Studying in German in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
At public universities in Germany, students usually pay only a semester contribution and no tuition fees. The exception is Baden-Württemberg, where students from outside the EU pay 1,500 euros per semester. Universities in Austria and Switzerland also set their own language requirements.
Many master's programmes in Germany are taught in English. For daily life, part-time jobs and most positions after graduation you still need German. Students on English-taught programmes therefore often take a German course at the university language centre alongside their degree.
A university language centre runs language courses for enrolled students. Many centres award UNIcert, a certificate system of German universities with the levels Basis and I to IV, which follow the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
4 German certificates for admission under the RO-DT
The RO-DT decides which German exams count for university admission. It is the framework regulation on German language exams for university study, adopted jointly by the German Rectors' Conference and the Standing Conference of education ministers. Its 2025 version names four certificates that exempt you from further language proof.
| Certificate | Issued by | Where you take it | Target for admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| TestDaF | TestDaF-Institut of the g.a.s.t. | over 500 test centres in 100 countries | TDN 4 in all four parts |
| DSH | the university itself | usually at the university in Germany | DSH-2 |
| telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule | telc | telc exam centres | 60 percent in written and oral parts |
| Goethe-Zertifikat C2 | Goethe-Institut | institutes and centres worldwide | passed |
TDN stands for TestDaF level, a scale from TDN 3 to TDN 5 that covers roughly B2 to C1. The DSH is the German language exam for university entrance that each university sets itself. Some universities accept the Goethe-Zertifikat C1 under their own rules, but there is no general right to it.
You usually take the TestDaF in your home country and submit the result with your application. For the DSH, applicants usually travel to Germany, and some universities admit only their own applicants to it.
Check the admission rules of your programme before you book an exam. Some universities set lower values for particular purposes, while others add requirements.
Studienkolleg and the Feststellungsprüfung as a route to university
If your school-leaving certificate does not give direct access to university in Germany, you attend a Studienkolleg first. A Studienkolleg is a preparatory college for international applicants. It teaches subject courses, for example for engineering, medicine or economics, and ends with the Feststellungsprüfung, the assessment exam that opens access to a degree.
Teaching at a Studienkolleg is in German, so the colleges already require German for admission. Each college sets its own procedure. The Studienkolleg Hamburg, for example, allocates places by points without an entrance exam. The school-leaving grade brings up to 30 points, and language skills bring up to 25 bonus points.
An online German course before you apply helps twice at a Studienkolleg. It improves your chance of a place where language skills earn points, and it prepares you for subject teaching in German.
Academic writing in German
Term papers, lab reports and theses in German follow fixed patterns. Three language features stand out for learners.
1 Nominal style
Academic German likes to turn verbs into nouns. Instead of 'wir haben 200 Personen befragt' (we surveyed 200 people), a paper says 'die Befragung von 200 Personen' (the survey of 200 people).
2 Passive and impersonal sentences
Passive sentences put the action first, as in 'Die Daten wurden 2025 erhoben' (the data were collected in 2025). The impersonal 'man' (one) is common too.
3 Subjunctive I for other people's statements
When you report a source, the verb goes into the subjunctive I: 'Die Autorin betont, die Methode sei zuverlässig' (the author stresses that the method is reliable). The verb form shows that the statement is not your own.
Citations in footnotes or the author-date system and a formal tone in emails to lecturers, for example 'Sehr geehrte Frau Professorin Müller', complete the picture.
Have a short term paper or lab report fully corrected during your course. A teacher spots errors in the subjunctive I and the nominal style that a grammar drill does not reveal.
Lectures, seminars and presentations in German
In a lecture you listen and take notes for 60 to 90 minutes. In a seminar you give a presentation, called a Referat, with slides and a question round, and you often write a term paper afterwards. In office hours you discuss topics and grades with lecturers.
In many subjects you read several journal articles or book chapters a week. That requires skimming and scanning, which a general course rarely trains.
The digital TestDaF reflects some of these tasks. You listen to a lecture and complete its outline, and you summarise a text and a chart in writing.
- ✓Exam training delivers a recognised certificate within a few months.
- ✓It practises note-taking, summarising and time management.
- ✓It fits the months before an application.
- ✗Exam training rarely covers whole lectures and term papers.
- ✗A TDN 4 reached by a narrow margin can leave you struggling in the first semester.
- ✗It does not teach the vocabulary of your subject.
From B2 to your language certificate in 4 steps
- Check your level: Targeted TestDaF or DSH preparation only pays off from B2, the fourth of the six CEFR levels. The TestDaF-Institut points to the self-test Fit für den TestDaF for this check.
- Choose a course: The online courses of Deutsch-Uni Online (DUO), run by the g.a.s.t., expect B2 or C1 and train in the original format.
- Sit the exam: Leave at least two months between the exam and the application deadline, so that you can take a second date if needed.
- Keep learning: After admission, take German courses at the university language centre alongside your degree.
Frequently asked questions about online German courses for university
Which German exams exempt you from further language proof under the RO-DT?
Under the 2025 RO-DT, four German exams exempt you from further language proof for university study. They are the TestDaF with TDN 4 in all parts, the DSH-2, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule and the Goethe-Zertifikat C2. The admission rules of your programme are binding.
What is a Studienkolleg for studying in Germany?
A Studienkolleg prepares international applicants for studying in Germany when their school-leaving certificate does not give direct access to university. Teaching is in German and ends with the Feststellungsprüfung. The colleges require German for admission and set their own procedures.
Do you need German for an English-taught degree in Germany?
For an English-taught degree in Germany you usually need proof of English and no proof of German. You still need German for daily life, part-time jobs and most positions after graduation. Many students therefore learn it alongside their degree at the language centre.
From what German level does targeted TestDaF or DSH preparation start?
Targeted TestDaF or DSH preparation starts from German at B2, the fourth of six CEFR levels. If you are at B1, take a general German course up to B2 first. The Deutsch-Uni Online courses expect B2 or C1.
How much does German language proof for university in Germany cost?
German language proof for university in Germany costs about 210 euros for the TestDaF in Germany in 2026. Each university sets its own DSH fee. Budget for a possible second attempt from the start.
What is the subjunctive I used for in academic German?
The subjunctive I is used in academic German to report other people's statements, as in 'Die Autorin betont, die Methode sei zuverlässig'. It shows readers that the statement comes from a source. An academic writing course in German trains this form with feedback.
Sources
The information is based on these sources. Check fees and dates with the provider before you register.