German Courses

Here you can find offers of German courses for international and prospective students

To study in Berlin, you need German language skills for almost all degree programs. Most universities require a language level between B2 and C1. To help you find suitable courses more easily, we have put together a selection here. Unfortunately, only a few academic institutions still offer free German courses for people who are not enrolled, so you should regularly check for newly advertised courses and register for them as soon as possible.

To make good use of the waiting time until a course starts, you can find excellent online offers to continue improving your German at make-it-in-germany.com/deutschkurse and handbookgermany.de/learning-german.

If you only want to take a language test without attending a course beforehand, you can apply to the Educational Guidance Guarantee Fund for Higher Education (Bildungsberatung Garantiefonds Hochschule) to cover the costs: https://bildungsberatung-gfh.de/

Freie Universität

Freie Universität is offering a new German language course! It is a 9-month course program covering levels B1–C1, running from August 2026 to May 2027. To apply, you must attend one of the two information sessions and have a preferred field of study at Freie Universität. 

Application

1. As a first step, it is necessary to attend one of these two information sessions of the General Academic Advising of Freie Universität:

  • Tuesday, 19.5.26             9:00 a.m. 
  • Thursday, 4.6.26             5:00 pm

Please sign up for one of the two information sessions via email at deutschkurs@welcome.fu-berlin.deRegistration is mandatory.

Participation in a meeting with Academic Advising is a requirement for consideration of admission to the language courses.

 2. At the appointment with Academic Advising, you will receive verification that you have participated and that your documents have been reviewed. You will then apply for a place in the language courses. To do this, please send your complete application materials and the verification document from Academic Advising via email to deutschkurs@welcome.fu-berlin.deThe application deadline is 13th July 2026

You can find detailed information on the FU website.

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Humboldt University Berlin

As part of the HU Programme for Prospective Students with a Refugee Background, preparatory advanced-level German language courses are offered at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin:

B2 course: 26 May – 27 July (180 teaching hours) with the following

schedule:

-       Monday: 10:00–14:00

-       Tuesday: 08:00–12:00

-       Wednesday: 10:00–14:00 (online)

-       Thursday: 08:00–12:00

-       Friday: 12:00–16:00

 

C1 course: 26 May – 3 August (200 teaching hours) with the following

schedule:

-       Monday: 14:00–18:00

-       Tuesday: 14:00–18:00

-       Wednesday: 14:00–18:00

-       Thursday: 14:00–18:00

-       Friday: 12:00–16:00

Application

If you would like to participate in one of the courses, please send the following documents to int.refugees@hu-berlin.de by 15 May:

1.      Proof of language proficiency

-       Language certificate B1/B2

-       Screenshot of your language test results:

https://anmeldung.sprachenzentrum.hu-berlin.de/cgi/ctest2.cgi?testcode=61a4b9a75bebbb3af41cc3965cdbcd1d

2. Copy of your residence permit and registration certificate

(Meldebescheinigung)

3. CV

Please write a few sentences describing which study path you intend to pursue.

 

Important information: Please note: If you complete the C1 course in July, the application deadline for the winter semester 2026/27 at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin will already have passed. In this case, starting your studies will only be possible from the following semester at the earliest.

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Alice Salomon University

For 10 years, the ASH Pre-Study Program has been preparing prospective students with international educational backgrounds for regular studies in the fields of social work, health, education, and training (SAGE). 

We can now offer people with refugee and migrant backgrounds three ways to apply for and study at Alice Salomon University (ASH) Berlin. All three options conclude with the German Language Test for Admission to Alice Salomon University (DS-ASH). The DS-ASH is recognized as proof of German language proficiency for applications to study at ASH Berlin.

DS-ASH examination (June 2026)

•    Prerequisite: planned application to study at ASH Berlin

•    Application period: May 5 to May 25

•    Further information: https://www.ash-berlin.eu/studium/vor-dem-studium-international/deutsche-sprachpruefung-fuer-den-hochschulzugang-an-der-ash-berlin/

•    Contact: ds-ash@ash-berlin.eu

•    Cost: €100 after confirmed registration

ASH Pre-Study Program (August 2026 to July 2027)

•    Prerequisite: B1 German language skills, university entrance qualification, letter of motivation

•    Application period: April 15 to May 15

•    Further information: https://www.ash-berlin.eu/en/study/study-programmes/ash-pre-study-program/vor-dem-studium-international/

•    Contact: pre-studies@ash-berlin.de

•    Cost: €0 

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Bildungsberatung Garantiefonds Hochschule (GF-H)

There are preparatory language courses that are sponsored by the Bildungsberatung Garantiefonds Hochschule and are aimed specifically at prospective students. Please contact them for advice on a suitable course for you at the website GF-H-sponsored German language courses

 

Offers for enrolled students

To participate in the German courses, you must be enrolled as a student! If you are enrolled at a different university than the one offering the course, you may be able to participate as an external student. Just ask!

Alice Salomon Hochschule - German as a Foreign Language

Bard College Berlin - German Courses

Freie Universität Berlin/Free University Berlin - Courses from A1 - C1 at the Language Center of the FU

Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler - German as a Foreign Language

Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft - German as a Foreign Language

Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht/Berlin School of Economics and Law - German Courses at the Language Center of the HWR

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - German Courses at the Language Centre of the HU

Technische Universität Berlin - German Courses at the Modern Language Center of the TU

Universität der Künste - German Courses

Here you will find a selection of language schools in Berlin that charge a fee. If you receive benefits from the job centre or other offices, ask them whether the costs will be covered.

You can also just take the B2 or C1 test at the language schools without attending a whole course.

You can find very affordable courses at Berlin's adult education centers: https://www.berlin.de/vhs/kurse/deutsch-integration/

Language level A1-C1:

Berlitz

BSI

BWS-Germanlingua

Deutsch Akademie

Die Neue Schule

GLS Sprachenzentrum Berlin

Goethe-Institut

Hartnack-Schule

NATIVA Akademie

Inlingua

iQ Lingua

Speakeasy Berlin

Sprachenatelier Berlin

Sprachinstitut Berlin

You can find even more providers at DAAD Language Courses.