Further information about the German Department
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Information about dates for placement tests
On this page you will find information about the placement test:
Do I need to take the Placement Test?
You do NOT have to take the placement test if
- you have no previous knowledge of the language. In this case, you can register straightaway for a German A1 course at viaCampus.
- you have already successfully completed a German semester-long course or an intensive German course at Viadrina. In this case, please register directly for the next level.
- you have one of the certificates listed here. In this case, please contact the German Department.
When and where?
There are two dates at the beginning of the semester. You can find the current date here.
What do I need?
Once you have logged on, you will be asked for your matriculation number and a password. The password is your date of birth (make sure you enter this in the following format: dd.mm.yyyy e.g. 12/04/1995).
I don’t have a matriculation number!
If you don’t have a matriculation number yet, please contact the German Department before the test. A login will then be issued for the test.
How much time do I have?
Please arrive on time for the test. You have a total of 40 minutes to complete the test.
After the test: When will I receive my result?
Option 1: You will receive your result directly after the test. It will be displayed on the computer screen.
Your result will be given as A1, A2, B1 or B2.1. Please enroll online for a language course at viaCampus after 3 pm. (Example: Placement B1 | Course: German B1)
Option 2 (only for B2.2 and C1): The result after the placement test is "Higher than B2.1". You will receive your specific placement (B2.2 or C1) by 3 pm on the same day by e-mail to your Viadrina address. After 3 p.m., please register online at viaCampus for the language course that matches your placement test.
I have further questions!
Please come to see us during our office hours at the start of the semester and/or contact us. All contact information is here.
Who?
The exam is aimed exclusively at students on the IBA Bachelor and Bachelor Cultural & Social Studies degree programmes.
When?
The next written B2 exam will take place on 19 September 2025. It starts at 10 am. The oral part of the exam will take place on at the end of September/start of October 2025 at the Viadrina Language Centre.
Where?
Written: GD Hs 07
Oral: Viadrina Language Centre
How?
Registration for the exam takes place via ViaCampus.
What?
The written exam is made up of a listening comprehension, reading comprehension plus grammar, and text production. You have a total of 160 minutes.
In the oral exam, you will be given a specification sheet plus preparation time before the exam discussion.
The use of a monolingual dictionary is permitted in both the written and oral exam.
The next written DSH will take place on 19 September 2025, room GD Hs 06.
The oral exam will take place on XX in the Viadrina Language Centre.
Registration always takes place at the Service Point.
The examination fee of €130 must be paid in cash on the day of the examination.
Arrive at 08:30 / start of the exam at 09:00
End of registration: 10.09.25
What is the DSH? What do you need it for?
The DSH (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang) is a language test used by universities in Germany.
It is developed and organised by individual universities. In the DSH, international applicants are required to demonstrate that their German language skills are sufficient for studying at a German university. They are tested to see whether they can understand lectures and study-related texts, and whether they can express themselves orally and in writing on a study-related topic. The DSH confirms that you have the required language proficiency for this. The DSH must be taken by all applicants who have not completed their high-school studies at a German-language institution and who do not have any of the certificates accepted as DSH equivalents.
Procedure and structure of the exam
The DSH consists of a written and an oral examination. The written exam takes place first. The oral examination is held after the results of the written examination have been announced.
To pass the examination, you need to pass both the written and oral components.
a) Procedure and structure of the written examination
1. Understanding and working with an audio text
Time: 50 minutes
2. Understanding and working with a reading text and academic language structures
Time: 90 minutes including reading time
3. Task-based text production
Time: 70 minutes
The different components of the examination are weighted in a ratio of 2:2:1:2.
b) Procedure and structure of the oral examination:
If your overall score for the written exam is at least 57%, you will be invited to the oral examination.
The oral examination consists of a short presentation based on a text and a discussion with the examiners (max. 20 minutes).
The result of the oral examination is announced immediately after the oral examination.
How your final mark is calculated:
DSH-1 if if you score at least 57% in the written and oral examinations;
DSH-2 if you score at least 67% in the written and oral examinations;
DSH-3 if you score at least 82% in the written and oral examinations;
DSH equivalents according to § 1 para. 3 and 4
Applicants who already possess one of the certificates listed below are exempt from the DSH examination.
