German exams and language certificates (telc, Goethe, ÖSD, TestDaF, DSH)

German language certificates can demonstrate skills for university study or professional purposes, but the level and type of proof needed depend on the situation. For university applications, check each intended institution and degree programme before choosing an exam. 816

Who needs this

• Applicants to German-taught degree programmes need a high level of German. Some English-taught programmes also require proof of German skills. Universities accept the German language examination for university admission (DSH), TestDaF and Goethe-Institut certificates, but the accepted level varies by institution and programme. 16
• Nurses seeking recognition in Baden-Württemberg need German at B2 level to practise. They must demonstrate it when their professional certificate is issued, rather than at the start of the recognition procedure. If they are abroad and seek a residence permit under section 16d of the Residence Act to complete a compensatory measure, sufficient German skills are required during the residence-permit application; the Stuttgart authority expects proof at B1 level. 1
• telc offers German exams from A1 to C2, including exams for university study and nursing. Choose an exam that fits the purpose for which you need proof. 8

Step by step

1. Ask each university you intend to apply to which German certificates and levels it accepts. Many universities do not accept a course-attendance confirmation as language proof, and an exam-registration confirmation is very rarely sufficient on its own. 16
2. Choose an exam. The German as a Foreign Language Test (TestDaF) assesses reading, listening, writing and speaking for university study; its results are reported at TestDaF levels (TDN) 3, 4 and 5, corresponding to B2–C1. The TestDaF level affects access to degree programmes. The telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule exam tests skills used in university study and academic careers. 79
3. Prepare for the format. Free mock exams with audio are available for telc Deutsch A1, A2, B1, B2 and C1 Hochschule, and free model tests are available for TestDaF. The digital TestDaF is taken on a computer at a test centre, in the order reading, listening, writing and speaking. 234671013
4. Find a TestDaF test centre and choose an exam date that allows time for your results before any university application deadline. Applicants with a physical disability or learning difficulty can request adjusted TestDaF examination conditions. 1314

Documents

• Submit the language certificate accepted for your particular university application. A German-studies degree or German citizenship counts as language proof at only a few universities; an additional certificate is generally required. 16

Cost and time

• The telc A1 exam has approximately 20 minutes of listening, 45 minutes of reading and writing, and 15 minutes of speaking. The telc B2 exam includes 90 minutes of reading and language elements, approximately 20 minutes of listening, 30 minutes of writing and approximately 15 minutes of speaking. 26
• TestDaF results generally take six weeks for the paper-based exam and approximately three weeks for the digital exam. Results are not available before the published result date. 14