Most courses are taught in German, requiring international applicants to submit proof of proficiency in the German language. Two main tests are available for this purpose: the Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH, meaning “German language examination for university entrance”) and the TestDaF (formerly Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache, meaning “Test of German as a foreign language”).
The DSH is offered only within Germany, at various universities, while the TestDaF can be taken at centers in more than 90 countries worldwide. As always, check the test you intend to take is accepted by the universities you want to apply to.
If you do decide to study in German, but feel you need to brush up on your proficiency, you may want to consider a preparatory course. German universities offer a range of courses designed to help you prepare for the linguistic and content-related sides of your degree in Germany, including the Studienkolleg. Another option is to enrol in a pre-study German course, which will generally last for one semester and end with a DSH exam.
While German remains the main language of instruction overall, a large and growing selection of English-language programmes is available – particularly at master’s level and for students participating in short-term exchange programmes. However, there are and only a limited number of courses taught in English at bachelor’s level, so some students may need to either be more flexible about their choice of program, or consider learning German.
A searchable database of English-taught courses is provided by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) at www.daad.de. Another useful search tool can be found on the official Study in Germany website: www.study-in.de/en/plan-your-studies/find-programme-and-university.
German universities offer a range of courses designed to help you prepare for the linguistic and content-related sides of your degree in Germany