Pre-College Cologne, an education center for gifted children and young people, was established during the 2005/2006 winter semester at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln.

School children aged ten and above receive special artistic training from professors and instructors from the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln at the Aachen, Cologne, and Wuppertal campuses.

Since the 2009/2010 winter semester, this program has been open for all instruments taught at the University. Prof. Ute Hasenauer is the Director for Pre-College Cologne.

The special admissions process and flexible program structure allows young students at Pre-College Cologne to develop their own personalized education program. The students are introduced to life at the University at a natural pace and prepared for the academic demands. Virtually all academic departments are available to them.

In order to ensure that students do not miss school, instruction primarily takes place on weekends during the academic semester at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln.

Upon successful completion of any subject, students may then request to receive credit toward a university degree.

The goal of the program is to offer an educational program that pushes future artists to reach their full potential and to develop the personal flair needed for a future professional career.

Pre-College Cologne also creates an environment for like-minded individuals to meet and get to know each other, exchange information, and of course, play music with one another.