Orientation semester for refugees

Get ready to study, right on campus!

Have you come to Germany as a refugee, and would you like to prepare for studying at the University of Konstanz or elsewhere? During the orientation semester and before you even enrol, you can attend individual courses and earn a certificate of attendance or even take the respective exams.

Who can join the orientation semester?

The orientation semester is perfect for prospective students who:

· have German or English skills at level B2 or above

· have a direct university entrance qualification

· still have to wait another one or two semesters before they can enrol

· would like to enhance their language skills and prepare for a study programme by taking part in relevant courses

· would like to get to know different study programmes

Further advantages and services

During the orientation semester, participants can:

· earn a certificate of attendance for courses they attend regularly.

· complete performance assessments to earn ECTS credits that can be recognized for their studies.

· get their own university email account in order to use, for example, the ILIAS learning platform and the WLAN/Wi-Fi on campus.

· get a free library card in order to access all of the Library's media.

· use university facilities (canteen, university sports, etc.)

How to register

In order to register 

· make an appointment with the coordination Studying in Asylum to fill out the application for the orientation semester together. Please bring along your ID, your documentation of German and/or English skills at level B2 or higher (certificate) and the documents recognizing your school/university certificates from abroad. If these certificates have not yet been recognized, please bring them to the appointment along with a translation in either German or English. We will help you get the recognition process started. Please note that it usually takes at least 6-8 weeks to get a recognition. Therefore please come for an appoinmtent early enough before the application deadline. The application deadlines are 15th March for the summer semester and 15th September for the winter semester. If you are unable to provide some of these documents, contact us anyway and let us know.

· Together with the coordination you will make an appointment with the students' advisor of "your" department in order to determine which courses you will atend during the orientation semester. This information will be included in a written learning agreement by the department.

· As soon as you receive a letter of admission, please pay the semester fee (currently € 179 per semester).

· You will then receive a student ID card, and can attend the corresponding courses and enjoy all the aforementioned advantages.

Each person can complete up to two orientation semesters. If you would like to re-register at the end of the first semester for a second one, please make a new appointment with the coordinator for refugee students. Please note that taking part in an orientation semester does not guarantee admission to a study programme.