DSH Exam – Proficiency in the German Language Examination
Tübingen DSH Examination and Preparatory Course
International students seeking entrance to Tübingen University must first submit proof of their German language proficiency. This should be sent to the university with their admission application. Proficiency can be certified through:
- Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH)
- Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache (TestDaf)
- Telc C1 für die Hochschule
The German as a Foreign Language Section of the International Office at Tübingen University holds DSH Examinations twice a year. The examinations take place 5/6 weeks before the admission deadline for the winter and summer terms.
A three week intensive preparatory course is run prior to the DSH Examination. In this course, each section of the DSH Examination is prepared in detail. Proficiency is tested by means of several trial run examinations. Candidates receive detailed feedback on their individual exam results. The preparatory course is not obligatory for taking the DSH Examination.
To complete the DSH examination successfully, a high level of German language proficiency is required (at least B2-C1 European reference framework). Only students who can present proof of the required level of proficiency will be admitted to the preparatory course and the examination.
Examination regulations and registration for the Tübingen DSH examination:
The Tübingen DSH examination is based on the framework regulations for the DSH examination (RO-DT) of 2004 (as amended by the HRK on 23.07.2020 and the KMK on 28.11.2019) and is registered with the HRK under registration number 258-04/18. Examination regulations of DSH Tübingen.
General information DSH
The DSH tests your language proficiency. The exam consists of a written and an oral part. Both parts must be passed for the exam to be regarded as passed overall.
You can achieve three levels in the DSH:
DSH 1 (from 57% overall result)
DSH 2 (from 67% overall result)
DSH 3 (from 82% overall result)
As a rule, a certificate with a result of DSH 2 is required to start studying at the University of Tübingen. In some subjects, the requirement may be DSH 3. You can obtain more detailed information from the Office for Student Affairs - Admission of international students and the department responsible for your degree program.
Examination procedure
Written exam
The DSH written exam has four different parts: Listening Comprehension, Reading Comprehension, Academic Language Structures and Guided Essay Composition. The four parts take place one after the other, with breaks of 30 - 90 minutes in between.
1. Listening comprehension
You will listen twice to a longer text on a science-related topic. After the second reading, you will be asked to answer questions about the text (processing time 40 minutes).
2. Reading comprehension
You will read a text on a science-related topic (approx. 2 pages). There are different tasks to test your understanding of the text, e.g. multiple choice, adding information, assigning headings to sections of the text or summarizing contexts and information (processing time 45 minutes).
3. Academic language structures
You will work on tasks in which you have to grammatically understand and transform sentences from the text (completion time 45 minutes).
4. Essay composition
In this part, you will write a coherent text on a given topic independently, taking into account specific tasks and materials (completion time 70 minutes). The text should be about 250 words long.
You may use a German-German dictionary for the reading comprehension, academic language structures and text production sections.
Oral exam
The oral exam takes place one week after the written exam. The prerequisite is that you have successfully passed the written exam with at least DSH 1. In this part, you are required to give a short presentation of approx. 5 minutes on a text or graphic and then answer questions about it in an exam interview. (The oral exam lasts approx. 20 minutes in total, plus 20 minutes preparation time). You may also use a German-German dictionary for this part.
FAQ DSH
Who can apply for the Tübingen DSH?
The DSH is mainly aimed at university applicants at the Tübingen University and students in Tübingen. Participation in a DSH preparation course is recommended, but is not a prerequisite. Depending on the capacity of the exam and the exam preparation courses, places may also be made available for external applicants.
What is the focus of the preparation course?
We run a three-week training course before each exam date to prepare you specifically for the exam and to familiarize you with the exam format. Lessons last approximately 20 hours per week, i.e. 60 hours in total. The courses take place on Zoom.
You will get to know the typical examination tasks and practise the skills required to complete them, e.g. taking useful notes, understanding the structure of the text, summarizing.
For each part of the exam, there is a test exam in authentic conditions, which is corrected to give participants feedback on how fit they are for the exam.
Can I repeat the exam?
Yes, this is possible. If you are unsure whether your current language level is sufficient for the exam, we will be happy to arrange a consultation meeting with you.
Can I apply at another university with a Tübingen DSH?
Yes, the Tübingen DSH is registered with the German Rectors' Conference and is therefore accepted at other universities.
What is a characteristic of the DSH?
The DSH exam provides a significant impression of your current level of language proficiency, with a focus on typical academic language skills such as understanding key information and relations or discussing arguments. You do not need any prior academic knowledge for the texts.
Will I receive my certificate after the DSH exam in time for my application for the following semester?
Yes, our examination dates and correction phases are perfectly coordinated with the application process.