Metadata
Title
German language courses, German language proficiency and language certificates
Category
courses
UUID
33033c6aa714476caf5045d5d404798a
Source URL
https://www.fau.eu/studying/international-students/application-and-enrollment-fo...
Parent URL
https://www.fau.eu/
Crawl Time
2026-03-19T00:56:24+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown

German language courses, German language proficiency and language certificates

Source: https://www.fau.eu/studying/international-students/application-and-enrollment-for-international-applicants/german-language-courses-german-language-proficiency-and-language-certificates/ Parent: https://www.fau.eu/

With the exception of a small number of degree programs, German is the teaching language at FAU. Therefore, a very good knowledge of German (Level C1/C2) is essential for successfully completing a degree program at our university. Students require the following language skills and proof of proficiency:

German language skills for Bachelor’s and State Examination degree programmes

Before registering for nearly all undergraduate Bachelor’s and State Examination degree programs, students are expected to have a very good command of German. More specific information on accepted proof of language proficiency is given below.

The only programs for which a knowledge of German is not required are the Bachelor’s degree programs that are taught entirely in English: Autonomy Technologies (BSc), Clean Energy Processes (BSc), International Business Studies (BSc), Artificial Intelligence (BSc) and International Economic Studies (BSc).

German language skills for Master’s degree programmes

Accepted proof of language skills

The following certificates are accepted as proof of language ability when enrolling at FAU:

Exemption from obligation to prove proficiency in German

An exemption from the obligation to submit proof of language proficiency may only be granted by the head of the German Department at the Language Centre, Dr. Frank Mielke after you have been admitted to a degree program. This is usually only possible for applicants whose native language is German. A degree in German studies does not entitle an applicant to exemption from the DSH examination.

Taking the DSH examination before starting to study

If you cannot provide proof of proficiency as stipulated above, you can still apply to study if you have a sound knowledge of German (level B2). If you are admitted to the degree program you have applied to, you have to take the DSH examination immediately before starting to study and obtain the results required in order to be able to start studying.

Requirements for taking the DSH examination

In order to sit the DSH examination you must prove German language proficiency of at least level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and submit evidence of having attended additional German language courses.

The following certificates are accepted as proof:

You will receive an invitation to the DSH examination at FAU together with your admissions letter for the degree program you applied to; this examination will take place immediately before the start of the semester (late March/early April for the summer semester and late September/early October for the winter semester).

If you have applied directly to FAU to study medicine, medicine in Erlangen-Nuremberg/Bamberg, dentistry or pharmacy, you cannot take the DSH examination just before you start to study. In these instances, the proof of proficiency in German (DSH 2 or equivalent, see “Accepted proof of language skills”) required for enrollment has to be submitted together with your application for a place on the degree program. The only exception to this rule is applicants who have to apply for these degree programs via the Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung (Foundation for University Admissions). You can visit our applications website for international students to find out whether this applies to you.

DSH preparation courses

Shortly before the DSH examination at FAU, we offer an intensive course which is structured to prepare students for the form and content of the examination. The course costs 160 euros (including material costs). The examination is subject to an additional fee of 80 euros. You will receive the application form for the German examination and the preparatory course together with your admissions letter.

The Goethe-Institut offers an online language course to prepare for German language examinations (DSH or TestDaF). For more information visit www.goethe.com. A further online German course is offered by DUO. For more information visit www.uni-deutsch.com.

German course preparing for studies

Provided you already have a sound knowledge of German (level A2), you can attend a German course at the FAU Language Centre specially tailored to prepare students for studying in Germany and the relevant German language examination. The course is structured in such a way that you can take the DSH examination after one or two semesters. Those taking the German course do not have student status. More information is available on the Language Centre website.

Degree programmes where applicants cannot apply for the preparatory German course

Please note that students applying for the following degree programs cannot take part in the preparatory German language course:

Requirements for taking preparatory German course

In order to take part in a German course preparing for studies at FAU, the school and degree certificates you have submitted must entitle you to take up studies at a German university directly. Further information can be found on our page on international qualifications.

In addition, you must provide proof of a sound knowledge of German equivalent to level A2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The following certificates are accepted as proof:

At least level A2 must be achieved in each part of the examination for these certificates.

Important information

Applicants who intend to enroll in a Master’s degree program after the German course must have completed their Bachelor’s degree and submit their certificate when applying for the German course.

Obligatory placement test before course starts

A placement test will take place at the University’s Language Centre before the courses begin (early April for the summer semester and early October for the winter semester). The test determines whether you are admitted to the course. This test is subject to a 25 euro fee. If the number of applications is higher than the available places, participants will be selected based on the test results. Students who are not admitted to the University’s language course can attend a language course at a private language institute

Application for the German course for non-EU nationals

As with the degree program, application fees are charged to applicants from non-EU countries for the preparatory German course. Further details can be found on the pages for prospective international students. The application fee is charged again for an application to study a degree program after completing the German course.

Important information

Applications for the German language course can only be submitted online, via the FAU application portal campo. The deadline for applications is July 15 for the winter semester and January 15 for the summer semester.

No German courses for beginners

FAU does not offer any German language courses for beginners. Please contact external language schools for information on beginners’ courses. You can find a list of local language schools here: German language courses