Language schools in Berlin, Germany

Berlin, the capital of Germany, is home to 3,699,847 people according to the statistical office for Berlin and Brandenburg (30 June 2026). For language learners it combines a large choice of German courses with an international city where students can practise outside class every day.

Most language schools in Berlin teach German as a foreign language, to holidaymakers, to professionals and to students who want to enter a German university. Some also teach other languages, such as English, French, Spanish or Italian, to people who live in the city.

What the language schools in Berlin offer

Course formats differ from school to school. Examples from the schools' own pages:

• BWS Germanlingua has taught German according to the CEFR since 1984 and has run its Berlin school for 25 years. Courses for adults aged 16 and over start every week: group courses of 20 or 25 lessons of 45 minutes a week, with at most 12 students per class (7 on average), a mini-group course of at most six people from October to June, and the standard course combined with 5 or 10 one-to-one lessons
• The Freie Universität Berlin International Summer and Winter University (FUBiS) offers more than 60 courses a year: intensive and semi-intensive German classes on up to five levels, with at most 15 participants, and subject classes held mostly in English. In 2027 the terms run from 4 to 22 January, from 29 May to 10 July and from 17 July to 14 August
• The Akademie für Fremdsprachen, a language school in Berlin since 1971, teaches English, French, Spanish and Italian from beginner (A1) to C2 and, on request, German as a foreign language in one-to-one lessons or a mini-group. Its two-week compact courses have 40 lessons in groups of four to six

Other language schools in our directory include Friedländer-Schule Berlin and Anda Sprachschule.

Many students in Berlin prepare for a university entrance exam. BWS Germanlingua prepares students for telc and Goethe-Institut certificates, the TestDaF and the DSH. The DSH has to be taken in Germany; in Berlin it is held by universities such as Freie Universität, Humboldt-Universität, Technische Universität and Universität der Künste. The TestDaF is offered in around 100 countries, and the Goethe-Zertifikat C2 and telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule are usually also recognised by universities. The Akademie für Fremdsprachen holds its own German exams from B1 to C2; according to the school, its B2 certificate can be used to apply to a Studienkolleg and its C1 certificate to apply for a university place or for admission to the DSH.

Schools also help with accommodation. BWS Germanlingua arranges host families and has shared student flats with single and twin rooms as well as studio apartments; FUBiS offers rooms through the Studierendenwerk, the Studentendorf, homestays and guesthouses.

Costs

Each school sets its own prices. Examples:

• FUBiS 2027: a programme fee of €425 per term plus €1,475 for a semi-intensive German class in the three-week winter term (€1,975 in the six-week Term II); early registration saves €75. A homestay costs €650 for the winter term
• Akademie für Fremdsprachen: €500 including VAT for a two-week compact course of 40 lessons, or €340 for a four-week course of 32 lessons
• BWS Germanlingua: a visa invitation letter costs €80

Since January 2026 the Deutschlandticket, valid on local and regional public transport throughout Germany, costs €63 a month.

Practical tips

Citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland only need an ID card. According to the DAAD, a Schengen visa covers short stays of up to three months, including language courses, and cannot be extended; longer study stays need a national visa, and a prospective student visa lets students attend a language course or a Studienkolleg while they apply to a university. Students who can enter Germany without a visa must apply for a residence permit if they stay longer than three months.

Frequently asked questions

Can I prepare for the DSH or TestDaF in Berlin?

Yes. Schools such as BWS Germanlingua prepare students for the TestDaF and the DSH. The DSH itself is held by universities in Germany, in Berlin for example at Freie Universität and Humboldt-Universität.

How much does a German course in Berlin cost?

It depends on the school and the intensity. At FUBiS a three-week semi-intensive German class costs €1,475 plus a €425 programme fee in 2027; the Akademie für Fremdsprachen charges €500 for a two-week compact course.

Do I need a visa for a language course in Germany?

EU citizens do not. Others may use a Schengen visa for a course of up to three months; longer stays need a national visa or, for visa-free nationals, a residence permit.

Can I learn languages other than German in Berlin?

Yes. The Akademie für Fremdsprachen, for example, teaches English, French, Spanish and Italian from A1 to C2.