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Language requirements for studying in Germany

Applicants who did not gain their school-leaving qualification at a German-speaking institution must prove that their German is good enough to study. The common framework is the RO-DT 2020 of the HRK and the KMK.

The four standard proofs

RO-DT 2020 § 2 lists four ways to prove German proficiency for studying (unless an exemption applies).

ProofResult for all degree programmesRule
DSH (university exam)DSH-2 or DSH-3RO-DT § 3 (5)
TestDaFTDN 4 or better in all four partsRO-DT § 4 (5)
German part of the Feststellungsprüfung (Studienkolleg)PassedRO-DT § 5 (2)
DSD II (school-based, abroad)Diploma awardedRO-DT § 6 (5)

The DSD II gives the language part of the general university entrance qualification (§ 6 (5)); universities can still ask for particular results in the four parts.

Exemptions

Under RO-DT § 8 (2) you do not need one of the four proofs if you hold:

  • a school-leaving qualification that corresponds to a German university entrance qualification;
  • the Goethe-Zertifikat C2: Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom (GDS) — whether older Goethe certificates are accepted is up to the university;
  • the Österreichisches Sprachdiplom C2 (ÖSD C2);
  • certain foreign certificates listed in a KMK resolution of 2 June 1995 (as amended);
  • a pass in telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule.

Local admission rules can also exempt certain groups or set special rules for them, for example after a completed degree in German studies or for short study stays without a degree (§ 8 (3)).

Lower requirements for some programmes

Universities may set different language requirements depending on the subject, the type of study or the degree (§ 1 (3)–(4)). That is why some programmes accept DSH-1 or TDN 3, and why English-taught programmes may need no German at all. Lower requirements should come with the condition to take further language courses during the studies (§ 1 (5)).

What this means for you

Certificates such as Goethe-Zertifikat C1, telc Deutsch C1 (general) or ÖSD C1 are not named in the RO-DT. Many universities accept some of them, many do not. Check the admission page of every programme you apply to.

Next steps

University records

Requirements checked against official university pages.

Exam guides

Formats, scoring and calculators for each exam.

Official sources