Information for Refugees
Contact
Please find us at our Service Desk at the Infopunkt International (A0-307) from Monday to Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Accompanying research for study preparation
Language as a key competence for successful studies (SPRASS)
Preparatory German courses for prospective students with and without a refugee background
You fulfill the academic requirements for studying at a German university? You have already studied in your home country and wish to continue your studies in Germany? You do not yet fulfill the German language requirements for starting your studies?
Our German language centre PunktUm prepares you purposefully and intensely for the German language requirements for studying at a German university.
Application
Our next preparatory German courses start on September 1, 2025. The courses are already fully booked.
To get a place on the waiting list for the next courses starting in March 2026, please apply online: application form.
The application form is continously available and applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis.
We recommend applying early to secure a place on the course. Admissions for the next courses will be granted between December 1, 2025, and January 15, 2026.
Overview
-
Free language course for refugees with certain residence permits
- Intensive TestDaF preparation course with 24 hours per week
- Level B2 to C1: Up to the degree of the German exam for university admission
- Intensive support in terms of tutorials and accompanying programme
- Enrollment as a language course student
- Vacant course places can also be given to other international students. Apply here as an international student!
Course places are awarded according to the guidelines and with funds from the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (MKW).
For the participation, you need:
- Foreign university entrance qualification
- At least B1 certificate
- Proof of residence status and information that you arrived in Germany no more than five years ago
- Residence status and refugee background
The programme focuses on people with a refugee background whose entry to Germany was no longer than five years ago.
- Persons entitled to asylum, persons recognized as refugees or persons entitled to subsidiary protection as well as persons for whom a national ban on deportation has been established as well as comparable persons who have a residence permit (§§ 25 Abs. 1-3, 22, 23 Abs. 1 und 2, 23 Abs. 4, 23a oder 25 Abs. 4, 25 Abs. 5 AufenthG)
- Persons admitted on the basis of the Mass Influx Directive (§ 24 AufenthG)
- Persons who have received a rejection in the asylum procedure carried out by the BAMF, but a deportation has been temporarily suspended (Duldung gem. § 60 a Abs. 2 AufenthG)
Excluded are persons
- Who are under a latent or immediate obligation to leave the country (§§ 50 Abs. 1 und 60a AufenthG)
- With a residence permit (§55 AufenthG)
- With a German educational qualification
- With a settlement permit
- With a German citizenship
- Proof of university entrance qualification
In order to be able to prove your university entrance qualification, you will need the following documents, which must be submitted in the original language and translated during the history of the application process. Please endeavour to obtain a translation in good time.
- Abitur certificate
- List of grades from (German) 'Abitur'
- Bachelor's or Master's degree certificate
- Bachelor's or Master's transcript
- Provisional transcript if the BA/MA is not yet completed and you are still studying abroad
- Curriculum vitae
- Course dates
- Application period
- Course allocation
Allocation procedure for September 2025
- Examination of the application documents: ongoing
- Sending of admission letters for the course (by email) by July 15.
Afterwards a waiting list will be operated. Further admissions according to places available. - Starting on July 16 possibility to enrol officially at Bielefeld University
- Enrolment
As a participant in our language course you will be enrolled as a language course student (non-degree).
For this purpose, the Student Services Contribution has to be paid. The amount of the contribution varies each semester. Please click here to check the current amount.
Once you have received a letter of admission and an invitation to the course (by email), you can submit an application for enrolment to the Student Office to confirm your participation in the course.