Humboldt-University
This winter semester, HU is once again offering a C1 German course for refugees as part of the program for prospective students with refugee backgrounds.The orientation programme is designed for prospective students with a refugee background in Berlin, especially those who would like to begin studying at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
Its aim is to make it easier to enter the German higher education system through information sessions, workshops, and language courses (B2 and C1), to strengthen language requirements, and to provide initial orientation in the academic context.
You can find all the information about the course and the application process here:
https://www.hu-berlin.de/support-for-at-risk-scholars-and-refugee-students
Application deadline: September 25, 2026:
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University of the Arts (UdK Berlin):
#ACCESS ART SCHOOLS BERLIN 2026
The collaborative project Access Art Schools Berlin. A project to prepare students at risk for artistic and academic studies in Berlin will bring together various offerings for prospective students with refugee experience from April through December 2026. The individual offers of the UdK Berlin and the Hochschule für Schauspielkunst Ernst Busch (HfS) are open to all prospective students at risk of the Berlin art academies and the joint offers provide an advisory and support structure for a successful application.
The offerings include individual German courses, study counselling, get-together, community meetings, and excursions. The trips will take place at Kunsthochschule Weißensee and Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF.
Free German language courses (as of September 11th):
- German Language Course B2.2
October 5 – November 27, 2026 9:00 am–2:00 pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
- Online German Language Course C1
October 26 – December 10, 2026 3:00 pm–7:00 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
Registration and current information about the program can be found here:
https://www.udk-berlin.de/service/access-art-schools-berlin/
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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 prospective students
Free University Berlin (FU)
Improve Your German – Prepare for Your Studies in Germany
Dear prospective students,
Would you like to improve your German from B2 to C1 and prepare linguistically for studying in Germany? With FU Berlin German Prep, Freie Universität Berlin offers an intensive German language program that helps you develop the language skills needed for university studies within just a few months.
The courses are also open to participants who simply wish to improve their German, even if they do not intend to pursue a degree, provided they meet the required entry level for the respective course.
The program starts on November 2, 2026 with the B2.1 course and consists of four consecutive modules (B2.1, B2.2, C1.1 and C1.2), leading to C1 level by May 2027. Classes typically take place Monday to Thursday between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
What the program offers
- Intensive German language training from B2 to C1
- Four consecutive in-person courses at Freie Universität Berlin
- Academic language training in reading, listening, writing and speaking
- An internal C1-level final examination after the C1.2 course
- A certificate issued by Freie Universität Berlin upon successful completion. The certificate is accepted by Freie Universität Berlin as proof of the required German language proficiency for admission. Whether it is accepted by other universities depends on their respective admission and recognition regulations.
- Insights into university life at Freie Universität Berlin and access to advisory services that support your study application and your transition to university.
How to register
Registration will initially be opened for the B2.1 course via the online registration form on the program website.
If you are interested in joining the program at a later stage in the B2.2, C1.1 or C1.2 course, please contact us by email at germanprep@international.fu-berlin.de.
Application deadline for the B2.1 course: September 28, 2026
Further information about the program, admission requirements and the registration process can be found here: www.erggmbh.de/german_prep.
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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
Garantiefonds Hochschule (only for refugees)
Kontakt- und Beratungsstelle für Flüchtlinge und Migrant_innen e.V. (KuB)
Network German courses for all
Ökumenisches Zentrum Berlin (only for refugees)
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:
You can find even more providers at DAAD Language Courses.