Language Courses Schools and Programs in Germany

Language Courses Studies in Germany

Most language courses in Germany are courses in German as a foreign language (Deutsch als Fremdsprache), taught all year by private language schools, university-linked institutes and the Goethe-Institut. Students come for a few weeks of intensive German, for a long course before university, or for the language they need at work. Several schools also teach other languages.

SpainExchange lists 39 schools in Germany under Language Courses. Berlin has six, Munich four and Mainz three; Heidelberg, Düsseldorf, Bremen, Freiburg, Augsburg and Cologne have two each. The rest are spread over cities such as Hamburg, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Regensburg, Göttingen, Kassel and Bonn, and smaller towns such as Horb am Neckar and Hamminkeln.

What the schools offer

Courses follow the six levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), from A1 to C2. The usual format is a group course booked by the week, with a placement test at the start. Examples from the schools' own pages show the range:

• BWS Germanlingua, with schools in Munich, Berlin and Cologne, has taught German since 1984 and runs small-group courses that start every week for students aged 16 and over
• did deutsch-institut Berlin offers 20, 24 or 28 lessons a week, for 1 to 52 weeks, at levels A1 to C2, with at most 15 students per class and a minimum age of 17
• Horizonte in Regensburg works with groups of at most 12 students, and the Humboldt-Institut gives teenagers and adults 30 lessons a week with accommodation on campus
• IIK Göttingen teaches on the campus of the University of Göttingen in groups of 5 to 15 participants; its courses are open to anyone aged 16 and above and carry 6 ECTS credits
• FUBiS, the International Summer and Winter University of Freie Universität Berlin, combines German language courses with subject courses

Besides intensive courses, schools sell evening courses, one-to-one lessons, exam preparation and German for work. Accommodation is usually arranged through the school: BWS Germanlingua organises it in all three cities, and Horizonte has a residence at the school.

Other languages

Some schools on this page are not only for German. The Akademie für Fremdsprachen in Berlin, a language school since 1971, teaches English, French, Spanish and Italian from beginner level (A1) to C2. TANDEM Köln teaches English, Business English, Spanish, French and Italian next to its German courses, and Sprachenatelier Berlin advertises classes in 50 languages.

Exams and university preparation

A language school gives its own certificate of attendance; official proof of level comes from an exam. For university admission, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) explains that most higher education institutions require German at B2 level of the CEFR or above. The recognised tests include:

• TestDaF, offered in around 100 countries and, according to the test provider, recognised by all German higher education institutions
• DSH, taken in Germany at the higher education institutions
• telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule and the Goethe-Zertifikat C2, which are usually also accepted

telc offers certificates from A1 to C2. Many schools prepare for these exams, and some also prepare for the entrance exam of a Studienkolleg, the preparatory course for applicants whose school-leaving certificate does not give direct access to a German university.

Costs

Private schools set their own prices; there is no official scale. Examples from October 2026: Sprachenatelier Berlin lists on-site intensive courses at €240 for two weeks, €440 for four weeks and €870 for eight weeks, plus a €50 enrolment fee for new students. IIK Göttingen charged €495 for an intensive course of 80 lessons in August 2026. did deutsch-institut Berlin charges a registration fee of €50, and exam fees come on top: €190 for a telc B1 or B2 exam and €215 for TestDaF. Accommodation is charged separately.

Visa

Citizens of EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland only need a valid identity card. For other nationalities it depends on the country and the length of stay. According to DAAD, a Schengen visa covers a language course of up to three months and cannot be extended. A longer course needs a national visa, applied for at the German embassy or consulate in the home country; the Federal Foreign Office warns that national visas may take several months to process. Students heading for university can apply for a prospective student visa, valid for up to nine months, and use that time for a language course. Ask the school whether its course qualifies: TANDEM Köln, for example, states that its intensive German courses are suitable for a visa application.

Frequently asked questions

How long can I take a language course in Germany without a national visa?

EU, Icelandic, Liechtenstein, Norwegian and Swiss citizens need no visa. For others, a Schengen visa covers a language course of up to three months; longer courses need a national visa.

How much does a German course cost?

Each school sets its own prices. As examples from October 2026, Sprachenatelier Berlin lists four weeks of on-site intensive German at €440, and IIK Göttingen charged €495 for 80 lessons in August 2026.

Which German exam do universities accept?

According to DAAD, TestDaF and the DSH are the main tests, and telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule and the Goethe-Zertifikat C2 are usually also recognised. Most institutions ask for B2 level of the CEFR or above.

Can I learn languages other than German?

Yes. Schools such as the Akademie für Fremdsprachen in Berlin and TANDEM Köln teach English, French, Spanish and Italian.