The vast majority of courses at a German university will be taught in German. For these courses, prospective students must demonstrate their ability to understand and communicate comfortably in German. A student who has a bachelor's in German, a high-level TestAS or Zertifkat Deutsch would meet the required standard. Otherwise, non-German candidates will have to take the Deutsche Sprachprufung fur den Hochschulgang (DSH) test.
Any student intending to attend lectures and seminars which are delivered only in German, are required to prove their proficiency in the language. The DSH is a three-hour, standardized exam which tests prospective German university student in four key areas: listening, reading comprehension, writing and speaking. A non-refundable fee of about €50 is usually required and exam entrants are required to correctly complete at least two-thirds to achieve a pass mark.
Most German colleges offer courses taught in English for foreign students and Germans students who are studying a subject requiring proficiency in English, such as English Literature. These courses do not require students to speak German.
Non-German students on an exchange program or participating on a Junior Year Program are not required to speak German. For the latter, German lessons will be provided and, as such, students may be required to take a placement test, such as that offered by the Goethe Institute.
While many courses at a German university may not require German language proficiency, no language ability at all may hinder a student's ability to experience German life and culture. A grasp of the language will also make it much easier to purchase goods and services, ask for help and strike up friendships. Cheap language lessons are available at the Goethe Institute, while staying with a host family in Germany will ensure total immersion in the language and thus speed up the learning process.