FAQ

The Pre-Bachelor Semester (PBS) is a pre-degree program which enables students to prepare for their undergraduate education during the preceding Spring semester, transfer up to 12.5 ECTS to their first-year undergraduate program, and acclimate themselves to living and studying in another country where cultural context is very different from their own.

Spring semester begins in February and ends in June.

The Pre-Bachelor Semester and all its classes are entirely taught in English.

The Pre-Bachelor Semester curriculum is organized in two (2) types of classes:

Core Modules

• Academic English II or Pure Mathematics or Foundation Statistics
• Computational Thinking and Coding
• Career Development

Undergraduate Modules

• CHOICE or Methods module from the Spring Semester (as per prerequisite conditions)
• Language or Humanities module
• Intercultural Competence and Culturally Sensitive Communication

This module combination will ensure accurate academic preparation for PBS students into the undergraduate program of choice.

Yes, students have the unique opportunity to start their career development during their Foundation Year by meeting industry professionals, gaining valuable networking and professional skills to jump-start their career path while studying. It further enables students to attain the needed study skills to succeed at university, while focusing on their individual and cultural awareness, thus supporting them to flourish at Constructor University Bremen and within the global working environment.

Our class sizes are small, typically we range between 20 and 30 students per class, so professors can monitor the progress of individual students closely. The number of places for students in our Pre-Bachelor Semester program is limited so that we can provide each student with as much individual support and guidance as possible.

Yes, Constructor University’s campus is safe. We have a 24/7 security team on campus (porters) and Resident Mentors in the colleges. There is also always a Resident Associate on duty at night.

Constructor University not only offers an excellent academic education but also many opportunities for students outside the classroom. The various student-driven social and cultural activities encompass events throughout the year. Student clubs range from arts to sports and community groups. More information about campus life can be found on this webpage.

Constructor University takes student welfare very seriously. Each college has its own Resident Mentor whom students can approach with welfare concerns. The Resident Mentors are professionals who live on campus and are strongly committed to ensure the health and interpersonal, academic, and social well-being of our undergraduate community. Other services we offer students include psychological counselling, cross-cultural and life coaching, mediation, support groups, workshops, awareness campaigns and much more. All are free and confidential.

You can apply for the Pre-Bachelor Semester at Constructor University in two (2) different ways: 

- As a direct applicant: if you are a student and you wish to apply independently. 

- As an agent: if you are an educational agent and you would like to apply for a student.

Yes, all students must be at least 16 years old when entering the program.

As a student, you can directly apply to the International Foundation Year on your own. Please, use this link to create your application on our online application platform.

In case you have specific questions that are not answered on the website, you can also contact Constructor University’s Pre-Bachelor Team by email at prebachelorsemester@constructor.university.

Your application and all its attached documents must be in English or German. If it is not the case, you should provide an official translation into English or German. The translated documents should bear a seal affixed by the translator stating that the translation is a true copy of the (original) document.

When a decision has been made on your application, an update will appear on your account on our online application system. You will also receive an email informing you that the admission’s decision is now available. This would usually be within two (2) to three (3) weeks of receipt of your completed application.

All students who obtain a high school diploma or local equivalent prior to the start of the program and who possess English language skills equivalent to the B2 level of the European Framework may apply for the PBS program. The application process is selective and seeks out motivated students who show both the intellectual and social potential to thrive in a diverse international study environment.

• A complete Pre-bachelor Semester application consists of the following:
• Online Application Form including a Personal Motivation Statement
• Recommendation Letter from a teacher, school counselor or principal
• Certified copies of school transcripts of the last 2-3 years and a certified copy of the High School Certificate
• Educational History Form
• Proof of English Language Proficiency (minimum score of 90 on the TOEFL iBT / 6.5 on the IELTS (UK) / standard score of 600 SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (New SAT)/ 110 on the Duolingo English test)

For more information about the applications process and its requirements, please contact prebachelorsemester@constructor.university.

Yes, you can apply before receiving your high school certificate/diploma. We will evaluate your application based on all the grades available to date (usually the last 2 – 3 years of high school). If you are made an offer of admission, this will be conditional on your achieving final grades which reflect those shown on the transcripts you submit to us as part of your application.

We do not have grade or score minimums (except for the English language proficiency exams). Nevertheless, the higher the grade or score, the better one's chances of admission.

Every accepted student is expected to have performed very well academically and on all university entrance exams before matriculating at Constructor University. However, grade reports are only one part of the application. We definitely look at students' test scores, recommendation letters (optional/upon request), essays and extra-curricular activities before making a final decision on any application file.

Your letter of motivation should explain to us why you choose to apply for the Pre-Bachelor Semester at Constructor University and what aspects of the program most interest you. We are also interested in knowing more about your background knowledge, your research and study interests, and your future career plans. You should thereby demonstrate why you are a suitable candidate for the program and why attending it is the right choice for you, your studies and/or career paths.

An average letter of recommendation ranges between half a page to a full page. A three (3) to four (4) sentence recommendation is too short, as this letter is an assessment of the applicant’s academic and personal strengths.

