The preparatory college (Studienkolleg) offers language courses in German as a foreign language at five levels from beginners to the preparatory course for the DSH. Each course is the basis and prerequisite for the next. The courses last 7 to 8 weeks each and comprise about 175 hours of instruction. The last course ends with the examination of German-language proficiency for the admission of foreign students to university (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang ausländischer Studienbewerber), the DSH.
 
Beginners A1
you will attend this course if you have no or very little knowledge of the German language. On successful completion of this course, you will have a vocabulary of about 1000 words and can communicate in all important everyday situations (dwelling, shopping, health). You will be able to read and understand brief texts and write dialogues and informative texts with simple sentences.

Beginners A2
presupposes completion of A1. On successful completion of this course, you will have a vocabulary of about 2000 words and will be able to communicate in most everyday situations with articulate use of the standard language. You will be able to understand simple texts that you read or hear, and to paraphrase them. When you write non-literary, informative texts, you will be able to use complex structures and dependent clauses.

Intermediate B1
presupposes completion of A1 and A2.

Intermediate B2
presupposes completion of A1, A2 and B1.

The Advanced Course C1-corresponding to other language schools' DSH preparatory course-presupposes completion of A1, A2 and B1, B2. You will learn to understand, to work with and to write academic texts on social matters, development politics and scientific topics. With a view to the fact that you will shortly pick up your studies in your field of specialty, you will prepare for the examination of German-language proficiency for the admission of foreign students to university (DSH).
 
Selection of the Appropriate Level
According to how much German you already know and with the help of our information, you will select the language course appropriate for you. Before the course begins, you will have to take a test to demonstrate that your knowledge of the language is sufficient for the level that you selected.
Click here for sample examinations for the various levels.