Home · Foundation year · Prep4University

CBS International Business School · Cologne

No entrance exam. A guaranteed CBS place when you pass.

Prep4University is the state-recognised foundation course at CBS International Business School in Cologne. Choose the English or the German track, pass the FSP, and a full-time CBS bachelor's seat is yours.

Plan my admission Compare the two tracks
Duration
2 semesters, then the FSP
Tracks
English or German
Entrance exam
None, reviewed on documents
Fee from
€6,000 to start from
Apply on documentsno German needed
2 semesterstaught in English
CBS bachelor'sguaranteed place
The promise: on either track, every student who passes the FSP is guaranteed admission to a full-time bachelor's at CBS International Business School. No entrance exam stands in the way.
What it is

A bridge into the German system, in your stronger language.

Prep4University is a private, state-recognised foundation course run by CBS International Business School in Cologne, for international students whose school diploma does not allow direct entry to a German university. Over two semesters it prepares you for the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP), often taken internally since CBS is commissioned by the Cologne District Government.

Why this route

Six reasons students pick it.

An English or a German track

Study in the language you are stronger in, then sit the matching FSP. Few German foundation programmes offer both.

No entrance exam

Admission is decided on your high-school documents, which saves you travel and exam stress.

A guaranteed CBS place

On either track, successful graduates are guaranteed admission to a full-time bachelor's at CBS International Business School.

A pre-prep semester

No B2 German yet? An intensive preparatory language semester takes you from A1 up to B1 or B2 before the main course.

Duolingo accepted

The English track accepts Duolingo, which is cheap, online and returns a result within the hour, alongside IELTS and TOEFL.

The FSP, often in house

Because CBS is commissioned by the Cologne District Government, the exam can frequently be taken internally.

The two tracks

Choose the language you are stronger in.

Both tracks cover the T and W foundation courses and lead to the same FSP. Tap a track to see entry, exam and where it takes you.

EN Taught in English

English track

For students aiming at an English-taught bachelor's in Germany. No German is required to start, and you build it during the course.

Language to enter
IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 72 or Duolingo 105. Waived if English was your school's language of instruction.
FSP written
English (C1)MathematicsEconomics
FSP oral
German
German during the course
You reach at least B1, often B2, by the end. No prior German needed.
University access
English-taught bachelor's programmes in NRW, plus select universities in other states.
DE Taught in German

German track

For students aiming to study in German at public or private universities across Germany.

Language to enter
A German B2 certificate. Waived if German was your school's language of instruction.
FSP written
German (C1)MathematicsEconomics
FSP oral
English
Not at B2 yet?
A pre-prep language semester takes you from A1 up to B1 or B2 before the main course.
University access
Valid nationwide, for all public and private universities in Germany.

Both tracks at a glance.

Track Taught in German to start Duration Final exam
ENEnglish trackEnglishNone, built during the course2 semestersFSP at CBS
DEGerman trackGermanB2, or pre-prep from A12 semestersFSP at CBS
The journey

From application to a German university place.

An optional pre-prep semester, then two semesters of foundation study, the FSP, and your CBS bachelor's seat.

The pre-prep semester

Start from zero German, finish ready for the German track.

If you want the German track but do not yet have a B2 certificate, CBS runs an intensive preparatory language semester that takes you from A1 up to B1 or B2. You enter the main Studienkolleg ready to keep up.

  • Pre-prep (optional): intensive German, A1 to B1/B2
  • Semester 1: foundation subjects on your chosen track
  • Semester 2: exam preparation in language, maths and economics
  • The FSP: taken at the end, often in house at CBS
StartReady for the German track
A1A2B1B2

The English track needs no German to start. The German track wants B2, and the pre-prep semester gets you there from as low as A1.

Costs & dates

What you pay, and when to apply.

Tuition from €6,000Flexible payment options
What you payCost
Enrollment fee, due on registration€600
Non-EU deposit, a down payment deducted from tuition€2,650
Pay in one go (with a discount), in two, or monthlyYour choice

The non-EU deposit is not an extra fee. It counts toward your total tuition. We confirm the full tuition for your track and start.

Two intakes a year

Summer semester starts in February. Apply by 15 October if you need a visa, or by 6 January if you do not.

Winter semester starts in August. Apply by 15 May if you need a visa, or by 6 August if you do not.

FSP exams run twice a year, around the end of May and the end of November.

Your documents

What you need to apply.

Admission is on your documents. We get them in order before anything is submitted.

  • Proof of schoolingHigh-school diploma, A-Level, Gaokao or IB, with full transcripts. Originals plus a certified translation if not in English or German.
  • Language certificateIELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo for the English track, or a German B2 for the German track.
  • Motivation letter & CVA one-page motivation letter and a short tabular CV.
  • Passport copyA certified copy of your passport, or your ID card if you are an EU citizen.
Apply via Laghbani Consulting

We handle the whole process.

Foundation Year €599
  • Decide between the English and German track for your goal
  • Arrange your language test, Duolingo included, where useful
  • Document collection, translation and certification
  • Submit to CBS admissions and track the decision
  • Add Pre-Arrival or Premium later for the full visa and arrival service
Apply with the Foundation Year package

Apply through us on the Foundation Year package (Studienkolleg, €599), guided from documents to your admission letter.

Questions

Prep4University, answered.

Is the CBS place really guaranteed?

On either track, every student who passes the FSP is guaranteed admission to a full-time bachelor's at CBS International Business School. The FSP itself can often be taken internally, since CBS is commissioned by the Cologne District Government.

English or German track, which should I pick?

Pick the language you are stronger in. The English track needs no German to start and opens English-taught bachelor's programmes in NRW and select universities elsewhere. The German track wants a B2 to start and is valid nationwide for all public and private universities.

I have no German yet. Can I still apply?

Yes. The English track requires no German at all. If you want the German track, an intensive pre-prep language semester takes you from A1 up to B1 or B2 before the main course begins.

Is there an entrance exam?

No. Admission is decided on your high-school documents, reviewed individually, so there is no entrance test to travel for or sit.

English or German, you decide

Not sure which track fits you?

One call weighs your English and German, your target degree and your timeline, then we recommend the track and apply for you.

Book a consultation Compare the seven