A transcript is an official list of the courses (or classes) you have taken and the grades you have earned in those courses during your academic career.

No. If you have grown up in an environment in which you use standard English as your primary language, and where English is considered a national language, then you will be exempted from additional testing. We nevertheless always pay attention to English grades and score reports and should we have reason to question your language skills, you may be requested to provide additional proof of your ability to carry out university-level academic work in English.

TOEFL scores can be sent directly to the institutions the student has specifically designated. Constructor University’s code number is 9024.

If your high school diploma grants you a direct admission to a university in Germany, Constructor University does not require SAT/ACT for admission evaluation. However, SAT or ACT may be required for enrollment, if your high school diploma does not grant you direct admission to a university in Germany. If you cannot yet submit a standardized test, your application will be considered based on the personal essay, letters of recommendation, academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and the way students present themselves through the application process.

If your admission is conditional on having to take the SAT/ACT, we recommend you take the test before arrival. However, you will also have the option to take it on campus (October and/or December). For those who enroll without SAT and ACT and are to take it on campus, we may also offer complementary test preparation.

If your admission is conditional on having to take the SAT/ACT, we recommend you take the test before arrival. However, you will also have the option to take it on campus (October and/or December). For those who enroll without SAT and ACT and are to take it on campus, we may also offer complementary test preparation.

Students who want their SAT/ACT scores directly sent to Constructor University should indicate the Code Number 3665 for the SAT and 5249 for the ACT.

No, Constructor University does not charge any application fee.

The enrolment deposit secures your spot in the Pre-Bachelor Semester at Constructor University.

Enrollment deposits are non-refundable, unless you are unable to obtain a student visa despite your best efforts. For example, if a visa appointment is not available or you are refused a study visa despite fulfilling the formal visa requirements as set by the embassy. You will be required to submit proof of that to receive a refund, https://constructor.university/student-life/student-services/financial-services/request-refund-overpayments. 

If you enroll at Constructor University, the enrolment deposit may be deducted from one of your invoices. The money will stay on your student account and if you do not deduct it from your first invoice, you may do so later.

No, we do not offer any scholarship or financial aid for the Pre-Bachelor Semester. However, students are eligible to apply for financial support for their undergraduate studies once they have completed the Pre-Bachelor Semester.

More information about the financing options for undergraduate students at Constructor University can be found on this webpage.

You can contact our Student Financial Services Office at sfs@constructor.university with questions about financing your studies and about the financial aid application process.

Other living expenses in Germany usually include health insurance, residence permit registration (100 Euro), Giro-Konto, Mobile phone costs.

You can learn more about the options you have to make a payment on this webpage.

In order to find out whether you require a visa and what the procedure to apply for it is, please check our Visa Information System.

After being admitted and having secured your place in the International Foundation Year by transferring the enrolment deposit and sending back the enrolment acceptance form, you should check our Visa Information System about the visa application process in your home country.

If you require a visa, your admission documents will contain a confirmation letter (Zulassungsbescheid) that can be used to apply for a visa at the German embassy in your country of residence.

The German Embassy may require you to provide a proof of funding. In this case, you have three possibilities:

• To pay in full the program fees, open a reduced blocked account of 3300 € and receive a letter from us to serve as proof of sufficient funding along with your reduced blocked account.
• To open a blocked account. Constructor University cooperates with X-patrio to offer easy and online package of free travel insurance for the visa application, a TK public health insurance and blocked account at a competitive price. The blocked account with X-patrio takes only three (3) to five (5) days to open, setting the account is free of charge and the process is completely digital. According to SchengenVisaInfo.com, alternative providers of blocked accounts are Deutsche Bank (4-6 weeks) or Fintiba (3-5 days). If you decide to open a regular blocked account (full amount), you may be required to still pay all fees for the first year for the visa to be issued. In such case, you must be able to do so without relying on the funds of your blocked account.
• To have a person (family member, relative), who resides in Germany do a formal obligation for you (Verpflichtungserklärung).

Please note that the decision regarding which documents are accepted as a proof of sufficient funding always rests with the embassy. If you have more questions on this topic, please contact Student Financial Services at sfs@constructor.university.

You must have a valid health insurance in order to live and study in Germany. We strongly recommend the German public health insurance as it covers you in all cases and emergencies, regardless of the treatment costs, be it in inpatient or outpatient treatment and is not limited in time.

If you would like to subscribe to a German public health insurance, you can do this via our partner insurances Techniker Krankenkasse or AOK.

You can find more information about health insurance on this webpage.

If you have prepared all required documents, the process can take from 10 to 12 weeks, depending on availability of appointments in each embassy.

Yes, students are allowed to work up to twenty (20) hours per week during the semester and full-time during vacation time. Non-EU students hold a work-permit that allows them to work up to one hundred twenty (120) full days or two hundred forty (240) half-days per year.

At Constructor University, you will find a wide range of job opportunities for Student Assistants or Teaching Assistants including: research assistance, conference preparation, interviews, data analysis, literature review, assistance with the organization and management of events, administrative support, technical services support, conducting experiments, working in labs, or assistance with book processing and interlibrary loans.