A German-taught degree asks for proof of German at university level. Universities generally accept Goethe C2, telc C1 Hochschule or DSD II, some programmes take Goethe C1, and TestDaF or DSH results are judged by each university. This page explains which certificate fits your plan.
German-taught degrees generally accept Goethe C2, telc C1 Hochschule or DSD II; Goethe C1 counts for some programmes, and TestDaF or DSH levels are set by each university. English-taught programmes ask for IELTS at a level set by the university.
Source: daad.de ·
The language test you need depends on the language of teaching, not on the country you come from. Read the admission page of each programme before you book any exam.
Lectures, seminars and exams are in German, so the university wants proof that you can follow academic German from the first week. The usual target is C1 or higher on the European scale (CEFR).
Certificates universities generally accept: Goethe-Zertifikat C2, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule and DSD II. Some programmes also accept Goethe-Zertifikat C1 or ÖSD. TestDaF and DSH are accepted too, with the required result set by each university.
Some programmes teach in English. For these the university asks for an English test such as IELTS Academic, and each university sets the band score it needs.
German is still useful for daily life, part-time jobs and a later career in Germany, even when your classes are in English.
B2 alone is rarely enough for direct admission to a German-taught degree. A few universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen) or single programmes accept it, sometimes only as a conditional admission. Treat B2 as a step on the way, not as the finish line.
Many universities accept C1 for admission, and telc C1 Hochschule is one of the certificates universities generally accept. Goethe-Zertifikat C1 counts for some programmes, but not for all of them. C1 does not open every university door, so check the exact certificate name your programme lists.
Goethe-Zertifikat C2 (Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom) is accepted by German universities as proof of German for admission. If you already work at a very high level, it removes any doubt about whether your certificate is enough.
Both exams are modular. You can book, pass and retake Reading (Lesen), Listening (Hören), Writing (Schreiben) and Speaking (Sprechen) one by one. You need 60 of 100 points in each module you take.
| Module | Goethe C1 | Goethe C2 |
|---|---|---|
| Reading (Lesen) | 4 parts, 30 items, 65 min | 4 parts, 30 items, 80 min |
| Listening (Hören) | 4 parts, 30 items, about 40 min including 3 min to transfer answers | 3 parts, 30 items, about 35 min plus 3 min to transfer answers |
| Writing (Schreiben) | 2 parts, 75 min: a forum discussion post (60 points) and a formal or semi-formal email (40 points) | 2 parts, 80 min: rewriting a text (20 points) and an essay with a choice of topics (80 points) |
| Speaking (Sprechen) | 2 parts, about 20 min per pair plus 20 min preparation: a talk and a discussion | 2 parts, about 15 min plus 15 min preparation |
Grades per module: sehr gut 90–100, gut 80–89, befriedigend 70–79, ausreichend 60–69. Below 60 the module is not passed (nicht bestanden).
TestDaF (Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache) reports a result for each part of the exam. Each university states which result it accepts for admission. The DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) describes the usual expectation as an intermediate result or better in all parts, but the rule on your programme page is the one that counts.
The DSH (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang) is the German exam for university entrance. Here too the university decides which result is enough for your programme, and the DAAD describes the usual expectation as an intermediate result or better in all parts.
If your programme lists several options, choose the one you can take near you and on a date that fits the application deadline. A Goethe or telc certificate is a fixed level; a TestDaF or DSH result is read against the university's own rule.
Write down the exact certificate names and results the programme accepts, and the application deadline. The page of the programme is the rule; general lists are only a guide.
Take a full mock exam at the level you are aiming for. The score per module shows whether you are close to 60 of 100 or still far away, and which skill needs the most work.
At C1 the writing paper asks for a forum discussion post and a formal email in 75 minutes. Reading and listening need speed with long academic texts. Practise under real time limits.
Goethe C1 and C2 are modular, so you can retake only the module you did not pass. Exam fees are set locally by each Goethe-Institut or partner centre and vary by country; a single module costs less than the full exam. Check the local price list.
For a degree taught in German, universities generally accept Goethe-Zertifikat C2, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule or DSD II. Some programmes also accept Goethe-Zertifikat C1 or ÖSD. TestDaF and DSH are accepted too, and each university sets the result it needs. Always check the admission page of your programme.
It depends on the programme. Goethe C1 counts for some programmes, but not for all of them. Goethe C2 and telc C1 Hochschule are the safer choices when your programme does not name Goethe C1 in its admission rules.
B2 alone is rarely enough for direct admission to a German-taught degree. A few universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen) or single programmes accept it, sometimes only as a conditional admission. Plan for C1 or higher.
Each university sets its own rule. The DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) describes the usual expectation as an intermediate result or better in all parts of the exam, but the rule written on your programme page is the one that counts.
English-taught programmes ask for an English test such as IELTS Academic, at a band score set by each university. German is not the admission language there, although it helps a great deal with daily life in Germany.
Fees are set locally by each Goethe-Institut or partner centre and vary by country. Because the exams are modular, a single module costs less than the full exam. Check the price list of the centre where you plan to sit the exam.
Goethe C1 is modular. You need 60 of 100 points in each module, and the modules are independent, so you can retake only the module you did not pass.