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  • Information for Refugees

    © Universität Bielefeld

German language course for refugees

Students learning in a group
© Universität Bielefeld

You fulfill the academic requirements for studying at a German university? You have already studied in your home country and wish to continue your studies in Germany? You do not yet fulfill the German language requirements for starting your studies?

Our German language centre PunktUm prepares you purposefully and intensely for the German language requirements for studying at a German university.

Application

Our next preparatory German language courses will start again in March 2024. Application portal is available here from December 1 to January 15, 2024.

Overview

  • Intensive TestDaF preparation course with 24 hours per week
  • B2 up to level C1: B1 certificate necessary for application
  • Intensive support in terms of tutorials and accompanying programme
  • Enrollment as a language course student
  • Free of cost for students with a refugee background (see below)
  • New: Vacant course places can also be given to other international students. Apply here as an international student!

Course places are awarded according to the guidelines and with funds from the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (MKW).

For the participation, you need:

  • University entrance qualification (in German: Abitur) translated to German or English
  • German language certificate/certificate of attendance: B1
  • Your residency/refugee status and the information that your entry to Germany is no longer that five years ago
Residence status and refugee background

The programme focuses on people with a refugee background whose entry to Germany was no longer than five years ago.

  • Persons entitled to asylum, persons recognized as refugees or persons entitled to subsidiary protection as well as persons for whom a national ban on deportation has been established as well as comparable persons who have a residence permit (§§ 25 Abs. 1-3, 22, 23 Abs. 1 und 2, 23 Abs. 4, 23a oder 25 Abs. 4, 25 Abs. 5 AufenthG)
  • Persons admitted on the basis of the Mass Influx Directive (§ 24 AufenthG)
  • Persons who have received a rejection in the asylum procedure carried out by the BAMF, but a deportation has been temporarily suspended (Duldung gem. § 60 a Abs. 2 AufenthG)
  • Persons who are in Germany through family reunification if they also have the residence status of "Stammberechtigte" (§§29, 30, 31, 32, 34 Abs. 1, 34 Abs. 2, 36)
  • Persons with a settlement permit who have not been in Germany for more than 5 years (§36 AufenthG)

Excluded are persons

  • Who are under a latent or immediate obligation to leave the country (§§ 50 Abs. 1 und 60a AufenthG)
  • With a residence permit (§55 AufenthG)
  • With a German educational qualification
  • With a German citizenship

Our language courses start in March and September of each year. Our next course dates are

  • September 13, 2022 - February 28, 2023
  • March 13, 2023 - August 2023
  • September 1, 2023 - February 2024
  • March 2024 - August 2024

Application is possible

  • from June 1 to July 15 for the course start in September
  • from December 1 to January 15 for the course start in March
  1. We examine your documents whether they allow you to study in Germany.
  2. A ranking list will be set. Course places will be allocated based on language level, favoured course of study, etc. Please note that your current language certificate will not automatically be used as a placement!
  3. You will receive a notification if you are granted a course place.

As a participant in our language course you will be enrolled as a language course student (non-degree).

For this purpose, the Student Services Contribution has to be paid. The amount of the contribution varies each semester. Please click here to check the current amount.

The enrollment takes place in the Students' Office.


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