German language test for university admission: which level?

Which German certificates do universities accept?

The list is set by one document: the RO-DT (Rahmenordnung über Deutsche Sprachprüfungen für das Studium an deutschen Hochschulen, "framework regulation on German language exams for university study"), agreed by the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) and the conference of education ministers (KMK). It applies to everyone whose school-leaving qualification does not come from a German-speaking institution. German universities accept these proofs of "sprachliche Studierfähigkeit" (language ability to study):

You need no language exam at all if your school-leaving certificate, in the words of RO-DT § 8, "corresponds to a German university entrance qualification". According to the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), anyone who took the Abitur at a German-language school abroad needs no test. Universities may also exempt other groups, for example people who completed a degree in German studies.

DSH-2, TDN 4, C1, C2: what level is that?

The results of these exams do not map one to one. This is what the exam providers say:

• TestDaF: the levels TDN 3, TDN 4 and TDN 5 sit at B2 and C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), according to g.a.s.t. TDN 3 is the entry level; TDN 5 is above what admission requires, says the RO-DT.
• DSH: according to FaDaF, it shows German at CEFR B2 to C1. DSH-1 (57 to 66 %) allows restricted admission for certain study purposes, DSH-2 (67 to 81 %) admission to all programmes, and DSH-3 (82 to 100 %) is above the required level.
• telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule: tests at C1, with texts and tasks from university life.
• Goethe-Zertifikat C2 and ÖSD Zertifikat C2: test the highest CEFR level. If you already hold one, you need no further exam for admission.

Is B2 enough to study in Germany?

Not as a general proof for all programmes. But the RO-DT allows exceptions: universities may set lower requirements for certain study purposes, for example DSH-1. This should come with a condition: you take further German courses during your studies and prove that you did (RO-DT § 1 (5)). According to the DAAD, some programmes also accept the Goethe-Zertifikat B2 and the ÖSD Zertifikat B2. For how the Goethe B2 works, see Goethe B2 exam: pass mark and format.

Important, and rarely explained: an admission with lower German does not carry over. If you change programme or university and the new one sets a higher level, you must prove that level (RO-DT § 3 (7) and § 4 (7)). If you start with DSH-1, keep DSH-2 in mind.

For international programmes, which are mostly taught in English, German is not a requirement, according to the DAAD. This is not true everywhere, so ask the university.

Is the Goethe C1 certificate accepted for university?

Not automatically. Of the Goethe exams, the RO-DT names only the Goethe-Zertifikat C2. According to the DAAD, some programmes still accept the Goethe-Zertifikat C1 and the ÖSD Zertifikat C1. Check this for each programme before you book an exam. Older Goethe certificates (Kleines and Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom, Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung) are accepted at each university's discretion.

A common mix-up: the RO-DT names telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule ("Hochschule" means university), not the general exam telc Deutsch C1. Check the exact name when you register.

How long do the exams take, and can you retake one part?

If your university accepts more than one proof, length and retake rules can help you choose:

Which proof fits your situation?

• You are still in your home country and applying to several universities: TestDaF is offered in about 100 countries and is accepted by all German universities. You have the result before you apply.
• You are already in Germany or already admitted: the DSH is taken only in Germany, at universities and Studienkollegs. Each university decides who may sit it and when.
• You already study at C1 level and do not want to redo everything if one part goes wrong: telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule. You retake only the part you failed.
• You already hold a Goethe or ÖSD C2 certificate: you need no further exam.
• You attend a school abroad that offers the DSD II: the DSD II is free and counts as proof.
• You have a B2 or a Goethe C1 certificate: read the admission rules of your programme. If your certificate is not listed there, plan for one of the proofs in the first table.

For a direct comparison of the two most common routes, read TestDaF vs DSH: which test to take for university in Germany. To see how the exams feel, try our practice tests for telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule, the digital TestDaF and the DSH, timed like the real exam. Which level your programme requires is decided by the university, which publishes it in its application information (RO-DT § 1 (4)).