„Durchstarten DaF“  – Model project at the Deutschkolleg Stuttgart supports particularly gifted refugees

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Stuttgart, November 2024

The first recipients were able to start the German course in mid-November 2024, which will prepare them for studying at a German university. The project is aimed at particularly gifted young people who have had to flee their home country. At the German College, they can quickly learn the language skills they need to enter the preparatory college or start studying straight away.

“Durchstarten DaF” is aimed at young refugees in the Stuttgart area who are able to study or are interested in studying but who lack the language skills required to gain access to higher education. We work closely with the education advisory service Garantiefonds Hochschule to provide the necessary advice on the required degrees and qualifications.

As part of the “Durchstarten DaF” project, the refugees are integrated into the German courses at the Deutschkolleg Stuttgart. The Deutschkolleg in the Ecumenical Center on the campus of the university in Stuttgart-Vaihingen has been successfully preparing applicants and students from all over the world for studying at universities in Germany for over 40 years.

The project is financed by the Ministry of Social Affairs, Health and Integration from state funds which the State Parliament of Baden-Württemberg

has decided. In this context, the Ministry of Social Affairs is funding 26 model projects with a total of more than 1.6 million euros.
To the press release from the Ministry of Social Affairs (external link)

The funding for the “Starthilfe Deutsch” project totals 50,000 euros. Participation in the German courses, including teaching materials and, if applicable, the final exam (TestDaF), is free for the refugees receiving funding. The prerequisite is that the recipients are living in the Stuttgart region and no other funding is possible.

The maximum duration of the course is four courses of six weeks each. Each six-week course covers one language level. If you have previous knowledge, the course duration is reduced.

Those receiving funding can now be enrolled in the Deutschkolleg’s courses at the start of each next course until the project period ends or the available project funds are used up.

Refugees who are interested in the “Durchstarten DaF” project should contact the language course office of the Deutschkolleg Stuttgart or the educational advice service of the Garantiefonds Hochschule in Stuttgart (external link).