🧐 Can I do an English Foundation Year at a Private University and Then Transfer to a Public University in Germany?

Hi everyone,

I'm planning to study a Bachelor's degree in Germany in English. I already have 12 years of education from my home country (3-year high school diploma + pre-university year), but according to DAAD and uni-assist, I still don’t meet the direct admission requirements for a Bachelor's program.

They say I need to either complete one year of university study or attend a Schwerpunktkurs at a Studienkolleg in Germany. However, as far as I know, Studienkollegs are taught entirely in German, and I really want to study fully in English. (Please correct me if I’m wrong—if there are any Studienkollegs in English, I’d love to know!)

Here’s the dilemma:

Only private universities seem to offer foundation year (pre-Bachelor) programs fully in English.

At the same time, I keep coming across posts and comments saying that many private universities in Germany are "degree mills" and not well respected.

So, I have a few questions:

1. Can I complete a foundation year at a private university and then transfer to a public university for my Bachelor's?
2. Or would I need to complete two full years (foundation + one year of Bachelor's) before transferring to a public university?
3. Are there any reliable or recommended private universities that offer legitimate English-taught foundation years in Germany?
4. Is there any way to follow this path completely in English without ending up in a "degree mill"?

Any advice, tips, or personal experience would be super helpful. Thanks in advance! 🙏