Do private universities offer language pathway programmes before dual studies?

Hi Peer42,

Yes, some private universities offer foundation or pathway programmes before a Bachelor’s degree. However, the private programmes we could verify are not specifically designed as guaranteed pathways into dual IT or engineering degrees. They prepare you academically and linguistically for the university’s own Bachelor’s programmes; a contract with a dual partner company must still be obtained separately.

Private university options:

• SRH University offers a two-semester Foundation Programme with an Engineering & IT track. It is taught in English and includes German, mathematics, academic skills and subject-specific preparation. After successfully completing the required modules, students can progress to a suitable SRH Bachelor’s programme. The programme does not, however, guarantee entry into a dual degree or a contract with a partner company.
• IU International University offers a twelve-month Pathway Programme on its Cologne campus. The programme is taught in English, includes some German and bridges academic admission gaps before an English-taught IU on-campus Bachelor’s degree. It is not a German-language pathway into IU’s dual programmes: international applicants to those programmes must normally provide German at B2 level.

For someone starting at A1, neither programme should therefore be understood as a direct route into a German-taught dual IT or engineering degree. Before applying, ask the university whether its preparation programme can be combined with applications to dual partner companies and which German certificate is required for the intended degree.

Dual-specific preparation at a public university:

The clearest programmes aimed specifically at future dual students are offered by the public Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW):

• DHBW Bridge Year in Heidenheim: a two-semester programme for international applicants with little or no German. It includes intensive German, academic preparation, application training, intercultural training and company visits. The DHBW also supports participants when applying to partner companies, although a dual contract is not guaranteed.
• DHBW Studienkolleg in Bad Mergentheim: a two-semester T-course for technical subjects. It includes German, mathematics, physics, application training and support in finding a partner company. Entry requires a recognised B1 German certificate, so it is not yet accessible with A1.
• StartDual.international at DHBW Karlsruhe: a nine-month programme combining further German training, application support and paid work of approximately 20 hours per week at a partner company. Applicants already need German at B2 level, so this would be a later step after further language study.

Two additional points for international applicants:

• Foreign school qualification: If your school-leaving certificate was obtained outside Germany, the university must check whether it provides direct access to a Bachelor’s degree. If it does not, you may need a recognised Studienkolleg and the Feststellungsprüfung. This depends on the qualification, not on your nationality.
• Visa: If you are from outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland and want to complete the preparation programme in Germany, clarify the appropriate visa before booking. Admission-linked preparation may fall under a study visa, while an independent intensive language course may require a language-course visa.

At A1, the most relevant private option depends on whether you want an English-taught regular Bachelor’s degree or ultimately a German-taught dual programme. For the latter, you will generally need at least B2 German before beginning the degree and may need stronger German for the partner company.

You can compare private programmes in our study finder and save suitable options to your bookmarks. For help narrowing down the route, you can also ask Sophie, our virtual study adviser.

Are you looking specifically for on-campus staudies at a private university in Germany, or would distance learning be an option?