certificate

A direct admission to the university (Direkter Hochschulzugang) means that one is no longer required to take and pass the `Festellungsprüfung' (Test of Ascertainability). A direct admission is granted by the `Akademisches Auslandsamt' of the TUB (see TUB-Addresses) on the basis of one's university or college transcript of records. Students who are already in possession of a PNdS certificate or its equivalent and are qualified for a direct admission to the TUB have to submit the following documents before the 15th of July for the winter semester or before the 15 of January for the summer semester:

  1. Application form for Admission to the Technical University of Berlin (Zulassungsantrag) properly completed
  2. Passport-size picture
  3. High School Diploma
  4. Copy of the University or College Transcript of Records
  5. University or College Diploma ( for applicants who already have a bachelor's degree)
  6. PNdS Certificate or it's equivalent
  7. Passport with the Visa `Aufenthaltsbewilligung zu Studienzwecken'
  8. Health Insurance Certificate
  9. Certificate of Local Police Registration

For quota courses, only 5 percent of the total available places (Studienplatz) are allocated to foreign students. It may be necessary to wait until a place becomes available.

6. Visa Formalities

In writing this, it has been assumed that applicants from the Philippines have already been granted a student visa by the German embassy in Manila and are already residing in Germany at the time of application. The student visa with the stamp `Aufenthaltsbewilligung zu Studienzwecken' can only be processed and be initially granted in the Philippines by the German embassy in Manila. Filipino students wishing to study in Germany are first advised to inquire from the German embassy in Manila. Address all inquiries about studying in Germany to the embassy.

7. German Language Schools

The Technical University does not offer beginner's courses in German. Filipinos who want to learn German in Germany can visit any of the private language schools or `Volkshochschule' (People's College) there. Most of these schools have special courses for foreign students intending to study later in any of the German universities. Filipinos can also attend German courses being offered by the Goethe Institute in Manila to save on money and time. The Goethe Institute in Manila offers basic German courses and also issues German language certificates required for admission to German universities after passing and attending their course.

8. Technical University-Berlin Addresses

All applications must be addressed to : 

          Der Praesident

          Akademisches Auslandsamt

          Technische Universitaet Berlin

          Strasse des .17 Juni 135

          Berlin D-10623

          Germany

Filipinos who are already residing in the Federal Republic of Germany at the time of application, can visit this office for further inquiries: 

         Akademisches Auslandsamt

         Raum H 49a-b Hauptgebauede

         Technische Universitaet Berlin

         Strasse des 17. Juni 135

         (U-Bahn Ernst Reuter Platz / Bus 245/ Bus 145)

This office is open on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays (except on holidays) from 9:30 am to 12:30 noon.

9. Explanation of some German Words used here

Akademisches Auslandsamt
an office in a German university attending to foreign students in matters like admission, enrollment and school record evaluation, and responsible for academic exchanges.
Aufenthaltsbewilligung zu Studienzwecken
can be translated into English as `residence permit for the purpose of studying ' stamped in the passport of foreign students coming to Germany to study.
Deutsch als Fremdsprache
translated into English as`German as a foreign language' and normally abbreviated `DaF'. DaF is a basic German course being offered by recognized private language schools and the Volkshochschule (People's College) in Germany. The course levels relevant for admission to German universities are: 
      Grundstufe 1  or  Level 1

      Grundstufe 2  or  Level 2  (Requirement for the Deutschkurs

                                   and the Studienkolleg)

      Mittelstufe 1 or  Level 3  (Requirement for the PNdS exam)
Deutschkurs
advanced German language course offered by the Technical University of Berlin to qualified foreign students in preparation for their studies at the university.
Festellungsprüfung
final examination to be taken by students enrolled in the Studienkolleg. Students who have passed this examination are readily admitted to the university.
Kleines oder Grosses Sprachdiplom des Goethe-Instituts
is a certificate issued by the Goethe Institute to students who attended and passed their German language courses and exam.
Numerus Clausus
quota course, meaning admission to a certain course in the university is limited.
PNdS
the abbreviation for `Prüfung zum Nachweis deutscher Sprachkenntnisse. The word for word translation of this in German is `Test to prove knowledge in the German language'.
Studienkolleg
preparatory course for foreign student wishing to be admitted to the university.
Studienplatz
the German word to describe the `place' granted to a student in the university.
Volkshochschule (VHS)
a school which offers different courses for adults, ranging from cooking to philosophy. Foreigners can also enroll in some Volkshochschule courses where DaF (Deutsch als Fremdsprache) is being offered. Each major town in Germany has at least one Volkshochshule.
Vorstudieneinrichtung
preparatory course for the university for foreign students. As mentioned earlier, 'Studienkolleg' and 'Deutschkurs' are Vorstudieneinrichtungen.
Zulassungsantrag
is the German word for application for admission.

Copyright: Rey Jude P. AGANA , Student at the "Technischen Universität Berlin"
Email: mabuhay@cs.tu-berlin.de