International Foundation Year

You are young, ambitious, and are looking for inspiration? You have finished high school, want a taste of life at university, and yearn to learn more about the world and its cultures? Then our International Foundation Year is the perfect fit for you!

Planning and preparing for your academic future is an important step. Join Constructor University's Foundation Year to explore different fields of study and to acquire academic learning skills before starting your bachelor’s degree.

Based on your individual academic background and your needs and goals, you can design your own International Foundation Year learning experience and choose between our two pathways:

• The Orientation Pathway allows you to explore a variety of modules and then decide on your degree program
• The Qualification Pathway allows you to study subject-specific modules in preparation for your chosen degree program

Through a combination of core modules and subject-specific study, you will develop the skills you need to continue to succeed in university life. The IFY offers you five subjects to choose from, and these subjects provide you with a route to a degree at Jacobs University.

Alongside your subject-specific modules, you will also study a combination of core modules that are designed to enhance your academic and personal skills.

Furthermore, you live on our international campus and can enjoy the full perks of student life in the residential colleges.

Students who complete the program successfully receive guaranteed admission to Jacobs University’s undergraduate programs. Design your own path!

4 reasons, why Constructor University is your best choice

As a private, non-profit, English-speaking university offering the highest standards in research and teaching, Constructor University attracts highly talented and open-minded students from all over the world. On Germany’s most international campus students become citizens of the world, able to take responsibility for a sustainable and peaceful future of humanity.

1. Academic Quality - Students are held to the highest academic standards and benefit greatly from interdisciplinary education, individualized mentorship from faculty, and early research opportunities.
2. Personal Development - Our students graduate with self-competence and social skills. The diversity encountered during their education prepares them to participate in diverse cultures and global industries.
3. International Outlook - With more than 110 nations represented on campus, students live and learn among a melting pot of ideas and viewpoints, providing an experience that uncovers new passions and broadens perspective.
4. Success Stories - After successfully completing the International Foundation Year, our students prove to be well-prepared for their future by successfully transitioning into our undergraduate degree programs. They excel as mature and competent students, who want to make a difference in the world.

Your benefits at a glance

• Gain experience from a highly supportive and academically challenging university environment
• Develop your study skills, decide on your study direction, and qualify for the route to your international degree
• Improve your Academic English – academic literacy as the foundation for successful education
• Take your time to develop and learn in a less formal teaching approach, strongly supported by your teachers and academic advisors
• Intercultural Experiences - Gain an understanding of other cultures to prepare you for your international career
• Earn up to 15 transferable undergraduate course credits (ECTS) that will count towards your bachelor’s degree at Constructor University.
• Get guaranteed admission to Constructor University after successful completion of the IFY program. Constructor University is top-ranked #3 Young University in Teaching in Germany (THE Young 2022)
• Enjoy the inspiring atmosphere of living and learning in an international, safe campus environment with students from over 110 nations and a rich offering of sports activities, clubs, and socializing events.
• Benefit from promising career prospects thanks to strong professor and alumni networks

• Top-ranked in Germany and worldwide
• Among the top 30% of universities worldwide
• #1 University with the most international outlook in Germany
• #1 Private university in Germany
• #1 In Germany by number of top-ranked categories
• #13 Small university worldwide

Qualification Pathway

Do you want to study your favored degree program at a top private international university in Germany, but you don’t meet the entrance requirements yet?

Then the Qualification Pathway is your choice! Study a specific subject area (Technology, Science, Society) and qualify for direct entry.

• Choose one subject (from subject areas Technology, Science, Society)
• Choose 2 modules within the same subject area and study one in the 1st and one in the 2nd semester. Get prepared for the exams necessary for guaranteed admission to your desired degree program at Constructor University
• Take part in the Test AS examination
• Successfully complete the program
• Progress directly onto year one of the chosen degree

Orientation Pathway

Are you unsure what you want to study? The Orientation Pathway gives you the chance to explore a variety of subjects and make the right decision for your degree program later.

Our academic staff will assist you in finding your study direction. Or stay within one subject area and prepare for a specific degree course.

• Choose a subject in the first semester
• Have the option to stay within a specific subject area or choose again from a different subject area. Select your preferred modules in different subject areas.
• Decide on a degree program in the second semester
• Successfully complete the IFY program
• Progress directly onto year one of the chosen degree

Structure

The International Foundation Year is a one-year preparatory program designed for students who either need to work on their academic skills or are still deciding what they want to study.

The program is designed to offer a unique variety of subject areas and modules to define your study plan and in-depth qualification and specialization options to best prepare for your desired undergraduate study area.

Subject areas

Through a combination of core modules and subject-specific study, students will develop the skills they need to start their undergraduate education successfully. Students can choose from three subject areas that are a pathway to a degree at Constructor University.

• Technology
• Science
• Society

Core modules

The core modules are integral parts of the IFY program. They are designed to provide students with basic interdisciplinary knowledge to enhance their academic and personal skills.

• English and Academic Literacy
• Basic or Advanced Mathematics
• Pure Mathematics
• Foundation Statistics
• Coding and Computational Thinking
• TestAS Preparation
• Personal Development

Subject area-specific modules

• Subject Area Technology
  • Computer Systems
  • Fundamentals of Programming with Python 3
• Subject Area Sciences
  • Foundation Chemistry
  • Foundation Physics
• Subject Area Society
  • Foundation Economics
  • Financial Accounting

Undergraduate modules

All students have the opportunity to take two undergraduate-level modules. These modules can be chosen from their specific field of study (Qualification Pathway), or from any available module (Orientation Pathway).

Undergraduate transfer options

The program allows students to earn up to 15 ECTS credit points toward their bachelor's degree at Constructor University by taking undergraduate-level courses. This provides students with an opportunity to gain direct exposure to course materials and professors before officially starting their studies. The program includes core modules and subject-specific studies that are designed to develop the skills necessary for a successful undergraduate education. Students can select from a variety of subject areas to tailor their experience to their interests and goals.

Choose modules from these undergraduate programs:

• Computer Science
• Industrial Engineering & Management
• Chemistry and Biotechnology
• Physics
• Integrated Social and Cognitive Psychology
• Society, Media, and Politics
• and more