If your score is within five points of the suggested range, you can still take the course, but you should expect to put in extra effort to pass the course. You should talk this over with the teacher of your course.
We ask you to take the test each semester in order to help us monitor overall student language ability over time and to provide the required number of courses to meet actual demand. In addition, it will help us to make any necessary adjustments to the test and the scale used to place students in courses.
You are only hurting yourself by tampering with the test results by repeating it, getting help from other people, using outside sources when you do the test, or signing up for a course at an inappropriate level. You will find yourself in a course which is either too hard or too easy and will waste your own and your teacher’s time, as well as that of your classmates. The test is meant to be a help, not a hindrance.
There are three possibilities:
- Attend and complete a course at the TUM Language Center with at least 3 ECTS. The corresponding certificate of achievement (“Einzelleistungsnachweis”) can be used directly in the exchange applications of the university (TUMexchange, Erasmus+ etc.). If a DAAD certificate is required after all, we can issue it on the basis of the certificate of achievement.
- Take a test at the TUM Language Center for DAAD certification. The test is offered on specific dates (see Exams and Certificates). Participation is only possible for TUM students and staff (including PhD students).
- Only for English: we can also issue a B2 certificate based on a German Abitur with at least 7 points in each of the last four semesters. This also applies only to matriculated TUM students and staff (including PhD students).
For case 1 and 3: Please send an email to sprachenzentrum@tum.de with the subject "Application for DAAD certificate based on German Abitur/TUM SZ language course". Attach the language certificate you used for your application and we will issue you a DAAD certificate on this level. Please allow about one week for the certificate to be processed.
As suggested by its name, the certificate from the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service) is solely intended to facilitate your applications for international studies/ work experience.
The DAAD certificate is only recognised within academia and does not have the wide international acceptance (particularly in companies) of proficiency certification such as the Cambridge Exams, IELTS, TOEFL etc.
You probably already have a suitable certificate for the application stage of exchanges organised by TUM. You should check the exchange websites for details of the proofs of language proficiency accepted.
If you have successfully completed a course of at least 3 ECTS at the TUM Language Center, your certificate of achievement will be accepted as proof of your language skills for all TUM Exchange applications.
Please have a look at the list of approved alternatives of the TUM Global & Alumni Office for the TUMexchange program.
The Language Center supports students in their overseas plans by offering language courses and testing to improve and confirm their language proficiency according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) levels.
Beyond this, and for any further specific requests from partner universities, please check how to proceed with the exchange coordinator from your School.
We do not have any influence over the demands made by other universities, and we are also not responsible for the exchange programs within TUM.
After requesting the certificate or taking the test, your certificate will be issued as a PDF within two-three weeks.
DAAD test: Speak to your DAAD examiner before the test to see if an earlier collection is possible.
Request by e-mail: Please provide an indication of the urgency. We will try to process your request as soon as possible.
But please note, ultimately you are responsible for meeting the deadlines.
Sadly, we don’t have the resources to make alternative arrangements for every situation. You will need to follow the usual routes to obtain a DAAD certificate.
The test is open to all matriculated TUM students and staff, including PhD candidates: Each candidate should show a TUM ID card at the test.
Places for the test dates are limited so please organize yourself early! You can register to take the test on Moodle. More information about test registration
The test consists of reading, writing, listening and speaking sections and the result represents the current state of your language skills. For this reason, there are no special requirements for preparation.
More information about the test of the individual language departments can be found here: Exams and Certificates
Yes, of course. Please send a PDF of your ‘Nachteilausgleich’ letter to sprachenzentrum@tum.de 2 weeks before your appointment date.
Bieten Sie Kurse zur Vorbereitung auf einen TestDaF, TELC oder DSH an?
No. We do not offer preparatory courses for the Studienkolleg or tests to confirm sufficient German language skills to register at a German university (e.g. TestDaF, DSH).
The number of ECTS depends on the contact hours of the course:
- Courses with 6 contact hours ⇒ 8 ECTS
- Courses with 4 contact hours ⇒ 6 ECTS
- Courses with 3 contact hours ⇒ 4 ECTS
- Courses with 2 contact hours ⇒ 3 ECTS
Compared to a regular course, a compact course runs for fewer weeks (9-10) but has more contact hours per week, e.g., 4 contact hours per week and 9-10 weeks. Some Compact-courses start later in the semester and thus have a later registration period.
The program is only open to TUMstaff members, visiting scholars at TUM, postdocs and doctoral candidates at TUM. Participation number is limited up to 25 participants per class.
Please be patient. You will receive an email 4-5 days before the course starts if you have been assigned a place in the course you have chosen or not.
Please wait until the application for the next course cycle opens up. We offer 5 course cycles per year, so you will get a fair chance to participate in our program.
If you are participating in the DaF for Staff program for the first time, please take a placement test on Moodle. to determine the appropriate course level for you.
The placement test result will help you to choose a course that fits best your needs. If you consider yourself a beginner in German, please apply for the A1.1-level. You can only apply for one level at a time. Alternatively, you can take the test at https://hueber.de/menschen/einstufungstest.
Please note: It is not necessary to send your test-result beforehand via email. Just keep it for yourself and have it ready on the first day of class. Just keep it for yourself and have it ready on the first day of class.
No. The placement test result will help you to choose a course that fits best your needs. It is not necessary to send your test-result beforehand. Just keep it for yourself and have a screenshot/picture ready on the first day of class.
Our courses build on one another; therefore it is not possible to register for more than on class at the same time. If you wish to change your course choice after registering, please email to sprachenzentrum@tum.de, subject: DaF for Staff.
Please email to sprachenzentrum@tum.de, subject: DaF for Staff, so that we can cancel your registration and give your spot to someone on the waiting list. Thanks for letting us know.
Please send an email directly to your instructor to inform him/her early in advance. If you miss to inform your instructor, you will loose your spot in class and it will be given to someone on the waiting list.
A good self-assessment will help you to participate successfully in the course. So that you learn at the level that best suits your previous knowledge, we reccommend the placement test. It is not necessary to send your test-result beforehand. Just keep it for yourself and have a screenshot/picture of your result ready on the first day of class.
Please have a screenshot/picture of your result ready on the first day of class. It is not necessary to provide your result in advance.
You will receive an email 4-5 days before the course starts if you have been assigned a place in the course you have chosen or not.
Please apply again for the next course cycle. We offer 5 course cycles per year, so you will get a fair chance to participate in our program.
Instructors will send out all the necessary information early enough in advance. Thank you for your patience.
The courses with the specification Munich will take place in presence on the Munich campus. Your instructor will provide you with the exact room number early enough in advance.
All the other courses will be held online via Zoom. Your instructor will provide you with all the necessary login information early enough in advance.
We offer 5 course cycles per year. Classes last 8 weeks and usually meet on two evenings per week.
Please find exact specification regarding days and times of the next course cycles on our website.
We do not proofread or revise your texts for you; rather, we work with you to improve your ability in written communication.
If you fail to show up for your advising appointment more than once, we regret that we will have to exclude you from advising for the current semester.