The HERE AHEAD Academy is a collaboration among Bremen’s public higher education institutions. It offers German language courses up to C1 level and provides academic preparation for international students. For those whose qualifications do not automatically grant them access to German higher education, passing the Academy’s entrance exam opens the door to study at one of Bremen’s state universities. The preparatory program :here studies, introduced in 2016 to support students with a refugee background, was supplemented by the program :prime in 2019, which is equivalent to a Studienkolleg and prepares prospective students for university-level study. To date, 455 participants have now successfully completed one of these two programs.
Personal Experiences in the “Wurzeln & Wege” Podcast Series
What does education mean to you? When did you first dare to imagine a new future? What do you miss? In the podcast series “Wurzeln & Wege – Portraits of International Students,” participants answer these questions while revealing the very individual paths they chose. Hanh Nhi from Vietnam, who has always been curious about how things work, now enjoys all four seasons here in Germany. Faisal from Afghanistan finds happiness in playing sports. Aliia loves writing down her ideas and solving math problems on a whiteboard, whereas Hadya enjoys teaching children the German language. Cristóbal is captivated by the mysteries of the universe, while Muayad believes in the power of networks to open doors. All have found a home in Bremen, which has become an integral part of who they are.
The full podcast series is available in German at https://www.aheadbremen.de/de/podcasts/. A poster exhibit in the Forum at Domshof building introduces the students and promotes the podcast. The exhibit runs until June 10, 2026.
Public Discussion Evening: “Bildung schafft Zukunft” (Education Creates Opportunities)
On June 4, 2026, the HERE AHEAD Academy is hosting a public discussion evening (in German) titled “Wurzeln & Wege – Bildung schafft Zukunft” (Roots & Journeys – Education Creates Opportunities). This will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Forum at Domshof. Admission is free of charge and does not require prior registration.
The evening will explore a powerful question: What happens to a city when education creates new possibilities – and people are empowered to take them? The evening will bring together students from the podcast series and prominent political, business, and public figures, including Dr. Annette Lang (Senate Chancellery), Dr. Aenne Dunker (Chamber of Employees in Bremen), and Roman Koliada, start-up founder. The event is part of Bremen’s Landeswochen für Vielfalt und Teilhabe (State Weeks for Diversity and Participation).
From a Question to an Institution: The Story of HERE AHEAD
HERE AHEAD Academy’s journey began in 2014 with the simple question: “Is there a place at the university for refugees with an academic background?” At the time, many Syrian refugees with academic qualifications were living in temporary housing near the University of Bremen. They were eager to enter German higher education and join the academic community. This led to the creation of the first European guest auditor program for refugees at the University of Bremen. In the 2014 summer semester, Prof. Dr. Yasemin Karaşoğlu, then Vice President for International Affairs and Diversity, and project coordinator Jens Kemper welcomed the first participants.
Over the years, this initiative evolved into the HERE AHEAD Academy. The former university office HERE was converted into a multi-university institution that was recently made permanent by the Senator for Environment, Climate, and Science.
Support that Goes Beyond the University
Beyond language and academic preparation, the Academy supports prospective international students with everyday challenges, such as understanding how degree programs work in Germany, finding housing, and navigating interactions with government agencies.
The five-member team offers guidance from the first inquiry – via email and digital services – all the way to arrival in Germany. Their mission is to expand educational opportunities and ease the transition into university life and a new society.
Contact:
Mirja Uschkureit
HERE AHEAD Academy
uschkureitprotect me ?!aheadbremenprotect me ?!.de
+49 421 218-69682