- German Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (HZB) Abitur Goethe-Certificate C2 (Goethe-Institut)
- Kleines und Großes Sprachdiplom (Goethe-Institut)
- Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung (Goethe-Institut)
- Completion of a German-language degree programme with a standard period of study of at least six semesters
- DSH from a German-speaking university or a preparatory college (at least DSH 2)
- Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache - TestDaF with at least level 4 in all four parts of the test
- German Language Diploma KMK Level II (DSD II) with level C1 in all four subtests
- telc German C1 University (good)
Information only available in German here.
Free intensive German courses for students enrolled at the Viadrina:
Information on free intensive German courses for undergraduate students of Viadrina and for exchange students enrolled at Viadrina will be published in viaCampus.
Free intensive German courses for students enrolled at the Viadrina will be published in viaCampus.
No free intensive German courses will be offered during the August/September 2024 vacation period.
Fee-paying courses for new exchange students before enrolment at the Viadrina:
Next course offer in September 2024 | Current information and registration here.
Welcome to the language café!
Would you like to improve your German and get to know other students? Then our language café is the right place for you!
Here you can speak German in a relaxed atmosphere, improve your language skills and socialise with other students. Whether beginner or advanced - everyone is welcome here!
Start: provisionally April 2025
Time and location: will be announced here soon
We look forward to seeing you!
Here you can find some links to webpages of German radio and tv-channels as far as online newspapers. Moreover there are webpages with different options for studying German online, also tutorials and exam excercies for the DSH.
1. DEUTSCHE WELLE - Deutsch lernen
The webpage of the German international broadcaster with a divers offer, where you can find news or excercises for beginners and intermediate lerners. In addition there are articles here, which is very important for the students studying or being interested in economics.
The webpage of the German culture institut with the section "Deutsch lernen", where you can find useful materials for studying German on all levels. There are exam excercises, texts, videos, forums, chats. Moreover there is a platfom on the Goethe Institut which is called Second Life Platform with 3D World, where you can ses others and you can visit them and experience more from other users.
The page is rather recommended for the students on the higher level of German. There you can find information about studying in Germany, TestDaF, DSH, preparation materials of TestDaF or DSH. Furthermore you can read there actual news and information about the German language.
On this page you will find a lot of information to learn German, for example: grammar, vocabulary, writing, culture iformation, videos, lyrics, etc.
5. Livemocha
Livemocha is an English-language platform for autonomous language learning. It is interesting that you can have your own texts corrected by others. Additionally, you can help others in language learning by offering the same in your own native language.
Press and Radio
The webpage of a public braodcaster, where you can find livestreams, podcasts and articles about many topics.
This is an international and intercultural radio program of the West German Radio Cologne (WDR) and Radio Bremen, which is produced in collaboration with the Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (RBB). You can find livestreams and podcasts there.
3. Tagesschau
This is a page of a news program on channel ARD. The show will be broadcasted online. Especially recommended are programmes for children and news in 100 seconds.
4. Arte TV
Page of a broadcaster which is made in German-French cooperation. You can watch livestreams there. You can also see a lot of articles that are related not only to the German-French cooperation.
6. Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg
On the page you will find current news, reports and messages from Berlin and Brandenburg. The most important cultural, business, politics, sports and Panorama. In addition, the page offers its own library with live streams and podcasts.
The largest German national daily newspaper. You get the latest news from business, culture, politics and sports online there. The page includes videos, interactive articles and links to blogs.
8. Die Zeit
The webpage of the national german weekly newspaper DIE ZEIT which includes backgrounds in the fields of politics, economy, society, culture, digital, knowledge, career of celebrities, sports & more.
Regional Information
The website gives information around everything you need to know to study in Germany. It is translated in ten different languages.
What our students say
Learning German at the Viadrina Language Center is fun! The teachers are nice, there’s lots of variety in the classes!
Mario from Spain
I never enjoyed learning German back home in school and I never thought that I would actually ever like it. However, I had to take German at the Viadrina and I don't regret it! The staff has been really helpful and they are the reason that I - for the first time in my life - look forward to German lessons at the language centre.
Monika from Poland