Uni-Tübingen

Documentation of German language proficiency

International applicants who did not obtain their higher education entrance qualification in Germany and in German language must document German language proficiency enabling them to study at university level.

Proof of university-level language proficiency must be concluded by the deadline for applications and included in your online application. Your application will be rejected if this documentation is not provided on time.

Therefore: Do not submit an application without documentation of your German language proficiency.

EU citizens who have obtained a study place via www.hochschulstart.de cannot enroll at Student Administration without documentation of German language proficiency. In that case, their approval to study becomes invalid.

Documentation of German language proficiency

German language proficiency may be documented via the following exams:

  • The Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH); you must attain an overall grade of at least DSH 2 oder DSH 3.
  • The Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache“ (TestDaF); you must attain at least a 4 or 5 in all parts of the exam.
  • The Prüfungsteil Deutsch of the assessment test at a preparatory college (Studienkolleg).
  • The Telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule exam.

The University of Tübingen offers exams and preparatory courses for the Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH).

Programs conducted in English

You do not require proficiency in German for degree programs taught completely in English. You can find a list of our international degree programs here.

Exemption from DSH and TestDaF

The following are exempt from DHS and TestDaF:

  • Holders of the Deutschen Sprachdiploms der Kultusministerkonferenz, level II or C1 (DSD II or DSD C1) respectively.
  • Holders of a certificate showing they have passed the Goethe-Zertifikat C 2, Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom (GDS). The Goethe-Zertifikat C 2 Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom (GDS) succeeded the Oberstufenprüfung des Goethe-Instituts, Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung (ZOP), and the Kleine Deutsche Sprachdiplom (KDS), on 1 January 2012. If the exam date of the Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung (ZOP), Kleines Deutsches Sprachdiplom (KDS), or Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom (GDS) was more than 5 years prior to the cutoff date of 31 Dezember 2016, the University will decide whether to recognize the certificate or not.
  • Applicants with the Deutsche Sprachprüfung II issued by the Sprachen- und Dolmetscher-Instituts München.

Other recognized documentation

The following certificates from institutions outside Germany are recognized as documentation of German language proficiency required for acceptance into higher education studies in the Federal Republic of Germany:

  • Documentation of German in the French Diplôme du Baccalauréat, which is obtained upon completion of a bilingual German-French stream at secondary school.
  • The US-Advanced Placement-Prüfung (AP-Prüfung) in the subject of German.
  • The final certificate from the final phase of secondary school in the German-speaking Community of Belgium.
  • Secondary school final certificates from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
  • Leaving certificates with German as language of instruction from the Autonomous Province of South Tyrol.
  • The final certificate from the international section German language at the Liceo Gimnasiale Luigi Galvani in Bologna.
  • The final certificate of a German-Irish bilingual secondary school (Bilingual Leaving Certificate) at the Deutsche Schule Dublin, St. Kilian’s.
  • The certificate of the Polish Matura which was completed with a bilingual German exam in the subject of German.
  • The Maturitätszeugnis certificate from Liechtenstein, which is simultaneously recognized as documentation of German language proficiency.