Language Requirements
Degree-Seeking Students
Language Requirements for Admission to a Degree Programme
What language skills are required for studying at Bielefeld University?
Good German language skills are required for successful studies at Bielefeld University. With a few exceptions, courses are held in German. Therefore, all applicants with foreign academic qualifications who wish to pursue a German taught degree programme at Bielefeld University must provide proof of sufficient language skills.
For the International Master programmes and "International Tracks", no knowledge of German is required. However, there are different language requirements for the "international tracks". A list of these requirements can be found further down on this page.
If you cannot provide proof of sufficient German language skills, you have the possibility to be enrolled as a language course student at Bielefeld University.
- Proof of German language skills
The following certificates in particular are accepted for admission to a German taught degree programme:
- TestDaF (at least level TDN 4 in all four exam parts or a total of 16 with at least TDN 4 in the exam part “Writing”).
- DSH-Prüfung (German language exam for university entrance) with a result of DSH-2 or DSH-3
- telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule: Grade "befriedigend"
- Goethe-Zertifikat C2: „Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom Goethe-Institut“
- Deutsches Sprachdiplom (DSD) der Kultusministerkonferenz (KMK) Stufe II (with level C1 in the „Writing“ part and one additional part)
- Österreichisches Sprachdiplom C2 (ÖSD C2)
- Feststellungsprüfung Studienkolleg (exam part German)
- School-leaving qualification from a German-speaking school abroad that is equivalent to a German university entrance qualification
- Proof of a degree of eight successful years of pupils at a German school.
- English-language Master's degree programmes & International Tracks
You do not need to prove your knowledge of German if you wish to study an English-language degree programme or a so-called "international track" at Bielefeld University.
English language skills are required at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in accordance with Bielefeld University's guidelines.
- Behaviour: From Neural Mechanisms to Evolution (MSc)
- Data Science (MSc)
- Ecology and Environmental Change (MSc)
- Intelligent Interactive Systems (International Track) (MSc)
- Mathematical and Theoretical Physics (MSc)
- Mathematics (International Track) (MSc)
- Natural Science Informatics (International Track) (MSc)
- Physics (International Track) (MSc)
- Quantitative Economics (MSc)
- Sociology (International Track) (MA)
- Mathematical Economics (International Track) (MSc)
- World Studies: Orders, Politics, Cultures (MA)
Exception
- British and American Studies (MA) (English as mother tongue or proof of a previous English-language qualifying degree obtained within the scope of the Basic Law; TOEFL (ibt min. 90, computer-based min. 230) or IELTS (min. 7.0)).
- Master programmes with different language requirements
Degree programme Language requirements Bioinformatics and Genome Research (MSc) German: Language level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages according to the guidelines of Bielefeld University German as a second language and German Studies (MA) German: German language skills must be proven in accordance with the "Regulations on the approval of international applicants to study at Bielefeld University" in the currently valid version.
English: Language level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in accordance with the guidelines of Bielefeld University.
Proof of another foreign language (not required if the secondary school leaving certificate or the first degree was obtained at a non-German-speaking department).InterAmerican Studies / Estudios InterAmericanos (MA) English: English language certificate at least at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Spanish: Spanish language certificate at least at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
German: German language skills are sponsored for the degree programme; however, proof of these is not required for enrolment.Genome Based Systems Biology (MA) English: Language level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in accordance with the guidelines of Bielefeld University.
German: Language level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in accordance with the guidelines of Bielefeld University.History (MA) German: German language skills must be proven in accordance with the "Regulations on the approval of international applicants to study at Bielefeld University" in the currently valid version.
English: Language level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in accordance with the guidelines of Bielefeld University.
Proof of another European foreign language (French, Spanish, Russian or Italian) at level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages or proof of the Kleines Latinum.Interdisciplinary Studies of Science (MA) (formerly"History, Economics and Philosophy of Science") English: English language certificate at least at level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
German: Knowledge of German is recommended for the general success of the programme, but is not a prerequisite.Cultural Mediation (MA) English: Language level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in accordance with the guidelines of Bielefeld University.
German: German language skills must be demonstrated in accordance with the "Regulations on the approval of international study applications for study at Bielefeld University" in the currently valid version.Literary Studies (MA) German: German language skills must be proven in accordance with the "Regulations on the approval of international study applications for study at Bielefeld University" as amended.
Proof of two further foreign languages at language level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.Linguistics (MA) German: German language skills must be proven in accordance with the "Regulations on the approval of international study applications to study at Bielefeld University" in the currently valid version.
English: Language level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in accordance with the guidelines of Bielefeld University.Mathematics (MSc) German: TestDaF 4x3/ DSH 1/comparable proof of level B2 in accordance with the "Regulations on the approval of international study applications to study at Bielefeld University", as amended. Natural Science Computer Science (MSc) German: Language level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in accordance with the guidelines of Bielefeld University Physics (MSc) German: language level B2 of the European Framework of Reference for Languages in accordance with the guidelines of Bielefeld University Psychology with a focus on Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience (MSc) German: German language skills must be demonstrated in accordance with the "Regulations on the approval of international study applications to study at Bielefeld University" in the currently valid version.
English: Language level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in accordance with the guidelines of Bielefeld UniversityMathematical Economics (MSc) German : Language level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in accordance with the guidelines of Bielefeld University
Frequently Asked Questions
- When do I have to provide proof of German language proficiency?
As a rule, the German language certificate required for your desired degree programme has to be submitted as part of your application. If you take one of the recognized exams after the application deadline, we can consider your application if you submit a binding registration for the exam (TestDaF, DSH, etc.) and it takes place in time for you to be able to present the exam certificate by the time you enroll for your studies.
- I am not able to provide evidence of knowledge of German language. Can I nevertheless apply for a study course taught in German?
If you have a basic knowledge of German (minimum level B1 CEFR), but your language skills are not sufficient for a degree programme, you can be enrolled as a language course student. The study-preparatory language courses are conducted by the Bielefeld language institute bibis in cooperation with the university. At the end of this language course you can register for the TestDaF and thus, acquire the necessary language certificate for studying at Bielefeld University.
The prerequisite for enrolment as a language course participant is admission by the Student Office. You will be admitted if you apply for a Bachelor or Master programme at Bielefeld University and have the academic qualification as well as the German language level B1, proven by the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 or proof of 800 hours of German lessons.
After registering for the language course, language course participants are enrolled at Bielefeld University for a maximum of two semesters; in justified exceptional cases, an extension to a maximum of four semesters is possible.
If you have any questions about the language courses or the language exams, please contact the language institute bibis.
- Can I improve my German language proficiency during my studies?
Once you are already enrolled as an international student at Bielefeld University, you have the opportunity to further improve your German language skills. The German Learning Center PunktUm offers various courses level A1 to C1 CEFR.
