Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - HU International

Teaching at Humboldt-Universität is in German. Some internationally oriented Master courses are taught in English. Please note that there might be different language requirements. More information can be found at Studienangebot "Weiterführende Studiengänge".

A certificate at least at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (Europäischer Referenzrahmen für Sprachen) is required for a pre-university course. Documentation certifying merely attendance of German courses or lessons is not sufficient.

Applicants for a degree course need to have German language skills at level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, or a TestDaF certificate with a TDN 3 score in all four parts of the test.

Before embarking on a course at Humboldt, the German language skills of the admitted students will have to be checked in a language proficiency test known as the Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH). The invitation to the test will be sent to applicants along with the Confirmation of Admission. The test normally takes place shortly before the semester starts (early in March for the Summer Semester and early in September for the Winter Semester). Candidates whose score is under DSH 2 or DSH 3 may repeat the test after one semester. However, a new application will have to be submitted in this case.

Humboldt-Universität does not offer any preparatory German language courses for the DSH test (except for some admitted students at the Humboldt Language Centre).

Exemption from the DSH test will be granted to:

• applicants holding a German university entrance certificate (Abitur, Fachhochschulreife or similar qualification, obtained in Germany or at a German School abroad)
• applicants holding the Deutsches Sprachdiplom (level II) of the Conference of German Education Ministers (KMK) in all parts at C1 level,
• applicants who obtained a pass in the Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung (ZOP) by the Goethe Institute,
• applicants holding the Kleines Deutsches Sprachdiplom or the Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom of the Goethe Institute,
• applicants who passed the Deutsche Sprachprüfung at a foreign higher education institution, if the test was taken under the auspices of the Studienkolleg or the department of a German university concerned with German as a Foreign Language,
• applicants who passed the Deutsch als Fremdsprache für Studienbewerber (TestDaF) test and achieved a score of at least TDN 4 in all four sections of the test.

Students, whose certificates are older than three years cannot be exempted from the DSH.

More information can be found at TestDaF.