The MINT-Kolleg Baden-Württemberg offers preparatory courses and, during the first semesters, additional teaching programs for prospective and current students. The course formats are designed to ease the transition from school to university, prepare students for the demands of their studies, and help them individually refresh their knowledge in the STEM subjects. Professor Michael-Jörg Oesterle, Vice Rector for Teaching and Continuing Education at the University of Stuttgart, explains: “We are delighted that, with the MINT-Kolleg at the University of Stuttgart and at KIT, we can offer our students one of the most comprehensive programs of its kind in Germany.”
The MINT-Kolleg is celebrating its 15th anniversary with a conference:
Time: Friday, November 14, 2025, from 9:30 a.m.
Venue: Foyer of the Presidential Building, KIT South Campus, Building 11.30, Engelbert-Arnold-Str. 2, 76131 Karlsruhe
Alongside a keynote speech that focuses on using AI to develop teaching materials for mathematics and physics at universities, followed by a hands-on workshop, the program features presentations on new online bridging courses, the orientation semester, and math clubs run in collaboration with universities, colleges, and a STEM-excellence high school.
The anniversary conference offers opportunities for discussion, inspiration, and networking among faculty, students, and partner institutions, as we reflect on past achievements and look forward to the future.
Click here for the event program and registration
Lots of positive feedback
The open learning space, a highly successful format of the MINT-Kolleg, has received a lot of positive feedback. STEM students can simply drop in here four days a week to study and get help with any questions they may have. Up to 100 students make use of this offer every day. The preparatory courses held immediately before the start of studies are also very popular, with nearly half of all first-semester students in STEM subjects at the University of Stuttgart participating. The positive feedback from students - such as describing the orientation semester as a “valuable experience and excellent preparation for their studies” and praising the semester courses for providing “quick and helpful responses” - underscores how important these courses are to them.
Preparatory and accompanying academic courses, tailored to individual needs
Prospective and first-year students in STEM programs can put together a study program that meets their individual interests. The preparatory courses support prospective and current students in preparing for a STEM study program. Students have the option to take mathematics, computer science, physics, and chemistry either individually or combined. The orientation semester also provides prospective students with important guidance in choosing a suitable STEM study program. With the MINT-Kolleg’s online offerings (preparatory courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and computer science), interested students can test their knowledge and prepare academically for a STEM study program. Academic support courses – such as semester courses, exam preparation courses, and the open study space – are tailored to the curricula of the STEM study programs at the University of Stuttgart.
About the MINT-Kolleg
The MINT-Kolleg Baden-Württemberg, is a joint initiative of the University of Stuttgart and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). It was established 15 years ago to help first-year students transition to STEM study programs. It is supported by programs from the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts of Baden-Württemberg (MWK), the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), and the Foundation for Innovation in Higher Education. STEM (known as MINT in German-speaking countries) stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.